Lynn Hatter

Florida’s COVID-19 vaccine eligibility is growing as Governor Ron DeSantis amended a previous executive order, Monday, to expand vaccine access to teachers, firefighters and law enforcement officers 50 and older. Younger people with medical conditions that would make them extremely vulnerable to the virus can also now get the vaccine through physicians’ offices and pharmacies. Previously that demographic’s access to the vaccine was limited to hospitals.Florida expects to receive 175,000 doses of the newly FDA-approved single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine this week.

Florida lawmakers will deal with the pandemic’s impact on education when they reconvene in Tallahassee in March. Among the issues: a steep drop in student attendance, growing concerns about learning losses and a Republican effort to consolidate the state’s school choice programs.

State health officials reported 6,771 COVID-19 cases and 197 deaths, Wednesday. The Florida Department of Health is requesting an audit after more than 1,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses spoiled in Palm Beach County. Lee Health’s Board of Directors sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials, Monday, expressing concerns about Florida’s vaccine rollout and noting that only about half of the hospital system’s employees have been given the vaccine. The Lee County School District has quarantined three elementary school classrooms this week due to cases of the virus. The Marco Island Police Chief and Marco Island Fire-Rescue Chief face a 30-day unpaid suspension stemming from an investigation into access of the city’s online vaccine appointment registration system. Democrats in the state Legislature are pushing a bill to keep state exam scores from being used to hold students back or evaluate teachers.

State health officials reported 8,875 new COVID-19 cases, Wednesday, for a total of 1,676,171 infections. The Florida Department of Health reported 160 coronavirus-related deaths, Jan. 27, increasing the statewide death toll to 26,249 fatalities

State health officials reported 13,900 new COVID-19 cases, Wednesday for a total of 1,517,472 infections. The Florida Department of Health also reported 169 coronavirus-related deaths, Jan. 13, increasing the statewide death toll to 23,759 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.

State health officials reported 11,576 new COVID-19 cases, Monday for a total of 1,488,586 infections.The Florida Department of Health also reported 163 coronavirus-related deaths, Jan. 11, increasing the statewide death toll to 23,424 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.The latest single-day positivity rate reported by the Florida Division of Emergency Management stood at 13.17% on Sunday. Over the past two weeks, the single-day positivity rate has ranged between 10.04% and 26.34%.

State health officials reported 6,658 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, for a total of 999,319 cases.The Florida Department of Health also reported 97 new coronavirus-related deaths, Nov. 30, increasing the statewide death toll to 18,834 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.The latest single-day positivity rate reported by the Florida Division of Emergency Management increased to 10.06% on Saturday.

State Health officials reported 2,355 new COVID-19 cases, Wednesday, increasing Florida's total to 671,201 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 152 new coronavirus-related deaths, Sept. 16, bringing the statewide death toll to 13,100 fatalities.

The marchers were upset at the results of a Friday grand jury announcement that officers who fired fatal shots in three separate incidents this year would not be charged.

The Florida Department of Health reported 1,885 new cases of COVID-19, Monday, marking the ninth consecutive day of fewer than 4,000 cases and the lowest single-day increase in reported cases since June 15.State health officials also reported 68 new deaths of Florida residents, Aug. 31, increasing the statewide death toll to 11,331 fatalities.