Four COVID-19 deaths reported in Monroe County in last week

Three deaths linked to COVID-19 were reported to the Florida Health Department in Monroe County on Sept. 7, and one more on Sept. 9 to bring the total death count locally to 20 since the pandemic began earlier in the year. Meanwhile, new daily reported cases remain in the single digits. Statewide, new case reports reached lows not seen since mid-June. 

Latest reports confirm the deaths of a 77-year-old female, 91-year-old male, a 62-year-old male and 50-year-old male — the youngest to pass from COVID-19 in the county. The residents had underlying health conditions, the health department said. 

To date, three residents in the 85-plus age group and nine in the 75-84 age range have passed away from COVID-19. Three between the ages of 65 and 74 and four between 55 and 64 have died. COVID-19-related deaths account for 1% of the confirmed positive cases in Monroe County —  just below the state’s 2% death rate among all cases. 

A total of 12,326 Florida residents have died from COVID-19, and that’s 2% of call cases statewide. 

Twenty-nine new cases of COVID-19 were reported between Sept. 2 and Sept. 10 in Monroe County. It brings the total cases in Monroe County to 1,767 since mid-March. Key West has had the most confirmed cases to date, 801, followed by Key Largo, 248. Cases in Marathon total 191. Islamorada has seen one new case in the last seven days with a total of 54. Statewide, 2,583 new positive cases and 211 deaths were reported on Sept. 10. 

Four remain hospitalized at Lower Keys Medical Center as of Sept. 10, while none were hospitalized at Mariners and Fishermen’s hospitals. A little more than 2,900 people were hospitalized in Florida with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19.

To date, 110 residents have been admitted for COVID-19-related illness, which is 6% of all cases. That’s on par with the statewide average of 6% with 40,807 hospitalizations out of the 654,731 confirmed cases. 

The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County is cancelling one DOH-Monroe COVID-19 testing event that was set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Gato Building Parking Lot in Key West. This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather, including rain and lightning, and for the safety of the public and our nursing staff. All those who had appointments will be contacted to reschedule. More testing events are forthcoming. DOH-Monroe will continue to monitor the weather with the National Weather Service (NWS). For more information about these events and other testing sites in Monroe County, visit Monroe.floridahealth.gov/covid19 or for questions call (786) 910-9764.

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.