WLRN staff continues to add to community resource lists, including this articleon where kids and families can get food while schools are closed, and this postabout whether and where to get tested for coronavirus.
The dedicated website for the Florida Department of Health, including information about symptoms and numbers of cases, can be found here.
The dedicated website from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be found here.
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QUICK UPDATES
COVID-19 In Florida: 6,820 New Infections, The Highest For November
Updated Sunday at 4:40 p.m.
Florida health officials on Sunday reported another 6,820 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number of new infections since mid-August. The high number of new cases comes even after many testing sites in South Florida closed temporarily for the weekend with due to the approach of Tropical Storm Eta.
Sunday’s count extended Florida’s streak of days with more than 4,000 cases to eight.
The state also reported another 22 deaths from the virus, bringing the total fatalities from the virus in Florida to 17,333.
Read more at our news partner the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- Cindy Krischer Goodman/Sun Sentinel
COVID-19 Resident Death Toll Passes 17,000 As Florida Adds 5,245 New Cases
Updated Friday at 2:55 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health on Friday confirmed 5,245 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s known total to 832,625. Also, 53 resident deaths were announced, bringing the resident death toll to 17,014.
One new non-resident death was also announced, bringing the non-resident toll to 210, according to Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard.
Since the beginning of October, Florida has seen an increase in newly confirmed cases, and Friday is the sixth consecutive day that the state’s single-day case count is higher than 4,000. On Thursday, Florida reported 6,257 cases of COVID-19, the most seen since mid-August — excluding Quest Diagnostics’ data dump.
Read more at our news partner the Miami Herald.
—Michelle Marchante/Miami Herald
Demand For COVID Tests Rising As Virus Surges Again In Florida
Updated Friday at 12:50 p.m.
COVID-19 cases are starting to surge across Florida and testing demand is on the rise, with some sites experiencing a two-hour backup and others facing an early morning crush of people waiting in line to get swabbed before work or school.
To accommodate the demand, some test sites are shutting their gates two hours early to get to everyone in line before closing time. Others are opening more drive-thru lanes, and some private sites are extending their hours.
“This is all based on what is going on with the numbers,” said Mike Jachles, who oversees the state-run testing at Hard Rock Stadium on the Miami-Dade/Broward line. “Not only are people coming if they are concerned they are positive, but there is also more for repeat testing going on. People are coming back for peace of mind.”
— By Cindy Krischer Goodman / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
Read more from our news partner at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Nursing Home Residents Who Leave Don’t Need To Test For COVID When They Return, State Says
Updated Friday at 6:30 a.m.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, which has made a concerted effort to scale back restrictions enacted because of the coronavirus, wants to make it easier for residents of long-term care facilities to reunite with families for the holidays — even it means forgoing COVID-19 testing.
The DeSantis administration on Wednesday provided answers to questions that nursing homes and other senior centers have about the state’s visitation policies, including whether residents can leave for the holidays and whether they have to be tested when they return.
They don’t.
— Christine Sexton / News Service of Florida
Read more from our news partner at the Miami Herald.
COVID-19 Cases Continue To Jump In Miami-Dade And Broward Public Schools
Updated Friday at 6:28 a.m.
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 within Miami-Dade County public schools jumped by more than 100 people over a week’s time, according to to the school district’s online dashboard tracking the virus.
Last Friday, a total of 332 students and teachers were confirmed to have tested positive. Thursday, that number was 438.
The real number is likely significantly higher because cases are not added to the ledger until the individual’s diagnosis is confirmed by the Florida Department of Health.
— By David Goodhue / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
Coronavirus: First Criminal Trial In South Florida Since Pandemic Takes Place In Palm Beach County
Updated Friday at 6:24 a.m.
Pulling up his black mask when it creeped down his face from speaking, Assistant Public Defender Haralambos “Harry” Kaklamanakis stood before the jury Thursday, separated by a clear panel barrier, and explained that his client had waited for more than a year to have her day in court.
Because the coronavirus pandemic had delayed all trials since March around the country, he told the jurors that what they were about to do – deliberate over the facts of the case – was momentous not only for his client, but also for the future of criminal cases in Palm Beach County.
“You’ll be the first jury to make a decision in this new world of plexiglas and masks,” he said.
— By Hannah Winston/ The Palm Beach Post
Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post.
