Physicians Regional Medical Center

Hospital officials from across Florida addressed members of the Florida House Pandemic and Public Emergencies Committee, calling impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic “devastating,” and highlighting the financial toll that treating COVID-19 hospitalized patients is having on healthcare systems.Hospitals in Southwest Florida continue to report declines in their populations of hospitalized COVID-19 patients even as the death toll remains high. State health officials reported 2,468 new COVID-19 deaths across Florida over the past week, bringing the statewide death toll from the pandemic to 51,240 fatalities.A Sarasota store owner has filed a lawsuit against Florida’s Surgeon General challenging a law that bars business owners from requiring proof of customers’ vaccination status before entering.

State health officials reported 2,056 new COVID-19 cases, Wednesday, increasing the statewide total to 652,148 cases.The Florida Department of Health also reported 202 new coronavirus-related deaths, Sept. 9, bringing the statewide death toll to 12,269 fatalities. Wednesday's reported deaths mark the largest single-day increase in COVID-related deaths since August 18.