Florida tops 80K COVID-19 deaths since start of pandemic
![Tracking Coronavirus in Florida](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox35orlando.com/www.fox35orlando.com/content/uploads/2021/01/764/432/Coronavirus_generic_1280x720.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Passing another grim milestone, more than 80,000 Florida residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic started in early 2020.
The state Department of Health released a report Friday that said at least 80,386 residents had died of COVID-19 as of Thursday. That total was up from 79,573 in a report released Aug. 26 and up from 78,559 in a report released Aug. 12.
Because of lags in reporting, it is unclear when the additional deaths occurred. The new report also showed a continued slowing in reported COVID-19 cases.
Florida had 28,791 newly reported cases last week, after totaling 38,956 the previous week. As a comparison, it had 78,215 new cases during the week that started July 8 and 76,012 new cases during the week that started July 15, according to the report.