Florida coronavirus cases see massive daily surge
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Florida saw 8,942 positive COVID-19 cases for a single-day high on Friday, according to data from the state Department of Health.
The previous single-day high was reported on Wednesday at 5,511 cases.
State health officials also reported 39 new deaths.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The cases raise the overall statewide total since the pandemic began to a reported 122,960 infections.
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The number of younger people testing COVID-19 positive “increased significantly” in June, and some cases are believed to have originated from visits to bars, pubs or nightclubs which may have disregarded restrictions set forth in Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan. Halsey Beshears, secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, on Friday ordered a suspension, effective immediately, of on-premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In a Tweet, Beshears clarified that nothing changes for restaurants.
More specifically, vendors making less than 50 percent of revenue from alcohol sales can continue serving alcohol onsite.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The order was passed because noncompliance by bars and other vendors was making “individualized enforcement efforts impractical and insufficient."