Polk County added 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 254. The number in Lakeland rose by five to 77.

The number of deaths in Polk County connected to confirmed COVID-19 cases remains at eight for the third day in a row

Florida Department of Health’s evening report Sunday shows that 3,894 people have been tested in Polk, up 119 from the previous day. In addition to the 254 positive readings:

  • 3,637 were negative
  • 4 were inconclusive
  • 16 await results

The number of positive cases is likely 10 times the official number, Polk County Health Department Director Joy Jackson told city commissioners Thursday. Those who test positive now probably contracted the disease two to three weeks ago, given the time it takes for symptoms to show and test results to be processed.

In addition, the numbers of people being tested remains tiny compared with Polk County’s estimated population of 708,000 people. A shortage of test kits means only people who meet CDC criteria are being tested.

The number of people who have been hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 cases in Polk grew by two to 77 on Sunday. State officials note this number is cumulative and does not reflect the number of people currently in hospitals.

Sunday evening’s report cites 21 cases reported at nursing homes or other long-term care facilities in Polk, up three from the previous two days. The Florida Department of Health public reports do not list the names or cities of the facilities.

ZIP code data for Lakeland on Sunday:

23 cases:
33813

14 cases:
33805

5 to 9 cases: 
33801
33803
33809
33810

1 to 4 cases:
33811
33812
33815

View an interactive ZIP code map here or at the end of this article. To find local ZIP code data, click on the “Cases by Zip Code” tab below the map and then scroll to Polk and click. Learn how ZIP code data is reported.

Current totals reported for Polk cities are:

  • Lakeland, 77
  • Winter Haven, 52
  • Davenport, 46
  • Kissimmee, 20*
  • Auburndale, 12
  • Lake Wales, 12
  • Haines City, 6
  • Mulberry, 6
  • Lake Alfred, 5
  • Fort Meade, 4
  • Bartow, 2
  • Frostproof, 2
  • Poinciana, 2
  • Champions Gate, 1
  • Dundee, 1
  • Eagle Lake, 1
  • Indian Lakes Estates, 1
  • Polk City, 1
  • No city named, 2

* While Kissimmee is in Osceola County, the Health Department classifies a portion of east Polk as Kissimmee. It maintains a separate number for the Osceola portion of Kissimmee.

Download a full report for Sunday.

Here’s a chart created Sunday afternoon by reader Marten Walters from Florida Department of Health data that compares with number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Polk County with trend lines for cases doubling every two days and cases doubling every three days.

Cases in Polk were doubling at a rate of every two days at the end of Match. In recent days, the rate has changed to greater than three days’ doubling.

Tracking the cases

COVID-19 in Polk and Lakeland
Infogram
Polk COVID-19 daily changes
Infogram
Polk and Lakeland Hospital beds
Infogram

SEND CORRECTIONS, questions, feedback or news tips: newstips@lkldnow.com

Loading...

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Barry Friedman founded Lkldnow.com in 2015 as the culmination of a career in print and digital journalism. Since 1982, he has used the tools of reporting, editing and content curation to help people in Lakeland understand their community better.

Leave a comment

Your Thoughts On This? (Comments are moderated; first and last name are required.) Cancel reply