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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This live updates post has been updated to add additional information about the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center's vaccine site.
QUICK UPDATES
Veterans Prioritized At New Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Site
Updated Thursday at 10:20 a.m.
The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center partnered with Indian River State College to launch a pop-up vaccine clinic Wednesday for veterans seeking the COVID-19 shot.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs says it's working with a limited amount of the three authorized COVID-19 vaccines and has developed a phased plan with the CDC and other federal agencies.
From March 3 through 5, veterans who currently receive care at the VA can receive first shots of the vaccine by "appointment or as walk-ins at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and/or its outlying clinics."
The shots will be administered at the clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For the second dose, patients must return to the same location.
The vaccine clinic is located in Building 14 on the main campus of the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, 7305 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach
To make a COVID-19 appointment call: 561-422-5220
The site's opening comes after the Palm Beach Post reported in January that the VA was turning away some veterans seeking the vaccine because a 2006 law prevented high-income earning veterans from participating.
The VA is prioritizing veterans aged 65 and older and people younger than 65 with high risk medical conditions as determined by the CDC.
— By Wilkine Brutus / WLRN News
Florida Adds More Than 6,000 New Cases, 132 New Resident Deaths
Updated Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 6,014 positive cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. The state has a total of 1,924,114 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Wednesday's update also included the announcement of 132 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 31,267. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 31,829.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 10,415 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 46 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
DeSantis: Doctors Will Decide Which People Under 65 Can Get Vaccine
Updated Wednesday at 1:45 p.m.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that doctors will have the discretion to decide which people under 65 have medical conditions that qualify them to get a COVID vaccination.
Wednesday is the first day people under 65 can get the vaccine because of various conditions such as heart disease, obesity, cancer and pregnancy with permission of their doctor. They will be required to bring a form filled out by their doctor to the vaccine provider. Previously, only hospitals had been able to administer the shots to younger people because of medical conditions.
But while the federal government has issued lists of conditions that should qualify, the governor said it will be up to the patient’s doctor to make the call.
Read more at our news partner the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— By David Fleshler / Sun Sentinel
State Opens New COVID Vaccination Site In Overtown. No Appointment Necessary
Updated Wednesday at 5:50 a.m
The state of Florida has opened a new walk-up COVID-19 vaccination site in Overtown, a no-appointment-necessary option that leaders hope will expand access to residents in one of Miami’s oldest Black neighborhoods.
The vaccination site at 1551 NW First Ave. is now open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily for those eligible for COVID vaccines under state regulations, including Florida residents 65 and older and healthcare workers. Seniors must bring ID to verify their age, and healthcare workers must bring their professional license.
Beginning Wednesday, school employees, police officers and fire rescue workers who are 50 and older can begin receiving vaccines. Police and fire rescue personnel must bring their badge or department ID. School employees must bring their work-issued identification.
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
— By Joey Flechas and Ana Claudia Chacin / Miami Herald
Behind On Rent Because Of COVID? Miami-Dade Is Offering To Pay It. Here’s How To Apply
Updated Wednesday at 5:48 a.m
Colombia became the first country in hard-hit Latin America to receive coronavirus vaccines through COVAX, a World Health Organization-backed alliance aimed at getting shots to countries with fewer resources.
A plane carrying 117,000 Pfizer/BioNTech doses landed at Bogota’s El Dorado Airport Monday, arriving as many in the region grow impatient over the slow pace of the COVAX vaccine rollout.
“Today marks a very important milestone,” Colombian President Iván Duque said. “Today COVAX makes its first delivery in the Western Hemisphere. And the first country to receive it is Colombia.”
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
— By Michelle Marchante / Miami Herald
