173 new coronavirus deaths reported Thursday in Florida's largest daily increase; over 10K cases added

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Florida Department of Health says the number of known cases of COVID-19 in the state rose by 10,249 since yesterday morning as the virus spreads and as more people are tested across the state. The total number of cases in Florida is now 389,868.

The number of Florida resident deaths has reached 5,518, an increase of 173 since Wednesday's update. Another 114 non-Floridians have died in the state. Locally, Pinellas County reported 22 new deaths, Hillsborough reported 18, Pasco reported six, Hernando, Polk, and Manatee each reported three, and Sarasota reported one.

Florida resident cases in orange; Florida resident deaths in gray. Source: Fla. Dept. of Health.

Of the 389,868 cases, 385,091 are Florida residents while 4,777 are non-Florida residents currently in the state.

Bay Area COVID-19 cases by the numbers:

The state is not reporting a total number of "recovered" coronavirus patients. As of Thursday, 9,581 Floridians were currently hospitalized for a primary diagnosis of COVID-19; in total, 22,644 have been hospitalized for treatment at some point.

A total of 3,215,185 people have been tested in the state as of Thursday -- about 15% of the state's population -- according to the Florida Department of Health.

Today's new case number represents the 51st straight day with new cases near or over 1,000 per day. The rate of positive new tests has increased during that time period. It was at 12.31% on Wednesday, the most recent date available.

As the number of new cases has trended up over the last few weeks, the number of deaths has also reflected the same upward trend -- though "significant delays" in data reporting, as the state says, make interpreting short-term trends from that statistic less reliable.

The 173 new deaths reported Thursday is the largest number of daily new deaths since the pandemic began. The previous high was 156 deaths added July 16.

Experts say the current spike is partly due to more tests being given, but also a result of reopening the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says the recent case increases are largely due to testing of "high-risk" individuals like farmworkers in the state's rural counties, prisoners, and residents of long-term care facilities, though he has more recently noted the "erosion" in social distancing, especially among the younger demographics in social setting. That prompted him to order all bars to cease serving alcohol.