Florida is seeing a record number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations amid a nationwide increase in COVID-19 metrics. Some 10,217 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients were being cared for in hospitals in recent days, according to data submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by facilities. The number was a sharp increase from recent months and above the peak of 10,179 seen on July 23, 2020, according to the Florida Hospital Association. Florida on Saturday reported 21,683 new COVID-19 cases, which was over 2,000 higher than the previous record set in January. That came after the state reported 110,477 new cases in the week of July 23, an increase of 18 percent from the prior week. Florida’s Democratic agriculture commissioner, Nikki Fried, who is running for governor, said that the jump in hospitalizations “is pushing our hospital system to capacity, which has dangerous implications beyond COVID-19.” She …