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QUICK UPDATES
Florida Adds More Than 5,666 New Cases, 54 New Resident Deaths
Updated Thursday at 5:35 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 5,666 positive cases of COVID-19 Thursday. The state has a total of 2,228,212 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Thursday's update also included the announcement of 54 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 35,084. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 35,777.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 11,793 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 49 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
House Passes Bill Prohibiting Businesses And Others From Requiring Vaccine Passports
Updated Thursday at 6:00 a.m.
Businesses, schools and government entities across Florida will be barred from asking anyone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination under a bill passed by the House and sent to the Senate for final approval Wednesday.
The rare restriction on business from the pro-business Legislature was tucked into SB 2006, a bill intended to update the state’s emergency powers in the face of a future public health emergency. It immediately drew criticism that it was written to appeal to the minority of voters on the conservative right who oppose vaccines.
““The irony is that this bill would grant rights to the people who have not been vaccinated, but it doesn’t protect me,’’ said Rep. Michael Grieco, a Miami Beach Democrat. “And it’s time to start thinking about policy and start thinking about science and less about politics.”
— By Mary Ellen Klas / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
COVID-19 Outbreak At Upscale West Palm Country Club Causing Anxiety For Residents
Updated Thursday at 5:53 a.m.
A rash of COVID-19 infections among restaurant staff at the Club at Ibis has forced the closure of some restaurants at the upscale country club in West Palm Beach.
General Manager Stephen LoGiudice sent a number of emails in the past week informing members of the infections, copies of which have been obtained by The Post.
In an email sent Saturday, LoGiudice reported that 133 workers were tested; 15 were found to have COVID. Another nine are in quarantine, leaving the country club without 24 restaurant workers. Any worker who tested positive has to quarantine for 10 days and must receive a negative COVID-19 test before returning to work, he noted.
— By Mike Diamond / Special to The Palm Beach Post
Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post.
