An 11-year-old boy from Miami-Dade, Florida, died Tuesday after contracting COVID-19. He became the state's youngest coronavirus victim to date.

Daequan, the victim, was a sickly boy who suffered from deformities and other constant health issues. At the age of four, Miami Bishop Jerry Lee Wimberly adopted the boy who immediately became a smiling presence at the Ambassadors of Christ church.

As a toddler, the boy encountered problems sitting up due to a condition that made his bones weak. He took treatments that allowed him to walk and live a stable life.

According to the article by Miami Herald, Gladys Brown, a church member, described Daequan as a happy person who shook everyone's hand.

Things took a fatal turn after he tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which has already killed over 1,000 people in the county alone. He died at the Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The boy's death, which was included in Florida's coronavirus tally reported Thursday, marks the third coronavirus-related death involving a minor in the state. The other two deaths involved a 17-year-old girl from Lee County, and a 17-year-old boy in Pasco County.

Florida's New Cases

Since the pandemic began in March, more than 7,000 children under 18 have contracted the virus in Florida, with at least 2,800 confirmed in South Florida.

On Thursday, state officials reported over 10,000 new cases, setting another single-day record that surpassed Saturday's record of 9,585 cases. The numbers bring Florida total confirmed cases tally to nearly 170,000. Health officials have also recorded 3,617 death since March, 67 of which were reported on Thursday, NPR reported.

The new record continues a sudden surge in cases that began last month as Florida began reopening its economy, allowing businesses to continue operating. Governor Ron DeSantis defended his decision, noting that the number of new virus cases remained low for most of April and May.

The governor attributed the recent rise in cases to Floridians' complacency following Memorial Day celebrations.

Coronavirus Hotspots

Three of Florida's cities are becoming hotspots for the coronavirus. Jacksonville, followed by Orlando and Tampa, is now considered the fastest-growing metro area for COVID-19 cases.

During a press conference in Tampa, Governor DeSantis dismissed questions on the state's skyrocketing coronavirus numbers. Instead, he cited the state's low death rate, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

DeSantis has continuously resisted calls for a statewide mandate requiring Floridians to wear face masks or coverings when going out in public places. As the number of cases rose, county and city officials have imposed rules making masks mandatory.

Florida began rolling back its reopening last week at the governor's direction. All bars across the state were ordered to suspend operations as an increasing number of young people became infected with the virus. Local governments also ordered beaches to close through the July Fourth weekend to prevent large gatherings.

Want to read more?