WEATHER ALERT
2 cases of dengue contracted in Orange County. Here’s what mosquito control is doing
Read full article: 2 cases of dengue contracted in Orange County. Here’s what mosquito control is doingOrange County Mosquito Control is focusing on eliminating the breed of mosquito known to carry the arbovirus known as dengue.
Florida medical marijuana patients get an unexpected email praising DeSantis
Read full article: Florida medical marijuana patients get an unexpected email praising DeSantisMedical marijuana patients and advocates are upset that the Florida Department of Health emailed its patient registry to praise Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing the state budget.
State is paying fired Tennessee vaccine chief $150K in lawsuit settlement
Read full article: State is paying fired Tennessee vaccine chief $150K in lawsuit settlementThe state of Tennessee has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by its former vaccine leader over her firing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida settles lawsuit over COVID data, agrees to provide weekly stats to the public
Read full article: Florida settles lawsuit over COVID data, agrees to provide weekly stats to the publicFlorida will provide COVID-19 data to the public again after a former Democratic state representative settled a lawsuit with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration over the decision two years ago to stop sharing information on the virus’ spread online.
‘A huge swarm:’ Flies infest Conway community, neighbors beg for Orange County for help
Read full article: ‘A huge swarm:’ Flies infest Conway community, neighbors beg for Orange County for helpJamie Hyman, an Orange County resident in the Conway community, is beyond frustrated about the excessive fly issue in her area. So are many of her other neighbors.
‘We have got to stop it:’ $205.7M going toward Florida resources battling opioid crisis
Read full article: ‘We have got to stop it:’ $205.7M going toward Florida resources battling opioid crisisFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $205.7 million would go toward boosting resources in the state battling the opioid crisis.
Tennessee cuts HIV program with Planned Parenthood ties
Read full article: Tennessee cuts HIV program with Planned Parenthood tiesDocuments show that top Tennessee health officials attempted to oust Planned Parenthood from a program designed to prevent and treat HIV before deciding to forgo federal funding for it.
Marion County health department to provide non-COVID vaccines for students at free event
Read full article: Marion County health department to provide non-COVID vaccines for students at free eventMarion County Public Schools is hosting a free drive-thru event Friday evening to provide vaccinations required for students to gain entry into school.
Florida agency looks to deny gender affirming treatments for transgendered people
Read full article: Florida agency looks to deny gender affirming treatments for transgendered peopleThe Florida Agency for Health Care Administration issued a report Thursday that could set the stage for the Medicaid program to deny coverage for treatments such as puberty-blocking medication and hormone therapy for transgender people.
Florida surgeon general writes board about underage gender dysphoria treatments
Read full article: Florida surgeon general writes board about underage gender dysphoria treatmentsFlorida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo wrote members of the Department of Health’s board about gender dysphoria treatments for children and adolescents Thursday.
Florida inspector general takes over case of Dr. Raul Pino being placed on administrative leave
Read full article: Florida inspector general takes over case of Dr. Raul Pino being placed on administrative leaveOrange County health officer Dr. Raul Pino was placed on paid administrative leave earlier this week, now the case is being referred to the Florida inspector general.
Here’s how to know if a COVID-19 pop-up testing site is legitimate
Read full article: Here’s how to know if a COVID-19 pop-up testing site is legitimateWith a high demand for COVID-19 tests, the Department of Health in Osceola County said they’ve seen an uptick when it comes to people reaching out to them trying to verify pop-up COVID-19 testing sites.
Live updates: Tulane delays spring start over virus surge
Read full article: Live updates: Tulane delays spring start over virus surgeTulane University in New Orleans is delaying the start of its spring semester because of the latest surge in coronavirus cases, and another private school says students must get booster shots before returning.
Court cites ‘defiance’ by Florida districts on school masks
Read full article: Court cites ‘defiance’ by Florida districts on school masksAn appeals court Friday signaled it thinks school officials in Alachua and Duval counties have violated state law by requiring students to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered lower courts to quickly take up the issue.
100+ Florida entities under review for ‘vaccination passport’ violations
Read full article: 100+ Florida entities under review for ‘vaccination passport’ violationsMore than 100 Florida entities, including businesses, municipalities and event venues, are under review with the Department of Health. Even Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is on the list.
COVID-19 testing site reopens in Osceola County amid rising infections
Read full article: COVID-19 testing site reopens in Osceola County amid rising infectionsAs the delta variant of the coronavirus spreads in the community, Osceola County health officials are re-opening a testing site with the capacity to serve hundreds of people each day.
Funeral for Brevard County COVID-19 patient will serve as vaccination clinic as hospitalizations rise
Read full article: Funeral for Brevard County COVID-19 patient will serve as vaccination clinic as hospitalizations riseThe family said Marquis Davis’ dying wish as he fought the virus for six days was to get better and then get a vaccine.
Lawmakers: Parental OK needed for minors to get COVID shot
Read full article: Lawmakers: Parental OK needed for minors to get COVID shotTwo Tennessee Republican lawmakers have said they received assurance that the state Department of Health won’t vaccinate children for COVID-19 without parental consent.
90% of vaccine shots available at 6 sites in Orange County unused Wednesday
Read full article: 90% of vaccine shots available at 6 sites in Orange County unused WednesdayAs the strategy from mass vaccination at the convention center phases into reaching neighborhoods, Orange County leaders and the Department of Health opened new vaccine sites in all corners of the county.
Florida reports 6,817 new COVID-19 cases as CDC says recent spike could be linked to variants
Read full article: Florida reports 6,817 new COVID-19 cases as CDC says recent spike could be linked to variantsOfficials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an update this week on the U.S. seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, saying it could be because more variants are spreading.
Australia to buy extra 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccine
Read full article: Australia to buy extra 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccineAustralia says it has finalized a deal to buy an extra 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine as it rapidly pivots away from its earlier plan to rely mainly on the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Biden launches community corps to boost COVID vaccinations
Read full article: Biden launches community corps to boost COVID vaccinationsThe Biden administration is unveiling a coalition of community, religious and celebrity partners to promote COVID-19 shots as it seeks to overcome vaccine hesitancy.
Flagler County COVID-19 vaccine event offers shots for people with diabetes
Read full article: Flagler County COVID-19 vaccine event offers shots for people with diabetesFLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Any adult with type 1 or 2 diabetes can sign up for the coronavirus vaccine during a special event in Palm Coast happening April 8. The Flagler County Department of Health and AdventHealth Palm Coast are hosting the vaccine event from 9 a.m. to noon. Dr. Stephen Bickel, medical director for DOH-Flagler, said people with diabetes are more vulnerable to COVID-19, according to early studies of the virus. Those interested in receiving the Moderna vaccine must preregister with DOH-Flagler’s Diabetes Education Center by calling 386-313-7263 or 386-313-7264. On the day of the vaccinations, people should head to 60 Memorial Parkway in Palm Coast and enter the hospital near the outpatient entrance and follow signage to Classroom D.
Extent of COVID-19 vaccine waste remains largely unknown
Read full article: Extent of COVID-19 vaccine waste remains largely unknownA woman arrives for her first dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Friday, March 12, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. As millions continue to wait their turn for the COVID-19 vaccine, small but steady amounts of the precious doses have gone to waste across the country. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As millions continue to wait their turn for the COVID-19 vaccine, small but steady amounts of the precious doses have gone to waste across the country. AdBy comparison, waste of the COVID-19 vaccine appears to be quite small, though the U.S. government has yet to release numbers shedding insight on its extent. In Tennessee, wasted, spoiled or unused doses aren't publicly disclosed on the state's online COVID-19 vaccine dashboard. Ohio's health department reported 2,349 doses wasted or spoiled as of February.
Florida surpasses 30,000 coronavirus deaths as more get vaccine
Read full article: Florida surpasses 30,000 coronavirus deaths as more get vaccineFlorida’s Department of Health reports that 30,065 state residents have died and more than 1.8 million have been infected. Officials say 530 people who live outside the state have died of the virus in Florida. On Monday, there were 4,147 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida, according to a state online census of hospital beds. AdGeller noted that there are 340,000 seniors in Broward County and only about 250,000 of them will want the vaccine when it is first available. We will continue to work to ensure that every senior in Florida that wants a vaccine, will receive a vaccine,” he said.
The Latest: Mexico receives shipment of Sputnik V vaccine
Read full article: The Latest: Mexico receives shipment of Sputnik V vaccineA medical worker prepares a shot of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a local rural medical post in the village of Ikhala in Russias Karelia region, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)MEXICO CITY — Mexico has received its first shipment of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Mexico received its first shipment of vaccines from Pfizer in mid-December, but turned to Sputnik V in January when other expected vaccine shipments were delayed. The company reiterated that it will have capacity to provide 100 million vaccine doses to the U.S. by the end of June. ___WASHINGTON — The White House now says it expects to catch up by mid-week on deliveries of coronavirus vaccine doses that were delayed by severe weather.
Is the demand for coronavirus testing decreasing?
Read full article: Is the demand for coronavirus testing decreasing?The lines looked similar at the statewide testing site at the Orange County Convention Center Thursday afternoon. News 6 asked Mayor Demings if the decrease in the demand for testing could reduce the number of days the site is open. “That may be something we would do going into the future.”AdCounty officials said they will determine to keep Barnett Park open on a month-by-month basis. As for the potential reasons for the decrease in testing demand, Orange County Department of Health’s Dr. Raul Pino said there are multiple factors. “We have seen this before, when we went off the increase from last summer, we saw the decrease in demand.
UK tests house-to-house in hunt for new COVID-19 variant
Read full article: UK tests house-to-house in hunt for new COVID-19 variant(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)LONDON – England has begun house-by-house COVID-19 testing in some communities as authorities try to snuff out a new variant of the coronavirus before it spreads widely and undermines a nationwide vaccination program. Public health officials are concerned about the variant first identified in South Africa because it contains a mutation of the virus’ characteristic spike protein that existing vaccines target. No conclusive evidence has emerged to show the Kent variant causes more serious COVID-19 cases or deaths. In recent weeks, scientists also identified new, more contagious variants in South Africa and Brazil, both of which contained the spike protein mutation. AdIn hopes of preventing those variants from becoming widespread in Britain, the government has barred travel from South Africa, South America and Portugal, a popular European transit point for travelers from South America.
Brazil neighbors limit travel to halt virus strain's spread
Read full article: Brazil neighbors limit travel to halt virus strain's spreadAnd Peru on Jan. 26 banned air traffic from Brazil; the governor of Peru’s Loreto department bordering Brazil called on the government to shut down land crossings, too. The clampdown comes as Manaus, the Amazon rainforest’s largest city and the site of the variant's outbreak, suffers a brutal second wave of infections. Other cities in Brazil’s Amazon region have been crushed since, including Porto Velho, capital of neighboring Rondonia state. Brazil’s former health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta told newspaper O Globo on Thursday that the new strain could cause a “mega-epidemic” across Brazil within 60 days. “There is no guarantee it won’t reach (Brazil’s) border with Venezuela, with Colombia, Suriname, Guyana,” Díaz Mirabal, who is of the Wakuenai Kurripako ethnicity, said in a Zoom call with reporters.
VIRUS TODAY: Lawmakers call for race data on vaccine access
Read full article: VIRUS TODAY: Lawmakers call for race data on vaccine accessFILE - In this Aug. 28, 2020, file photo, people line up for the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site outside St. Luke's Episcopal Church in the Bronx borough of New York. Data from some states has shown hard-hit nonwhite Americans who are eligible to get the vaccine are not receiving it in proportion to their share of the population. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, all of Massachusetts, say the agency must work with states, municipalities and private labs to collect and publish demographic data about vaccine recipients. Without that information, policymakers and health workers cannot efficiently identify vaccine disparities in the hardest-hit communities, the lawmakers say. Dr. Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a vaccine adviser to the U.S. government, on the slow and steady process of scaling up vaccine production.
NY data show nursing home deaths undercounted by thousands
Read full article: NY data show nursing home deaths undercounted by thousandsAndrew Cuomo's administration confirmed Thursday that thousands more nursing home residents died of COVID-19 than the state's official tallies had previously acknowledged, dealing a potential blow to his image as a pandemic hero. “Families like mine knew these numbers were not correct.”Cuomo’s office referred all questions to the state health department. Zucker's figure of 12,743 nursing home resident deaths included for the first time 3,829 confirmed COVID-19 fatalities of those residents who had been transported to hospitals. Her investigators looked at a sample of 62 of the state’s roughly 600 nursing homes. They reported 1,914 deaths of residents from COVID-19, while the state Department of Health logged only 1,229 deaths at those same facilities.
New vaccine sites in Lake County include Lake Square Mall, Amazon warehouse
Read full article: New vaccine sites in Lake County include Lake Square Mall, Amazon warehouseLAKE COUNTY, Fla. – The Lake Square Mall and an Amazon Distribution warehouse parking lot will host Lake County Department of Health’s newest coronavirus vaccine sites, the agency announced Tuesday. The Lake County Board of County Commissioners said Tuesday the county is now participating in the state-run vaccine appointment system, using that number. That site is not offering first doses but only the booster for people who received their first Moderna shot at a Lake County vaccine site. According to the DOH vaccine report, Lake County has administered more than 32,000 first doses of the vaccine as of Monday. The best way to find vaccine information in Lake County is online at lake.floridahealth.gov or the DOH-Lake COVID-19 Hotline at 352-268-9299.
Minnesota case marks 1st detection of Brazil variant in US
Read full article: Minnesota case marks 1st detection of Brazil variant in USBritain is the fifth country in the world to record 100,000 virus-related deaths, after the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico, and by far the smallest. The Brazilian variant was first identified in four travelers who were tested at an airport outside Tokyo, Japan. The CDC has reported at least 195 cases of the U.K. variant in the United States. The South African variant has not been discovered in the United States. Reinfection is rare, but Brazil has confirmed a case in someone with the new variant who had been sickened with a previous version several months earlier.
Mount Dora COVID-19 vaccine site offering second doses, no initial shots
Read full article: Mount Dora COVID-19 vaccine site offering second doses, no initial shotsMOUNT DORA, Fla. – The Lake County Department of Health will begin offering the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Mount Dora this week. The DOH site will only be offering second doses at this site, no first doses, according to an email from Mount Dora Mayor Cathy Hoechst. It’s unclear when the site at 6803 Old Highway 441 South will begin giving first doses again as of Jan. 25. People who got their first dose from Lake County DOH will be contacted for an appointment. Beginning in February, by appointment only, the DOH will begin administering the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Lake County ready to begin giving out 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Read full article: Lake County ready to begin giving out 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccineThe Lake County Department of Health will begin offering second dose COVID-19 immunizations next week. Second dose recipients will need to have a photo ID and the CDC vaccination card provided at their first shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people should get their second shot as close to the recommended 3-week or 1-month interval as possible. However, there is no maximum interval between the first and second doses for either vaccine and you should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval. After nearly a month of chaos during Florida’s rollout of vaccines to its most vulnerable residents the state opened a vaccine appointment hotline.
Department of Health in Marion County moving vaccine operations to Paddock Mall
Read full article: Department of Health in Marion County moving vaccine operations to Paddock MallThe Department of Health in Marion County is moving its COVID-19 vaccination operations to Paddock Mall, located at 3100 Southwest College Road in Ocal, beginning on Tuesday. The site, a joint venture with AdventHealth Ocala, Marion County Emergency Management, and Paddock Mall, will be available for vaccinations by appointment only. The site at Paddock Mall will be a walk-up operation instead of a drive-through operation that other vaccination sites have used. People with vaccination appointments will park at the Paddock Mall entrance nearest the Belk department store entrance on Southwest College Road. The Paddock Mall vaccination site is currently scheduled to be open for appointments each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Select Publix pharmacy locations will offer coronavirus vaccine shots in Florida
Read full article: Select Publix pharmacy locations will offer coronavirus vaccine shots in FloridaRon DeSantis revealed some Publix grocery store pharmacies will offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible groups during an impromptu news conference last week. According to the website, 11 Marion county locations, eight Hernando County stores and three Citrus County locations will offer the shots. “Tomorrow morning when customers wake up they can go online, and they can start scheduling appointments,” Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous said Wednesday. DeSantis said if the pilot program goes well Publix could offer vaccines at more of its locations around the state. The county health department opened up reservations on Dec. 28 but after receiving more than 50,000 requests, closed its application portal.
Polk County opens COVID-19 vaccine appointment hotline for seniors
Read full article: Polk County opens COVID-19 vaccine appointment hotline for seniorsAP Illustration/Peter HamlinPOLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Polk County Department of Health will open a phoneline Friday to begin making vaccine appointments for people 65 and older. The health care group includes EMTs and paramedics as well as Department of Health staff. To make an appointment in Polk County, call 863-298-7500 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. “Polk County’s Board of County Commissioners has partnered with the Florida Department of Health to help facilitate and expedite the vaccinations in our county,” Polk County Commission Chairman Rick Wilson said in a statement. Polk County received its first doses of the shots on Dec. 28 and has given out more than 5,400.
Seminole County debuts mobile unit to help vaccinate senior communities
Read full article: Seminole County debuts mobile unit to help vaccinate senior communitiesSEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Serenity Towers in Sanford was transformed into a coronavirus vaccination site Tuesday morning, with the introduction of its mobile unit. “We started mobile delivery today to individuals that are transportation disadvantaged and seniors,” said Alan Harris, Seminole County’s Emergency Director. “I have grandkids and it was nice (of) the health department and the fire department to come out and help us today,” she said. Seminole County is actively hiring and recruiting volunteers to help with consent forms and the logistics of setting up these mobile sites. Seminole County plans to bring the mobile units out to Hacienda Village, Palm Valley and The Tremont senior communities by Saturday to vaccinate even more seniors.
Marion County suspends vaccine appointment registration with 50,000 requests
Read full article: Marion County suspends vaccine appointment registration with 50,000 requests(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The Department of Health in Marion County is set to begin providing people 65 and older with their first doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday after more than 50,000 people requested appointments for shots. The county opened registration for appointments on Dec. 28 but after receiving more than 50,000 requests, closed its application portal. After the call back and screening process, they should receive a vaccine appointment. Staff will call to schedule a vaccination appointment as vaccine becomes available. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a two-shot series, with the second shot being provided 28 days after the first shot.
Some health care workers have been told they can’t get the COVID-19 vaccine
Read full article: Some health care workers have been told they can’t get the COVID-19 vaccineSEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Some health care workers not employed or affiliated by hospital systems have been told they can’t get the coronavirus vaccine. Ron DeSantis’ executive order clearly names health care workers as a priority. However, there is confusion as to where and when those health care workers outside of the hospital systems can be vaccinated. Last week, the Seminole County Department of Health was given 8,100 vaccinations to administer to those 65 and older and non-hospital health care workers, but Harris said they got a call from the state to not incorporate health care workers. Proof of employment can include a work identification badge or paystub from health care employer.
Florida reports nearly 13,500 new cases as state begins inoculating 4 million seniors
Read full article: Florida reports nearly 13,500 new cases as state begins inoculating 4 million seniorsSeniors who were eager to protect themselves against COVID-19 formed long lines snaked around Orange County Convention Center’s north concourse for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine appointments on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Florida reported its highest positivity rate for new infections in months at nearly 23%. Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on Dec. 30:CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 13,495 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,306,123 cases since March. Editor’s note: Along with the resources previously utilized by News 6 (state and county-by-county data), as of Dec. 7, WKMG has added state data pulled from the Florida Department of Health’s Florida COVID19 State Testing Totals. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.
UK is first to authorize easy-to-handle AstraZeneca vaccine
Read full article: UK is first to authorize easy-to-handle AstraZeneca vaccineHundreds of thousands of people in the U.K. have already received at least one shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use, did not endorse one vaccine over the other. Britain’s action likely means the World Health Organization could soon clear the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in a global effort to help poor countries, called COVAX. The European Medicines Agency said it is still assessing the AstraZeneca vaccine and has asked the company for more information on its quality, safety and effectiveness. In addition to the Serum Institute, AstraZeneca has deals with vaccine makers in Brazil, South Africa and China.
The Latest: South Korea enforces tough measures in prisons
Read full article: The Latest: South Korea enforces tough measures in prisonsThe others are the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, insurance commissioner and Kansas Supreme Court chief justice and four Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature. The legislative leaders and the state’s Republican attorney general passed, for now, because not all health care workers and nursing home residents have received theirs. The governor also said Wednesday that “hundreds” of other, non-elected state officials have been made eligible for early vaccines by their agencies. The others are the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, insurance commissioner and Kansas Supreme Court chief justice and four Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Most of those Republicans said they didn’t want to jump in line ahead of health care workers, nursing home residents or other vulnerable Kansans.
Orange County rolls out plan to vaccinate 65+ residents at Convention Center
Read full article: Orange County rolls out plan to vaccinate 65+ residents at Convention CenterORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County leaders revealed the plan to vaccinate older residents and keep the community informed on broader COVID-19 vaccination plans that include a website, app, text, email and community centers. The Orange County Department of Health began administering shots to EMTs and paramedics at the Orange County Convention Center on Saturday. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said beginning Tuesday, people 65 and older can begin getting their vaccines at the Orange County Convention Center between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Appointments will be required and the site is open to anyone, not just Orange County residents, according to county officials. “Wear your mask, help stop spread.”The goal is to vaccinate 1,500 residents per day at the Orange County Convention Center.
Florida seniors next in line for vaccine as state reports 11,000 new COVID-19 cases
Read full article: Florida seniors next in line for vaccine as state reports 11,000 new COVID-19 cases[READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: With Moderna vaccine shipments arriving, Florida reports 10,000 new COVID-19 cases]If you are having trouble viewing the dashboard on mobile, click here. All state-supported COVID-19 testing sites will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on Dec. 23:CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 11,036 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,234,399 cases since March. Editor’s note: Along with the resources previously utilized by News 6 (state and county-by-county data), as of Dec. 7, WKMG has added state data pulled from the Florida Department of Health’s Florida COVID19 State Testing Totals. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.
Lava lake forms as Hawaii volcano erupts after 2-year break
Read full article: Lava lake forms as Hawaii volcano erupts after 2-year breakA plume rises near active fissures in the crater of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. A spokeswoman for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park says the volcanic activity is a risk to people in the park Monday and that caution is needed. Geological Survey via AP)HONOLULU – Lava was rising more than 3 feet (1 meter) per hour in the deep crater of a Hawaii volcano that began erupting over the weekend after a two-year break, scientists said Tuesday. Kilauea volcano within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island was gushing molten rock from at least two vents inside its summit crater, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It had a lava lake in its crater for the last decade of that eruption.
Florida governor decries data scientist’s claims agents mishandled search of her home
Read full article: Florida governor decries data scientist’s claims agents mishandled search of her homeOn Monday, state agents served a search warrant at the home of Rebekah Jones, an ex-health department employee. According to the warrant, Jones’ IP address was connected to a message sent in November on the alert system. Jones was fired from the Florida Department of Health in May for unauthorized public comments about the state’s COVID-19 data. “They did a search warrant. Why did they do a search warrant on the house?
Gov. DeSantis appointee quits over raid on ex-state worker’s home
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis appointee quits over raid on ex-state worker’s homeTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A man appointed to a commission that recommends judicial appointments to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has resigned citing the search warrant served on a former Department of Health employee who has criticized the state’s COVID-19 data. Ron Filipowski announced his resignation from the 12th Circuit Judicial Nomination Commission on Twitter on Tuesday, saying a raid at the home of Rebekah Jones was unconscionable. [WATCH: Florida COVID-19 dashboard creator’s home raided after department of health complaint]Jones was fired in May. “I no longer wish to serve the current government of Florida in any capacity,” Filipowski said in his resignation letter.
Florida COVID-19 dashboard creator’s home raided after department of health complaint
Read full article: Florida COVID-19 dashboard creator’s home raided after department of health complaintAgents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement raided the home of a former Department of Health employee Monday credited with creating the state’s COVID-19 tracking dashboard. Agents were looking for evidence that she unlawfully gained access to a health department messaging platform, according to the warrant. Rebekah Jones was fired from the Florida Department of Health in May after she says she declined to “manipulate” state virus numbers. Agents were given permission in the warrant to seize computer hardware, software and other documents in the Dec. 3 warrant. Officials with the Florida Department of Health declined to comment for this story, directing News 6 to the FDLE.
UK stocks up on vaccines, hopes to start virus shots in days
Read full article: UK stocks up on vaccines, hopes to start virus shots in daysIt now hopes to hit a more positive milestone by becoming one of the first countries in the world to start vaccinating its population against COVID-19. The U.K. government has agreed to buy more than 350 million doses of vaccines from seven different producers, should they prove effective, as it prepares to vaccinate as many of the country’s 67 million people as possible. The Moderna vaccine is expected to be referred soon to the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, to see if it is safe and effective. Britain has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and 100 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. The Moderna vaccine, which also needs to be stored at freezer temperatures, was also about 95% effective in clinical trials, the company said.
The Latest: Italy imposing night curfew, other restrictions
Read full article: The Latest: Italy imposing night curfew, other restrictionsSpain has a national 14-day cumulative number of 527 coronavirus cases per 100,000 population, one of the highest in Europe. The rolling average of daily deaths rose from 10.1 to 15.3 and the positivity average increased from 8.9% to 11.8%. ___THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands reported coronavirus cases fell by 5%, the first decrease in weeks. Dutch public health institute says confirmed coronavirus cases in the past seven days went from 67,542 to 64,087. It lays out new rules for what are considered “essential” items during a monthlong lockdown effort to slow coronavirus infections.
COVID-19 cases close early voting location in Brevard County
Read full article: COVID-19 cases close early voting location in Brevard CountyPALM BAY, Fla. – The Brevard County Supervisor of Elections has temporarily closed the Palm Bay Administrative Office after election workers tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Friday. A news release from Scott’s office did not say how many workers tested positive. Scott said voters did not have direct exposure with those who tested positive for COVID-19 because of safety measure at the polling place, including half-inch ballistic glass between workers and voters. [TRENDING: Presidential candidates visit Florida amid rising COVID-19 cases| Iconic Parliament House plans to close | Trends emerging in Orange County’s early voting numbers]“We have been maintaining stringent safety protocols since the Presidential Preference Primary in March,” Scott said. A complete list of Brevard’s early voting sites is available at VoteBrevard.gov.
Florida says it will give more scrutiny to COVID-19 deaths
Read full article: Florida says it will give more scrutiny to COVID-19 deathsTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida plans to more closely scrutinize deaths attributed to the coronavirus, as the Department of Health notes that some people listed as COVID-19 fatalities died months after testing positive for the disease. Florida reported more than 5,500 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the seven-day average in daily reported cases to about 3,300. The Florida Department of Health also confirmed 57 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 16,470. The state previously had county medical examiners confirm COVID-19 deaths, but then switched to having treating physicians do so. The department previously has given guidance on excluding coronavirus deaths if someone who tested positive died for another reason.
Orange County epidemiologist says COVID-19 cases are shifting toward younger people
Read full article: Orange County epidemiologist says COVID-19 cases are shifting toward younger peopleORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Nearly a month after Florida entered Phase 3 of reopening, workers such as Orange County epidemiologist Charles Letizia stay busy as the number of cases continues to climb, more than 8,500 in Orange County in just the past two months, according to officials at the Department of Health in Orange County. “The age demographic has shifted younger with a lot of our cases, especially with schools and colleges and universities resuming classes,” Letizia said. News 6 met with Letizia back in May, when statewide new daily coronavirus cases were only about half of what we’re seeing throughout October. News 6 got a rare look at the inside of the offices of case investigators who conduct contact tracing, the process of finding out who has been exposed to the coronavirus after a positive case. Since the pandemic began, leaders changed the way they conduct contact tracing in Central Florida.
The Latest: Sri Lanka orders more curfews over virus cluster
Read full article: The Latest: Sri Lanka orders more curfews over virus cluster(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Authorities in Sri Lanka have closed the country’s main fish market and widened the curfew in many parts of the island nation following a surge of coronavirus infections related to a new cluster centered on a garment factory. — Boston schools will switch to all-remote learning in response to rising coronavirus cases in the city. Kelly said Wednesday that two-thirds of the state’s confirmed cases now are outside the Wichita and Kansas City region. On Wednesday, the state reported its first patient to the field hospital on the state fairgrounds in West Allis outside of Milwaukee. ___ROME — The Italian region of Lazio, which includes Rome, is imposing an overnight curfew to combat surging coronavirus infections.
Merritt Island High football team in quarantine after positive COVID-19 test
Read full article: Merritt Island High football team in quarantine after positive COVID-19 testMERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – Brevard Public School officials announced Monday the Merritt Island High School football team will spend two weeks in quarantine after a positive COVID-19 test connected to the team. As a result, the game against Satellite and Astronaut high schools will be canceled and Merritt Island will forfeit, according to BPS. The Department of Health-Brevard County has notified all families of athletes and staff who were in close contact with the person who tested positive. Area where the football team practices and congregated will undergo deep cleaning. According to the last COVID-19 update on the BPS dashboard, there were 33 reported cases last week, resulting in 402 quarantines district-wide.
COVID-19 cases on the rise as President Trump campaigns in Florida
Read full article: COVID-19 cases on the rise as President Trump campaigns in FloridaCOVID-19 cases on the rise as President Trump campaigns in FloridaPublished: October 12, 2020, 2:38 pmThe department of health reported 1,533 new cases on Monday, bringing the state’s overall total to 736,024.
DC faults White House over Rose Garden event, urges testing
Read full article: DC faults White House over Rose Garden event, urges testingBowser said earlier this week that repeated attempts to contact the White House over the outbreak had received a “very cursory” response but that she believed the necessary steps were being taken. “There are established public health protocols at the White House that are federal in nature,” Bowser said on Monday. The Trump White House has operated for months in open violation of several D.C. virus regulations, hosting multiple gatherings that exceeded the local 50-person limit and in which many participants didn’t wear masks. Washington’s local virus regulations don’t apply on federal property, but the current outbreak has blurred those distinctions. White House spokesman Judd Deere said Monday that the White House “has established a robust contact tracing program led by the White House Medical Unit with CDC integration to provide appropriate recommendations.”On Wednesday, White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern detailed the in-house contact tracing regime to reporters.
Social Club of Palm Coast to reopen after COVID-19 outbreak closed establishment for 1 month
Read full article: Social Club of Palm Coast to reopen after COVID-19 outbreak closed establishment for 1 monthFLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Renovations are underway at The Social Club of Palm Coast after dozens of COVID-19 cases shut down the facility last month, according to Club President George April. The club took to Facebook on Sept.12, calling it an outbreak and tried notifying everyone who attended the live music event. Paula Tardif is a social club member and volunteer who tested positive for the virus last month. The Flagler County Health Department said it can’t comment on COVID-19 cases association with The Social Club of Palm Coast. However, it released the following statement:"Because this is an ongoing epidemiological investigation, the Department of Health cannot comment on cases associated with the Palm Coast Social Club.
Bunnell Elementary School employee tests positive for COVID-19
Read full article: Bunnell Elementary School employee tests positive for COVID-19FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. A Bunnell Elementary School employee has tested positive for COVID-19 and in the coming days, its possible that students and other employees could be asked to quarantine. The Flagler County Health Department will be notified and conduct contact tracing to determine who has been in close contact with this individual. The health department will monitor the situation in case any additional cases should arise. Please know that Bunnell Elementary is following proper protocols to keep the school environment as safe as possible for all students and staff. Flagler Schools is working with you to take all steps to ensure our schools are safe and provide you with accurate information, Sanfilippo wrote.
Harmony Middle School to close after 10 staff members test positive for COVID-19
Read full article: Harmony Middle School to close after 10 staff members test positive for COVID-19OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. Harmony Middle School will shut its campus down for in-person learning for the next two weeks after 10 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. School District of Osceola County Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace sent a message to parents notifying them of the upcoming closure. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted multiple staff members at Harmony Middle School during this past week. According to the district, 595 students and 78 staff members have been in brick-and-mortar classrooms and Harmony Middle School this week. So far, Harmony Middle School is the only one thats made the decision to temporarily close its doors.
Flagler Beach police announce Masks for Motorists Safety Campaign
Read full article: Flagler Beach police announce Masks for Motorists Safety CampaignFLAGLER BEACH, Fla. Some drivers stopped for speeding along a stretch of A1A in Flagler County will be given something instead of a ticket. The Flagler Beach Police Department is teaming up with the Department of Health for a new safety campaign called Masks for Motorists.Officers will be patrolling an area of A1A that recently saw a change in the posted speed limit. When a driver is stopped, police say instead of receiving a ticket, they will be given a written warning and a pack of cloth face masks. Police say the goal of the campaign is to educate drivers on the new speed limits while also providing support during the pandemic. The campaign runs through Aug. 31.
Flagler County expands coronavirus testing operations, opens new site
Read full article: Flagler County expands coronavirus testing operations, opens new site(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. Flagler County Department of Health says its expanding its coronavirus testing operations through Saturday, including a new testing location. With the exception of Cattlemans Hall at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, appointments will not be required. The first 60 individuals will be tested.
Attendees at graduation ceremonies in Brevard County test positive for COVID-19
Read full article: Attendees at graduation ceremonies in Brevard County test positive for COVID-19BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. Attendees at graduation ceremonies in Brevard County have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the district. The positive cases came from ceremonies from Palm Bay Magnet High School and Brevard Virtual School, according to school officials. The Department of Health is asking all the attendees of the ceremonies to quarantine for two weeks. This is not the first time positive cases were related to graduation ceremonies in Central Florida. More than 200 Bayside High School grads and their guests had to quarantine after an attendee had COVID-19.
Rising coronavirus cases in Marion County attributed to jail facilities
Read full article: Rising coronavirus cases in Marion County attributed to jail facilitiesOn Monday, the Department of Health-Marion County said in a news release of the nearly 350 new positive cases, 202 were from correctional facilities. Additionally, 952 inmates at Lowell Correctional, 577 at FWRC and 122 at Marion Correctional are under medical quarantine. Staff members at all three facilities have tested positive as well, including 20 at Lowell, 22 at FWRC and 5 at Marion Correctional. As of Tuesday, 3,228 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Marion County since March, including 51 who have died as a result of the virus. None of the deaths have been connected to the correctional facilities, according to the Department of Health.
Marion County drive-thru COVID-19 testing site moving to Southeastern Livestock Pavilion
Read full article: Marion County drive-thru COVID-19 testing site moving to Southeastern Livestock PavilionMARION COUNTY, Fla. The Department of Health in Marion County will soon be moving its drive-thru COVID-19 testing site and making some changes as to how the site is operated. Starting Aug. 11, the site will move from the departments Ocala office to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on Jacksonville Road in Ocala. Once that location opens, residents will no longer need to make appointments and instead, testing will be offered on a first come, first served basis. The appointment-based process allowed us to avoid long wait times that people using many other testing sites in the state experienced, Florida Department of Health in Marion County administrator Mark Lander said in a news release. Anyone with questions should call the Marion County COVID-19 Hotline at 352-644-2590.
Volusia County Schools will delay start of fall practices
Read full article: Volusia County Schools will delay start of fall practicesVOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. Volusia County Schools announced the district will not start fall practices on July 27. School officials will continue to monitor the COVID-19 conditions and will make a decision later to begin fall practice. The district is working with the Volusia County Department of Health and state officials on a start date. Conditioning will continue to take place at the moment. Fall sports in Volusia County include:FootballSideline cheerGirls volleyballCross CountrySwimmingBowlingGolfAny questions about a specific sport can contact theirs schoolss athletic director.
The Latest: India's virus cases jump by another 28,000
Read full article: The Latest: India's virus cases jump by another 28,000(AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)Indias number of coronavirus cases jumped by another 28,000 on Tuesday and are fast approaching 1 million. The 28,498 cases reported in the past 24 hours took the national total to 906,752. Eight of Indias 28 states, including the worst-hit Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and New Delhi, account for nearly 90% of cases. ___HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: The legions of small businesses that employee most of the world's workers are struggling; whether they survive will have reverberations in whole communities New York Gov. The rebels have acknowledged just four virus cases, leaving aid workers, local health officials and doctors to warn the outbreak was far worse than authorities would admit.
Quarantine loopholes bring fresh efforts to fight outbreaks
Read full article: Quarantine loopholes bring fresh efforts to fight outbreaksThe city of Melbourne in Victoria recorded 270 new coronavirus infections overnight, with more than 4,000 cases now active across the state. India, which has the third-most cases, was rapidly nearing 1 million cases with a jump of more than 28,000 reported Tuesday. The ebb and flow of the pandemic has governments scrambling to quash fresh outbreaks while attempting to salvage economies from the devastation of long shutdowns and travel restrictions. Hawaiis governor pushed back by another month plans to waive a 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers who test negative for COVID-19. He cited rising numbers of local cases, uncontrolled outbreaks in several U.S. mainland states and a shortage of testing supplies.
Heres how Florida hospitals are reporting current COVID-19 hospitalizations
Read full article: Heres how Florida hospitals are reporting current COVID-19 hospitalizationsAccording to the state Department of Health statistics, 15,299 people tested positive, for a total of 269,811 cases, and 45 deaths were recorded. Since the pandemic began in March, 4,346 people have died in Florida of COVID-19, the state says. According to the AHCA database, as of Friday evening, there are 7,507 coronavirus patients in hospitals across the state. The data shows Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have the highest numbers of current COVID-19 patients. Since the Florida Department of Health began reporting cases of the coronavirus on March 1 the state has included the overall total of hospitalizations but not the current number.
Volusia County Department of Health offering COVID-19 testing at 2 locations
Read full article: Volusia County Department of Health offering COVID-19 testing at 2 locationsVOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Department of Health announced it would begin offering free COVID-19 testing to the public on Wednesday. According to a news release, testing will be available by appointment only at two locations in Volusia County, weather permitting:1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach. To schedule an appointment at this location, please call 386-871-3462775 Harley Strickland Blvd., Orange City. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to provide consent for testing, department officials said. The Department of Health will be using the (PCR) swab for testing.
Delayed test results causing frustration among potential COVID-19 patients
Read full article: Delayed test results causing frustration among potential COVID-19 patientsThe delay is causing big problems and frustration for some who are getting tested for the novel coronavirus in Central Florida. News 6 saw long wait times again Thursday at the Orange County Convention Center, which leaders say is the busiest COVID-19 testing site in Florida. State health leaders told News 6 the delay in testing statewide is in partly due to the high demand for testing and a nationwide delay in testing results. Orange County Commissioner Victoria Siplin is doing her part during the pandemic and dropped off food and masks to seniors at the facility, since many of them are still in quarantine while waiting for their test results. The Florida Department of Health said their results came back Wednesday and are being processed.
Florida health officer wants people to wear a mask when going to a bar
Read full article: Florida health officer wants people to wear a mask when going to a barORANGE COUNTY, Fla. The Health Officer for the Orange County Department of Health wants people to wear a mask when they go to a bar to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Pino said one bar in Orange County was linked to 20 COVID-19 cases over a couple of nights. Coronavirus cases in Orange County are up 202 percent from the week before, according to Dr. Pino. On Monday, Dr. Pino said six people were on ventilators and 70 people were hospitalized outside of the intensive care unit in Orange County. The Florida Department of Health reports there are 55 new deaths from COVID-19 since June 15.
What happened to flattening COVID-19 curve? Data shows Florida is among states with increases
Read full article: What happened to flattening COVID-19 curve? Data shows Florida is among states with increasesORLANDO, Fla. Florida is among several southern states no longer making progress in flattening the curve of the coronavirus, according to data from the state Department of Health and Johns Hopkins University. According to the Johns Hopkins graphs detailing state-specific data, two-week increases in cases are highlighted in orange, or green if they are decreasing in number. A graph from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center shows the history of coronavirus cases in Florida from March to June 16. This is the largest jump in newly reported cases of COVID-19 since the disease was detected in the state on March 1. The new statistics bring the total number of coronavirus cases reported in Florida to 80,109, along with 2,993 total deaths.
We are on our way up: Orange County sees significant increase in coronavirus cases
Read full article: We are on our way up: Orange County sees significant increase in coronavirus casesORANGE COUNTY, Fla. As is the case with the rest of the state, Orange County is seeing more and more COVID-19 patients with the numbers hitting a height the area hasnt seen in weeks. As of Thursday, Orange County has had 2,678 cases since the virus was first detected here in March, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. pic.twitter.com/H6XSxNw2Tl Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) June 11, 2020We are on our way up, there is no other way to describe it, Pino said. That may explain why hospitalizations have not seen a significant increase despite the uptick in cases, according to Pino. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the figures prove the pandemic isnt over and residents cant let their guard down.
Free curbside coronavirus testing coming to Seminole County
Read full article: Free curbside coronavirus testing coming to Seminole CountyAll rights reserved)SANFORD, Fla. Curbside COVID-19 testing will be offered at the Seminole County Department of Health to residents at no cost. The DOH is partnering with the county government to bring testing to the Sanford community, according to a news release. Testing will take place at DOH headquarters at 400 West Airport Blvd. Testing at this site is free and available to anyone regardless of symptoms, but appointments are required, county officials said. Anyone who would like to schedule an appointment should call (407) 665-3000 and press option 1 or call (407) 665-3700.
Orange County could see a second wave of coronavirus
Read full article: Orange County could see a second wave of coronavirusORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Dr. Raul Pino, of the Orange County Department of Health, said he thinks the county is on the way to a second wave of COVID-19 but said the timing of when we could see it, is hard to predict. Numbers show that over the past week, the state of Florida has seen five days of COVID-19 cases totaling over 1,000. Dr. Pino said the increase in the number of cases has been steady, adding steady is the keyword. Health officials said the Orange County overall percent positive rate for June 8, is 2.9 percent. Dr. Pino also adds the numbers we are seeing now are reflective of Memorial Day weekend.