Monroe County reported its first COVID-19-related death Thursday evening. Per the Florida Health Department, the patient was a 55-year-old male who had an underlying health condition.
The patient didn’t travel, according to health department data, and it’s unknown if the male had contact with a confirmed case. The patient died at the Lower Keys Medical Center, the health department confirmed to the Weekly on Thursday evening.
“We’re all saddened we had our first day as a result of this in the Keys,” Monroe County Mayor Heather Carruthers said Friday morning. “It’s sort of starting to bring it home to folks.”
Eight new cases testing positive for COVID-19 in Monroe County were reported Thursday by the Florida Health Department, bringing the total as of 7 p.m. to 38.
Of the cases, 33 are county residents and five non-county individuals. Twenty are deemed by the health department as travel-related, while 11 are community-acquired. Seven are currently under investigation. Seven are currently hospitalized.
Regarding local cases, 19 are Key West residents, while five are from Key Largo and four from Tavernier. Islamorada, Summerland Key, Marathon and Key Colony Beach each have one case.
One case is characterized by the health department as “missing.” The health department, in its report, explains that the city is not always received as part of the initial notification, and may be missing while the case is being investigated.
In total, 301 tests have been performed in Monroe County, according to the health department’s Friday morning report. Seventy-seven tests await results, while 263 have come back negative.
Statewide, more than 91,700 individuals have been tested. Of those, 9,585 tested positive and 82,137 negative. A total of 1,215 are hospitalized, while 163 have died.
