County now has 20 positive cases

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, Monroe County reported 20 total cases — 18 of which are Florida residents and two are non-Florida residents. 

Per the Florida Health Department, 13 are travel-related, four are community-acquired and three are currently under investigation.

Of the 18 cases among locals, 11 are Key West residents and four are Key Largo residents. Summerland Key, Islamorada and Tavernier each have a resident confirmed with coronavirus. 

Of the residents, 11 are male and nine are female ages 19 to 80. Four are currently hospitalized. 

Statewide, 565 new positive COVID-19 cases were reported to the health department  — 554 Florida residents and 11 non-Florida residents. That brings confirmed cases now to 3,763. Of that total, 3,608 are Florida residents and 155 nonresidents. Fifty-four people have died from the coronavirus in the state.

In neighboring counties, Miami-Dade County has surpassed 1,000 positive cases — 982 local residents and 21 nonresidents. Cases in Broward County total 814 — 795 local and 19 nonresidents.

Jim McCarthy
Jim McCarthy is one of the many Western New Yorkers who escaped the snow and frigid temperatures for warm living by the water. A former crime & court reporter and city editor for two Western New York newspapers, Jim has been honing his craft since he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2014. In his 4-plus years in the Keys, Jim has enjoyed connecting with the community. “One of my college professors would always preach to be curious,” he said. “Behind every person is a story that’s unique to them, and one worth telling. As writers, we are the ones who paint the pictures in the readers minds of the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs.” Jim is past president of the Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club, which is composed of energetic members who serve the community’s youth and older populations. Jim is a sports fanatic who loves to watch football, hockey, mixed martial arts and golf. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.