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VP Mike Pence: We are in a much better place to confront the rising cases impacting Florida, rest of U.S.

Posted at 2:56 PM, Jul 01, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-02 23:36:22-04

TAMPA, Fla. — Despite Florida once again setting a single-day record for new cases in the state, Vice President Mike Pence is urging the public to remain vigilant and optimistic.

Vice President Pence visited Tampa on Thursday to speak with Governor Ron DeSantis on the efforts the state is making to combat the pandemic. During the visit, Vice President Pence said the U.S. is "in a much better place," in the battle against the virus, compared to where things were two months ago.

Vice President Pence cited President Donald Trump's leadership, the nation's push for more testing, manufacturing supplies, innovation and being "well on our way to develop a vaccine," as reasons he believes the U.S. is on the right track.

"We are in a much better place to confront the rising cases that are impacting, here in Florida, and all across the country," Vice President Pence said.

"I want people to be vigilant but we want people to be encouraged," he added.

Vice President Pence's visit comes just hours after Florida announced it had once again shattered its daily record for new COVID-19 cases. The 10,109 new cases, set Thursday, beat the previous record by a little over 500 cases.

Vice President Pence said he'll be available to provide as much resource as Florida will need to combat the virus.

"We’re going to do whatever it takes," he said on Thursday.

Gov. DeSantis attributed the recent spikes to Floridians losing focus on the virus' severity between late-May and early-June.

Gov. DeSantis said the median age of folks testing positive in Hillsborough County dropped to 34. He also urged Floridians to be careful when they end up in confined spaces, where the virus can sometimes spread.

As July 2, the Department of Health reported 169,106 positive COVID-19 cases in the state.

For the past few weeks, there have been thousands of new cases announced each day.