Sarasota

State health officials reported 7,537 COVID-19 cases Wednesday and 160 deaths. Despite warnings from health officials about the more contagious COVID-19 variant known as B.1.1.7, Gov. Ron DeSantis dismissed those concerns during a news conference at a new pop-up vaccine clinic in Venice. The new pop-up clinic increases vaccine access for residents in southern portions of Sarasota County. The City of Marco Island has a new vaccine registration system. Publix locations in Manatee and Sarasota Counties began administering vaccine doses this week. The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County is working to track coronavirus cases related to the Super Bowl and celebrations surrounding the game.

State health officials reported 5,737 COVID-19 cases and 120 deaths, Monday. Currently more than two million people in Florida have received the vaccine including more than 1.3 million people who have received a first dose and nearly 694,000 people who have completed the series with two doses.Lee Health received 1,000 vaccine doses this week, primarily for people under 65 years old who are at higher risk from the virus. In Sarasota County, 7,000 vaccine doses will be administered this week primarily to people 65 and older who are awaiting a first dose.Physicians say even people who have contracted COVID-19 should get the vaccine because it remains unclear how long the vaccine provides immunity and because a second infection of the virus can be more severe.Also, there are several efforts available to help seniors navigate Florida’s online vaccine appointment registration system.

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 nearly 5,600 new COVID-19 cases, Sunday bringing Florida's total to 734,491 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 180 new coronavirus-related deaths, Oct. 11, increasing the statewide death toll to 15,552 fatalities.Sunday's single day case load increase was larger than what the health department has been reporting recently, after health officials did not update the state's coronavirus online dashboard Saturday, for the first time in seven months.

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