ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There has been another sharp increase in coronavirus cases in Florida.

The state’s Department of Health is now reporting more than 7,400 new cases. Florida is now close to a total of 900,000 cases since the start of the pandemic, and nearly 18,000 deaths.

COVID testing sites across the Tampa Bay area report an increase in tests, too.

In Pinellas County, the two week positivity rate sits at 6.6% and Mayor Rick Kriseman said while another shutdown is the last thing he wants to even consider, he will enhance rules if the St. Petersburg COVID numbers don’t start declining.

On Wednesday, Mayor Kriseman will join mayors from across the state in a virtual meeting to address the rise in COVID numbers and make recommendations to Governor Ron DeSantis.

Spectrum Bay News 9’s partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times report the demand for COVID tests is up significantly with people wanting their results by Thanksgiving.

Officials were forced to close the Trop testing site at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, over and hour early, because it was already at capacity.

The Times reports an increase in testing in Hillsborough County, too, where more than 3,000 tests were given from Friday to Monday, which is a thousand more than the week before.

More positive cases could also mean stress on local hospitals, which has been the biggest concern since the beginning of the pandemic.

Both the rapid test and the traditional test are available for free at Tropicana Field in St. Pete and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.