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Florida reports 8,500 new COVID-19 cases, 1,700 in Tampa Bay area

Posted at 11:22 AM, Jun 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-29 01:07:01-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — For the third day in a row, Florida is seeing more than 8,000 new coronavirus cases.

On Sunday morning, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) reports 8,530 new COVID-19 cases in the state. Florida's total number of positive cases is 141,075 as of Sunday morning, according to DOH.

DOH also reports the Tampa Bay area saw more than 1,700 new cases.

The new numbers didn't top yesterday's new cases, which set a single-day record for new coronavirus cases with 9,585. On Friday, DOH reported 8,942 new coronavirus cases in the state.

The recent spike in new cases prompted the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to once again suspending the consumption of alcohol on the premises at bars on Friday morning.

Just hours after DBPR's booze ban, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez ordered all beaches in the county to shut down during the Fourth of July weekend.

The shut down goes into effect from Friday, July 3 to Tuesday, July 7, according to Mayor Gimenez. The county will also restrict any gatherings, parades of more than 50 people and the viewing of the fireworks show will be limited.

Pinellas County leaders say they do not plan to shut down the county's beaches during the Fourth of July weekend.

Despite the spike in cases, Governor Ron DeSantis says there are no plans to issue a statewide mandate to make people wear masks in public places.

"To do police and put criminal penalties on that is something that is probably gonna, would backfire," Gov. DeSantis said during Friday's press conference.

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