Florida reports nearly 2,300 COVID-19 cases as Fauci discusses timeline for normalcy

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida reported an additional 2,296 coronavirus cases on Monday.

The latest cases bring the total number of cases in the state since the pandemic began to 2,272,102.

Watch: See where in Florida you might still be required to wear a face mask

On Monday the state also reported an additional 53- virus-related deaths.

Orange County reported the largest increase in deaths with five additional deaths.

Dr. Anthony Fauci says indoor mask rules should begin to be relaxed (NCD)

The increases come as Dr. Anthony Fauci said that he thinks the United States can “start to be more liberal” in terms of relaxing indoor mask rules as more people are vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

READ: Fauci says indoor mask rules should begin to be relaxed

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” Fauci answered a question about comments made by Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who said that relaxing indoor mask mandates now with reports of COVID-19 cases decreasing would give health officials “the credibility to implement them” again should there be a surge in cases.

“The CDC will be, almost in real time, George, updating their recommendations and their guidelines,” said Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden.

“But yes, we do need to start being more liberal as we get more people vaccinated.”

Watch: Orange County weighs legal action against state for executive order lifting local COVID-19 restrictions

Fauci added that the United States should be back to normal by next Mother’s Day if Americans continue to get vaccinated.

“I hope that next Mother’s Day, we’re going to see a dramatic difference than what we’re seeing right now,” he said. “I believe that we will be about as close to back to normal as we can.”

Click here to read more about what Fauci said.

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

Orange: CASES: 139,136 (+147); DEATHS: 1,275 (+5)

Polk: CASES: 69,142 (+86); DEATHS:1,335 (+4)

Osceola: CASES: 45,010 (+50); DEATHS: 513 (+3)

Volusia: CASES: 43,553 (+54); DEATHS: 804 (+0)

Brevard: CASES: 41,767 (+63); DEATHS: 875 (-1)

Marion: CASES: 31,281 (+30); DEATHS: 968 (+2)

Seminole: CASES: 34,325 (+51); DEATHS: 499 (+0)

Lake: CASES: 29,885 (+29); DEATHS: 642 (+0)

Sumter: CASES: 9,356 (+4); DEATHS: 279 (+1)

Flagler: CASES: 7,339 (+8); DEATHS: 111 (+0)

Cox Media Group