Delta Variant

The U.S. economy grew last year at the fastest pace since 1984, but growth was tempered by successive waves of the pandemic.

USF Health expert Jason Salemi says omicron seems to be less deadly than delta, but cautions Floridians should still take the surge in cases seriously.

New data from the CDC released on Tuesday shows that while omicron remains the dominant variant, delta — which is the more severe strain — is still a worrisome driving force behind the current surge.

The latest on the omicron variant. Cruise ships are back to bringing tourists into Key West. And jazz and Trinidadian Christmas traditions.

Many families are under financial stress, parents see kids seriously behind in school, huge rent bills and looming evictions and delayed medical care has negative consequences, to name a few.

With COVID-19 vaccine mandates taking effect around the country, requests for religious exemptions are on the rise. Under federal law, employers have a lot of discretion in granting the requests.

DeSantis has been critical of the Biden administration over its COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

As the delta variant causes more vaccinated people to get "breakthrough infections," concerns are rising that even the vaccinated could develop long COVID symptoms in rare cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expressed concern about the further spread of the delta variant. Health officials have been concerned about holiday weekends during the pandemic.

The treatment touted by Gov. DeSantis is helping thousands of Floridians fend off severe COVID-19. But health experts say vaccines and masks are critical to stopping the surge.

About 14 million U.S. residents got their first dose of a COVID-19 shot in August, which is about 4 million more than in July. Officials credit vaccine mandates by governments, schools and businesses.

School board members in Broward and Alachua counties will have their salaries withheld as long as the districts have student mask mandates in place.