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
Florida Adds More Than 4,300 New Cases, Statewide Total Surpasses 852,000
Updated Tuesday at 3:55 p.m.
Florida surpassed 852,000 positive cases of COVID-19 as Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 4,353 cases of COVID-19 Tuesday. Florida has a total of 852,174 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Tuesday's update also included the announcement of 69 new deaths, increasing the statewide number to 17,460. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 6,862 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 25 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
Eta May Be Gone, But These South Florida Schools Can’t Open Because Of The Storm
Updated Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
More than 20 Broward County public schools remained closed Tuesday because of flooding from Tropical Storm Eta.
Students at the 23 schools are learning online while crews work to sop up the standing water and repair damage at the campuses, according to district officials.
Along with flooding, seven schools — Everglades High School, Miramar Elementary, Castle Hill Elementary, Endeavor Primary, Fox Trail Elementary, Western High School and Norcrest Elementary — have no air conditioning or no electricity, according to the district.
Read more at our news partner the Miami Herald.
— David Goodhue/Miami Herald
Some COVID-19 Test Sites Will Reopen After Eta Passes. Flooding Will Keep A Few Closed
Updated Tuesday at 7:10 a.m.
Some of South Florida’s coronavirus testing sites and mobile testing vans will reopen Tuesday after being closed due to Eta.
But there will be a few Miami-Dade sites that will remain closed Tuesday because of flooding, including Homestead Air Reserve Park, Marlins Park, Youth Fairgrounds at Tamiami Park, South Dade Government Center, and the North Dade site at 14585 Biscayne Blvd.
The state began closing drive-thru, mobile and walk-up sites Saturday in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties in anticipation of the storm. Eta passed over Matecumbe Key around 11 p.m. Sunday, and continued to affect much of South Florida throughout the day Monday.
Check here to see which Miami-Dade testing sites are open.
The hours, operations and details of individual testing sites in the state can be found here.
— By Carli Teproff / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at the Miami Herald.
FDA Allows Emergency Use Of Eli Lilly’s Antibody Drug To Help Immune System Fight COVID-19
Updated Tuesday 7:09 a.m.
U.S. health officials have allowed emergency use of the first antibody drug to help the immune system fight COVID-19, an experimental approach against the virus that has killed more than 238,000 Americans.
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday cleared the experimental drug from Eli Lilly for people 12 and older with mild or moderate COVID-19 not requiring hospitalization. It’s a one-time treatment given through an IV.
The therapy is still undergoing additional testing to establish its safety and effectiveness. It is similar to a treatment President Donald Trump received after contracting the virus last month.
— By Matthew Perrone / The Associated Press
Read more from our news partner at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
As COVID-19 Starts To Spike, DeSantis' Orders Limit South Florida Leaders From Taking Action To Curb Virus
Updated Tuesday at 7:04 a.m.
Despite warnings that the darkest days of the pandemic could be ahead, Florida is plowing forward with a strategy that jettisons the advice of many public health experts in favor of keeping the state’s tourism-based economy fully open for business.
As hospitalizations rise, South Florida leaders — representing the hardest-hit region in the state — will have little flexibility to craft a local response that differs from Gov. Ron DeSantis' approach.
“It is very concerning, but there is very little local government can do as it relates to business closures or limiting people’s opportunities to work,” Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss said.
— By Skyler Swisher and Mario Ariza / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
Read more from our news partner at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Florida Delays Releasing Daily COVID Numbers As Nation Surpasses 10 Million Cases
Updated Tuesday at 6:44 a.m.
On a day when the total number of coronavirus cases in the United States surpassed 10 million, the Florida Department of Health for the third time in a month was hours late in releasing the state’s daily tally.
When state health officials finally posted the latest update, it provided more fodder for those who claim the deadly virus is continuing to infect Florida residents, particularly those in South Florida, at alarming rates.
The agency, which has been plagued by reporting glitches and accused of trying to hide damning information, offered no explanation for the nearly six-hour delay.
— By Jane Musgrave / The Palm Beach Post
Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post.
