#Florida sets single-day COVID-19 record with over 15,000 cases

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Cars wait in line at a coronavirus drive up testing site set up at the Miami Beach Convention Center
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Florida has recorded the most new coronavirus cases of any state in a single day — more than 15,000 — shattering New York’s previous highest amount of 12,847 set at the height of the pandemic in April.

Nearly 143,000 people were tested for the deadly contagion in the Sunshine State on Saturday, or the most in a day in Florida since the end of June, the state’s Health Department said.

Still, while there were 15,299 confirmed Florida cases Saturday, or a positive rate of 11.25 percent, that percentage is below the state’s record Thursday of 18.39 percent and the lowest in days, a key fact to note, officials say.

There also were 45 deaths recorded Saturday in Florida from the virus, compared to 95 the day before.

The figures come as Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted calls for a statewide face-mask mandate — and said just last week that if Walmart is open, then local schools should reopen this fall, too.

The Republican National Convention is still on track to be held in Jacksonville next month.