HOLT, Fla., March 1, 2021—Florida saw its lowest daily increase of coronavirus cases since mid-October today.

Today’s total was an even 1,700. The last time daily case numbers were fewer than 1,700 was Oct. 12 with 1,533 new cases.

Although new cases are down, there were 150 reported virus-related deaths with today’s update. By comparison, Florida averaged 160 deaths a day in February.

Okaloosa County only added 29 new cases today. Deaths have remained steady at 327 since Feb. 25.

New north county cases remain low with Crestview adding only six today.

In other virus-related news, late Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the groups eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Beginning March 3, in addition to long-term care facility residents and staff, health care personnel with direct patient contact and residents 65 years or older, eligible residents will include:

• Kindergarten through 12th grade school employees 50 years of age and older
• Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older
• Firefighters 50 years of age and older
• Persons 16 years old and older who are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 (doctor’s note required)

Okaloosa County*

• Fort Walton Beach 5,196
• Crestview 4,994, +6
• Niceville 3,102
• Destin 1,916
• Mary Esther 896
• Shalimar 842
• Baker 575, +3
• Laurel Hill 304, +0
• Valparaiso 287
• Eglin Air Force Base 226
• Holt 202, +1
• Hurlburt Field 98
• Cinco Bayou 47
• Choctaw Beach 12
• Duke Field 4
• Milligan 3, +0
• Navarre 2
• Defuniak Springs 2
• Florala 1

Around the area

• Milton 8,195
• Pace 1,359
• Bagdad 31
• Jay 525
• Paxton 22
• DeFuniak Springs 2,028

Escambia County 33,713, 631 deaths
Santa Rosa County 17,118, 262 deaths
Walton County 7,043, 81 deaths

*FROM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 DATABASE