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Florida reports 74 coronavirus-related deaths, 6,900 new cases

ORLANDO, Fla. — State health officials on Friday reported another 74 deaths linked to COVID-19. Of those, 19 were reported in Central Florida.

According to the state, Florida’s death toll now stands at 17,659.

Friday’s data from the Florida Department of Health also revealed 6,933 new cases of the virus statewide, including 1,087 new cases logged locally.

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“Coronavirus

That’s an increase of 2,953 cases from Thursday, when officials reported 5,607 new cases throughout Florida.

To date, there have been 870,552 cases of COVID-19 statewide.

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As health experts predicted, cases of COVID-19 have recently soared nationwide as we enter colder months and people spend more time indoors.

The record-breaking surge in U.S. coronavirus cases in the past week is being traced not only to large events considered “superspreader” happenings, but to smaller gatherings such as family get-togethers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

So, how can you determine the risk of coming into contact with someone who has the COVID-19 virus, whether it is at a holiday event or during your daily activities?

Click here to learn about a tool that two Georgia Tech professors have developed that can help you assess the risk of attending events both small and large.

See a county-by-county breakdown of total (and new) cases below, and click here for an interactive map of cases statewide

Orange: 50,446 (+311) — 601 (+1)

Osceola: 15,679 (+124) — 227 (-2)

Seminole: 11,319 (+85) — 255 (0)

Polk: 24,941 (+112) — 647 (+3)

Volusia: 14,117 (+131) — 340 (+7)

Brevard: 13,312 (+145) — 407 (+7)

Flagler: 2,356 (+19) — 40 (0)

Lake: 9,466 (+42) — 242 (+1)

Marion: 11,600 (+92) — 362 (0)

Sumter: 3,140 (+26) — 89 (0)

Update: More than 100 hand sanitizers are now considered dangerous by FDA

Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.

Matt Reeser

Matt Reeser, WFTV.com

Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia.