STATEWIDE — Nearly 10,000 new daily coronavirus cases have been reported by Florida’s Department of Health on Wednesday, as the positivity rate continues its slow climb.

The department reported on Wednesday 9,989 new cases, with 48 deaths and 333 hospitalizations.

While Polk County reported 230 new cases on Wednesday, it had seven new deaths.

Orange County had the highest number of new cases in the Central Florida area at 426 and reported two new deaths.

Volusia County reported 119 new cases with Osceola County just shy of that with 112. Volusia County reported three new deaths and Osceola had one.

Brevard County had 107 new cases while Sumter County had 38, but had one reported death.

In the Bay area, the 1,814 cases reported Wednesday included 10 deaths, with three in Pinellas County in addition to the Polk deaths.

Tuesday’s daily coronavirus numbers were at 7,347, which is a more than 2,600-case increased when compared to Wednesday’s reported numbers by the health department.

The highest recorded daily coronavirus cases for the Sunshine State is 11,458, which was set on the 4th of July.

The state's overall positivity rate now sits at 9.64 percent; on Tuesday, it was at 9.41 percent. The daily positivity rate has ranged between 10.3 percent and 19.3 percent over the last two weeks, according to officials.

Central Florida Hospitals Ready to Adjust Beds

When it comes to available intensive care unit beds in Central Florida, as of Wednesday afternoon at there were just 184.

That number is the total number of ICU beds available in our coverage area for our nine counties.

With the number of ICU beds in Central Florida dwindling, leaders across our area are working to determine their next steps.

Numbers released by Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration show Seminole County, for instance, has fewer than 10 ICU beds available.

Emergency Manager Alan Harris addressed Wednesday said via email:

“ICU beds are full, but not critical at this time. While they are extremely busy, there are still places to put individuals. They will modify things to take care of patients."

• RELATED: See Hospital Bed Capacity Across Florida

Some of the contingencies the county is considering include reducing elective surgeries and using alternate sites, such as free standing emergency centers.

In a briefing on Monday, Dr. Raul Pino with the Department of Health says Orange County hospitals are also busy.

 “We also have seen an increase in the number of ER visits for fever, cough, and shortness of breath, as well as an increase in hospitalizations,” Dr. Pino said.

Spectrum News checked with Orlando Health about their patient capacity. Officials said via email they have nearly 3,300 beds across all operations, and nearly 200 of those are ICU beds, and they say they have the capacity to surge up to 500 ICU beds, if necessary.

The hospital system also says they’re able to make adjustments if needed. 

HCA Healthcare Central Florida, which includes Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Oviedo Medical Center, Osceola Regional and Poinciana Medical Center, said in an email they are “able to respond to surges in patient volumes quickly by repurposing clinical spaces…to expand ICU capacity and create additional bed space.”

Doctors who work at local hospitals say that hospitals will do their best to figure out how to increase the number of ICU beds, and that if a hospital reaches capacity, patients can be moved to other facilities.