TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – More and more people are getting tested for and diagnosed with the coronavirus. As the number of positive cases rise in the State of Florida, so does the death toll.
Florida’s death toll spiked to 71 on Monday. The statewide death count includes several fatalities in the Tampa Bay area.
Here’s what we know about the Tampa Bay area deaths:
Citrus County: 2 deaths
An 80-year-old Citrus County resident died on March 25 after being diagnosed with the coronavirus. The county health department did not release details on the person’s travel history or possible exposure.
Health officials say an 87-year-old Citrus County man who had been diagnosed with coronavirus died on March 29, becoming the county’s second COVID-19 death.
Highlands County: 1 death
The Florida Department of Health announced on March 26 that a Highlands County resident who tested positive for COVID-19 had died. Health officials did not provide any information on the person’s age or gender.
Hillsborough County: 3 deaths
A 69-year-old man died from the coronavirus on March 25, becoming the first death in the county. Health officials say he died at his home. They did not release information on whether or not the man had traveled recently or how he may have been exposed to the virus.
A second Hillsborough County resident died on March 26. Health officials say the 71-year-old woman had recently been diagnosed with the virus. Details on any possible travel history or exposure to the virus were not released.
A third death was reported by state health officials on March 31. No additional information has been released yet.
Manatee County: 1 death
A 70-year-old Manatee County man died of coronavirus earlier this month, the Department of Health reported on March 18. Details were not released on the man’s travel history or any possible exposure to the virus.
Pasco County: 2 deaths
A 71-year-old Pasco County resident who had recently been diagnosed with the coronavirus died on March 24. The Department of Health did not provide details on the person’s travel history or any possible exposure to the virus.
A second Pasco County resident died on March 27. Pasco health officials say the 67-year-old had recently been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Pinellas County: 5 deaths
A 67-year-old Pinellas County resident who had been diagnosed with coronavirus died on March 23. The person is the first and only death in the county. Health officials did not release information on the person’s travel history or possible exposure to the virus.
The Pinellas County Health Department announced three more coronavirus deaths in the county on March 28. The deaths included an 83-year-old woman, a 64-year-old man and a 52-year-old man.
Polk County: 1 death
Polk County reported its first death on March 31. According to the county health department, the 60-year-old died on March 28 and had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Sarasota County: 2 deaths
Terrence McNally, a well-known playwright, died from coronavirus complications in Sarasota on March 24. He was 81 years old. Sarasota Memorial Hospital officials confirmed the death, saying McNally was a lung cancer survivor who lived with chronic inflammatory lung disease.
Venice Regional Bayfront Health officials confirmed on March 26 that a coronavirus patient had died at the hospital. A statement from a spokesperson says the hospital was working closely with the Sarasota County Health Department on testing the patient who showed symptoms of coronavirus. Test results confirmed the patient was positive.
Venice Regional has not released any details on the person’s age, travel history or possible exposure to the virus.
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