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
Statewide Cases Increase By More Than 11,000, Resident Deaths Increase By More Than 100
Updated Thursday at 5 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 11,335 positive cases of COVID-19 Thursday. Florida has a total of 1,094,697 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Thursday's update also included the announcement of 129 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 19,591. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 19,851.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 7,420 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 28 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
FDA Issues Warning On Masks Worn For COVID Protection. Someone’s Face Got Burned
Updated Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
The FDA issued a safety warning about masks on Wednesday, specifically for people having an MRI during the pandemic: If the mask has metal in it, don’t wear it during the screening.
Someone has already come out of a neck MRI with facial burns.
“The report describes burns to the patient’s face consistent with the shape of the face mask,” the alert said. “Burns from metal objects worn by a patient during an MRI exam are a known issue, and patients should not wear any metal during an MRI.”
— By David J. Neal / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
American And Spirit Airlines Launch COVID-19 Tests For Flyers
Updated Thursday at 8:47 a.m.
American Airlines and Spirit Airlines have kicked off COVID-19 testing programs for passengers who are traveling from U.S. airports.
The American initiative, which started Wednesday, is a home-testing program to be operated with a company called LetsGetChecked, a direct-to-consumer, at-home health testing firm. Test results can be used for flights on or after Saturday, Dec. 12, the airline said.
The offer comes less than a week after Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Spirit announced they are partnering to make available coronavirus tests to all travelers who use the Broward County airport.
— By David Lyons / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
With COVID-19 Cases Rising Across State, Miami Halts Jury Trials Through Jan. 31
Updated Thursday at 8:45 a.m.
Faced with rising coronavirus cases across Florida, Miami-Dade is suspending jury trials through Jan. 31.
Most other hearings will continue remotely via Zoom, as they have been for months, as Florida’s largest court system continues to grapple with the pandemic and a rising backlog of cases, particularly in criminal cases.
“This was determined in consideration of the rise in new COVID-19 cases throughout Florida and Miami-Dade County and the upcoming holidays,” Miami-Dade Chief Judge Bertila Soto announced in a press release on Wednesday.
— By David Ovalle The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
