Florida reports single-digit COVID-19 deaths for first time in months

Florida has recorded a single-digit increase in COVID-19-related deaths for the first time since September, according to state health officials.

The Palm Beach Post reported on Monday that state health officials confirmed the deaths of seven Florida residents and two nonresidents due to the coronavirus. The newspaper notes that daily state deaths in Florida due to COVID-19 have ranged between 22 and 98 for the past two weeks.

The state recorded 5,520 new coronavirus cases as well, the Post notes.

Despite these apparent gains in combating the coronavirus pandemic, the outlet notes that the state still leads the country in terms of the number of cases of a variant first found in the United Kingdom, with more than 3,500 cases identified so far.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida has administered nearly 12 million doses of coronavirus vaccine.

Florida has so far confirmed more than 2 million coronavirus cases and more than 34,000 related deaths.

The Post notes that nearly 1 million people in Florida have received a dose of a coronavirus vaccine since Saturday, thanks in part to expanded eligibility that allows anyone over the age of 16 to get a shot regardless of occupation or whether or not they have a doctor’s note.