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.
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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 6,700 New Cases, 44 New Resident Deaths
Updated Wednesday at 2:50 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 6,772 positive cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. The state has a total of 2,141,686 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Wednesday's update also included the announcement of 44 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 34,164. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 34,829.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 11,433 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 50 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
Miami-Dade School District Wants All Kids Back In The Classroom This Fall
Updated Wednesday at 6:05 a.m
With a goal of 100% of students learning in-person this coming school year, the Miami-Dade County school district reconvened its task force of public health and medical experts to see what it could do to make “normal” a reality again.
The district also took a hard look at existing COVID-19 protocols and quarantine procedures. No changes to existing rules were made during Tuesday’s meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom.
“It is our goal to begin to transition to that full modality with our summer learning program, which will be dramatically expanded compared to years past,” said Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
— By Colleen Wright / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald
Heat Ending Use Of Vaccinated-Only Sections And COVID-19-Sniffing Dogs At AA Arena
Updated Wednesday at 6:00 a.m.
The Miami Heat has eliminated the use of vaccinated-only sections and COVID-19-sniffing dogs for home games at AmericanAirlines Arena, the Miami Herald confirmed.
The Heat made the vaccinated-only sections available starting April 1, becoming the first team in the NBA to have sections of seats designated for fully vaccinated fans. Fans needed to present proof that they were fully vaccinated with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued COVID-19 vaccination card to sit in the more tightly packed sections.
But communicating the eligibility requirements before and during the point of sale, and then at the gates when fans arrived with the tickets proved to be a complicated process.
— By Anthony Chiang / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
Florida Prisoners, Staffers - Hard Hit By COVID - Getting Vaccines
Updated Wednesday at 5:47 a.m.
In a move that is being cheered by those who have loved ones behind bars, the state has started giving coronavirus vaccines to inmates at the Palm Beach County jail and those held in Florida prisons.
State strike teams on Monday were at the main county jail in West Palm Beach and the one in Belle Glade, vaccinating any inmate or staff member who wanted it, said Teri Barbera, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
At the same time, teams have been dispatched to state prisons, including South Bay Correctional Facility in the western reaches of the county where eight inmates have died and more than 400 prisoners and staff— have been sickened by COVID-19.
— By Jane Musgrave / The Palm Beach Post
Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post
