Just how many people have recovered from coronavirus?

Many people want to know about recovery numbers for the coronavirus. And the Florida Department of Health says it’s not measuring that. And we want to know why.

Day after day, more people in Southwest Florida and beyond are testing positive for COVID-19.

But why don’t we see the number of people who have survived, recovered and overcome this virus?

“Every day, there is so much new information,” said Dr. Bindu Mayi with Nova Southeastern University. “That’s why defining it is complex.”

Mayi says health experts are learning not everyone recovers the same.

“When we give that definition of recovery, we want to be sure we are using it to define precisely what that means, not just having gotten rid of the virus,” Mayi said. “Because these individuals, some are ill, and they will see the aftermath for a while, and their recovery may take a lot longer.”

Luckily, Charles McDonald got better quickly after contracting COVID-19.

“I am healthier now than before I got sick,” McDonald said.

McDonald says his doctors said he was clear last week.

“I’s called the 3-7 rule, which means that you have to be three days without symptoms and seven days before your first symptoms appeared,” McDonald said.

Charles says, as soon as he can donate plasma, that’s what he will be doing to help others get better quicker.

And FDOHG says, until the definitions of recovery are worked out at a state and national level, it will not be keeping track of them.

Mayi says a better word we could use and start counting is survivor.

“It gives us a good idea of how many people have the infection and how many survived,” Mayi said.