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.
To receive WLRN's coronavirus updates newsletter on Wednesdays and Saturdays, sign up here.
QUICK UPDATES
Publix’s Vaccine Sign-ups Now Will Include Broward and Miami-Dade Counties
Updated Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Publix is now offering vaccines at 136 stores in Broward and Miami‑Dade counties, the supermarket giant announced Thursday.
Appointment scheduling starts 7 a.m. Friday. Vaccinations are by appointment only at www.publix.com/covidvaccine.
Reservations are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.
Read more at our news partner the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— By Lisa J. Huriash / Sun Sentinel
Florida Adds More Than 6,600 New Cases, 138 New Resident Deaths
Updated Thursday at 2:40 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 6,640 positive cases of COVID-19 Thursday. Florida has a total of 1,892,301 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Thursday's update also included the announcement of 138 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 30,478. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 31,018.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 10,177 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 46 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
Winn-Dixie Expands Vaccine Sign-Ups With Two More South Florida Sites
Updated Thursday at 10:48 a.m.
Winn-Dixie has announced two more South Florida vaccination sites, broadening its distribution of doses across Florida.
The new locations are at 1150 NW 54 St. and 1155 NW 11 St., both in Miami.
Thursday’s expansion adds 10 counties and 26 new store locations, although Broward and Palm Beach counties still haven’t been added to the list.
Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— By Lisa J. Huriash / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
Walmart Is Opening A Pop-up Drive-Thru In South Florida For COVID Vaccines
Updated Thursday at 6:30 a.m
Walmart on Thursday will open a drive-thru vaccination site in Broward County for seniors 65 and older and healthcare workers with direct patient contact.
The big box retailer, which describes the site as a pop-up, will administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Other Walmart stores across the state will also open the temporary drive-thru sites, including in Orlando and Jacksonville.
The vaccine is free, courtesy of taxpayers, and insurance is not required. People interested in scheduling a first-dose appointment at the Lauderdale Lakes location, 3301 N. State Road 7, can call 833-886-0023 to check for availability.
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
— By Michelle Marchante / The Miami Herald
Free Life-Saving Treatment For Coronavirus Patients, Just Like Trump Received, Is Going Unused In South Florida
Updated Thursday at 6:23 a.m
A free life-saving COVID-19 treatment available in South Florida is going unused at local hospitals.
Doctors say not enough people in South Florida seem to know about the treatment — an infusion of antibodies — which, when administered early after a COVID diagnosis, can prevent symptoms from worsening and stave off hospitalization or death. The infusion, the same treatment given to President Donald Trump when he tested positive for COVID-19, takes one hour, followed by an hour of observation before patients are released to self-monitor at home.
“We have seen unbelievable results,” said Dr. Boaz Rosenblat, medical director of the Emergency Department at Memorial Pembroke. “Patients have gone from sitting in beds lethargic and not eating to waking up and having breakfast and feeling energized. I’m a huge advocate based on what I have seen.”
Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— By Cindy Krischer Goodman / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
DeSantis Expects To Lower COVID Vaccine Age To 60
Updated Thursday at 6:19 a.m
With Florida poised to hit the 50% mark for the number of seniors who have received coronavirus vaccines, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday indicated he may start lowering the age limit for those who can be inoculated against the deadly virus.
While he isn’t backing away from his “Seniors First” strategy, he said he is likely to lower the age incrementally, allowing those who are over the age of 60, or possibly as young as 55, to begin lining up for vaccines.
He had already said that police and teachers who are 50 years old and up will be allowed to get shots at federally operated vaccination sites that are to open next week in Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa.
Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post.
— By Jane Musgrave / The Palm Beach Post
