charlotte county

Port Charlotte used to be one of the more affordable gulf-facing communities in Southwest Florida, but these days the area is facing a shortage of affordable housing that is pushing people out.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing bipartisan criticism of playing politics with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Southwest Florida. The criticism stems from DeSantis’ recent selection of COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinic sites in Charlotte and Manatee Counties.

Florida's partnership with the Publix grocery store chain to administer COVID-19 vaccine doses is now expanding into Lee and Charlotte Counties.Beginning Thursday, Jan. 21, 32 Publix pharmacies throughout Lee County will begin offering vaccine doses to eligible people 65 and older, frontline medical workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities.Seven Publix locations in Charlotte County are also set to begin administering vaccine doses on Thursday. 16 Publix pharmacies in Collier County joined the vaccine rollout effort last week.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office reports eight inmates have tested positive for the virus.

Charlotte County Emergency officials are preparing for Tropical Storm Eta.The county is under a tropical storm warning, flood watch and storm surge warning. A tornado watch is in effect until 5 p.m..

Andrea Perdomo reports from a Punta Gorda polling location where there are no lines and plenty of parking.

State health officials reported 4,651 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, for a total of 812,063 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 45 new coronavirus-related deaths Nov. 2, increasing the statewide death toll to 17,043 fatalities.Over the past seven days, the single-day average number of new infections reported stands at 4,292 cases. The average number of daily deaths reported over the past week comes to more than 55 fatalities per day.

In an effort to avoid mass eviction during the pandemic due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19, Charlotte County has launched a program that aims to stabilize landlords while keeping tenants in their homes.

The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County confirmed a human case of West Nile virus, last week.

Applications for individual assistance for Cares Act relief funds in Charlotte County will be accepted until Oct. 31.