Florida becomes 2nd U.S. state to top half-million coronavirus cases

The southeastern U.S. state of Florida on Wednesday reported 5,409 new COVID-19 cases, making the sunshine state second only to California to top half-million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

Florida now has 502,739 cases, while California health officials on Tuesday listed almost 520,000 cases, according to a report from South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Also on Wednesday, Florida reported another 225 coronavirus fatalities, a near-record high of new deaths.

All state-run testing sites in Florida on Tuesday reopened after being closed for days due to tropical storm Isaias, local media reported, adding that in some cases, test sites in hard-hit South Florida were closed for five days.