WLRN staff continues to add updates on testing and vaccination sites, executive orders and messages from government officials, and the latest news on COVID-19. You can find information on free food and food distributions here.
The dedicated website for the Florida Department of Health, including information about the 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 7,700 New Cases, 228 New Resident Deaths
Updated Thursday at 4 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 7,711 positive cases of COVID-19 Thursday. Florida has a total of 1,752,330 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Thursday's update also included the announcement of 228 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 27,247. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 27,698.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 9,319 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 41 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
Need A Vaccine In The Florida Keys? College Is Giving Shots To 400 People On The List
Updated Thursday at 7:51 a.m
Nursing students and staff at the College of the Florida Keys will administer 400 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at its Lower Keys campus on Sunday.
But don’t rush to register for one of the 400 doses.
All 400 appointments will be filled before Sunday from a list of people eligible for the vaccine given to the college by the state health department.
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
— By Gwen Filosa / The Miami Herald
Parents could Let Children Repeat A Grade After COVID Disruption Under Senate Proposal
Updated Thursday at 6:10 a.m
A proposal is quickly moving through Florida’s Senate that would allow parents to have their children repeat a grade to recover from learning losses experienced during the pandemic, a choice that state law currently leaves up to school officials.
The abrupt switch to remote learning last spring, and spontaneous quarantines at many schools throughout the year have contributed to many children falling behind.
Academic setbacks have become such a concern that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran often say they are a key reason why schools must remain open during the pandemic.
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
— By Ana Ceballos / Miami Herald/ Times Tallahassee Bureau
Palm Beach County Schools To Start New Year Aug. 10
Updated Thursday at 6:02 a.m
Palm Beach County students will get a shortened summer break this year, with the new school year starting Aug. 10.
The School Board approved the calendar Wednesday, despite concerns that it cut the summer break from the traditional 10 weeks to seven. The current school year is ending June 18, three weeks later than normal, after the school district delayed the start of the year due to COVID-19.
Academic performance has plummeted this school year, as the district has struggled to simultaneously educate students at home and on campus. The numbers of F’s on report cards have tripled. Students are about six months further behind in math than in normal years, with minority students impacted the most, data shows.
Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— By Scott Travis / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
