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 5,000 New Cases, Resident Death Toll Surpasses 32,000
Updated Thursday at 3:55 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 5,065 positive cases of COVID-19 Thursday. The state has a total of 1,962,651 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Thursday's update also included the announcement of 92 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 32,040. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 32,639.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 10,674 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 47 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
As Florida Wipes Away COVID-19 Fines, Confusion Looms Over How To Enforce Safety Rules During Spring Break
Updated Thursday at 11 a.m.
Florida has just wiped away any COVID-19-related fines against people and businesses over the past year — leaving communities on Thursday trying to figure out how they’ll enforce the safety rules, especially as throngs of people hit the bars and beaches for spring break.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order on Wednesday dismissed fines that were issued against people and businesses for violating local COVID laws, including mask violations, between March 1, 2020, and this month.
Broward County Mayor Steve Geller said early Thursday they still were trying to make sense of it all — as the county is in the middle of spring break. The rules in the county still require 6 feet of separation or limited capacity. He threatened to shut down businesses that don’t follow the rules, if the governor won’t allow fines.
Read more at our news partner the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— By Lisa J. Huriash / Sun Sentinel
Black Neighborhoods On Coast To Get 1st Permanent Vaccine Site
Updated Thursday at 6:05 a.m
A permanent coronavirus vaccination site could be opened in Riviera Beach as early as next week, closing a key gap that left predominantly Black neighborhoods without access to the life-saving shots, a county commissioner said Wednesday.
A day after Palm Beach County officials said they needed the cooperation of Riviera officials to establish a site at Wells Recreation Center, city officials said they were more than willing to help. But, they said, no one had asked.
“We always stand ready, willing and able to assist,” said Riviera Beach Fire Chief John Curd. “I haven’t heard anything from the state or the county about making the site permanent.”
— By Jane Musgrave / The Palm Beach Post
Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post.
Pop-Up Vaccine Sites In Sweetwater And Florida City Are On The Move To New Locations
Updated Thursday at 6:00 a.m
Federal pop-up vaccination sites in Sweetwater and Florida City are moving and will reopen Thursday at two new locations in Miami-Dade County.
On Thursday, the sites will open at Allen Park Community Center at 1770 NE 162nd St. in North Miami Beach and at the Miami Springs Community Center at 1401 Westward Dr. The sites will remain at the new locations through March 17.
The sites will return to Ronselli Park Youth Center, 250 SW 114th Ave. in Sweetwater, and the Florida City Youth Activity Center, 650 NW Fifth Ave., when it’s time for people who got the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine to receive their second injection, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
— By Michelle Marchante / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
Walgreens Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Sign-ups To Palm Beach County
Updated Thursday at 5:55 a.m
Walgreens is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine distribution roster into South Florida. The retail giant confirmed Wednesday that it will add 13 sites that will include Palm Beach County.
There will be four locations within Palm Beach County, but the company hasn’t yet said in which cities. It hasn’t yet added pharmacies in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Scheduling begins Thursday for vaccines that will be available Friday.
People can visit Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine or call 1-800-WALGREENS to schedule. The second-dose appointment will be made at the point of vaccination. The retail chain has 25,740 doses earmarked for Florida for the week.
— By Lisa J. Huriash / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
