3 more deaths reported on Treasure Coast

Three more deaths from COVID-19 were reported over the last day on the Treasure Coast, where two of the region’s counties have a higher mortality rate than the state and national averages.

The deaths occurred in all three counties: an 83-year-old Indian River County man; an 83-year-old Martin County man; and a 94 year-old St. Lucie County woman.

Florida has a mortality rate of 3.24 percent while the U.S. mortality rate is 5.62 percent. Mortality rate figures are often challenged because they only account for confirmed cases, and many people with coronavirus do not show symptoms.

St. Lucie County, with 17 deaths and 215 cases, has a 7.9 percent mortality rate, and Indian River County, with 86 cases and five deaths, has a 5.8 percent rate. Only Martin County, with 163 cases and five deaths, has a mortality rate below the state and national averages — 3 percent.

The state classifies which of the COVID-19 deaths are associated with longterm care facilities, but it does not classify whether the deaths are of residents or staff. Five of St. Lucie’s deaths are associated with longterm care facilities while Indian River has four deaths and Martin has two deaths associated with longterm care facilities.

The number of COVID-19 cases on the Treasure Coast ticked up slightly over the last day after a three-day slowdown. St. Lucie had an additional nine confirmed cases, Martin three more cases and Indiian River one additional case.

Florida had its largest one-day death increase today, with 93 additional deaths for a total of 960. The state has a total of 28,832 cases.