Florida on Thursday reported the largest single-day spike in coronavirus cases since the pandemic started, according to a striking report.
The number of new infections in the Sunshine State soared to 3,207 — dwarfing its own previous highest single-day increase of 2,783 on Tuesday, the Sarasota Herald Tribune reported.
As the pandemic rages across the state, infections in Sarasota County — where roughly 36 percent of residents are elderly — nearly doubled from the previous week, even as the number of people tested decreased, according to the paper, which cited state health data.
In total, there were 85,926 confirmed cases and 3,061 deaths in Florida, an increase of 43 fatalities in a single day.
The record-high illness rate comes as some parts of the state report zero available ICU beds, and as scientists predict Florida could become a new epicenter for the pandemic.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has come under fire in recent weeks for playing down the state’s dramatic increase in new infections, and for attributing the spike to more testing among low-risk people, according to the paper.
He has said he won’t roll back reopening efforts.