All adults should get a booster because of omicron, CDC says
Welcome to today's edition of the Florida Coronavirus Watch Newsletter. Let's get you up to speed with the latest news of the day from the USA TODAY Network — Florida.
Here's what's happening around the state
Police contradict parents' account in Florida Down Syndrome mask-tying case: A story out of Florida made national headlines after a young girl who has Down Syndrome came home with a face mask tied tightly to her head with a rope. Distressed and panicked, the young girl was "unable to breathe properly," her "health and possible life at risk," according to a fundraising website set up by her stepfather. The trouble is, according to an investigation by Indian Harbour Beach police, that doesn't seem to be what happened. Florida Today has the investigation for subscribers.
Motion to halt military COVID-19 vaccine mandate fails; federal trial date set: A tentative trial date has been set for September of next year in federal court in Pensacola in a lawsuit filed by 16 plaintiffs, including two Eglin Air Force Base officers and a Hurlburt Field officer, challenging the Department of Defense (DoD) mandate for military personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
'We're fighting back': On the first full day of Hanukkah, faith leaders from various denominations throughout Palm Beach County joined together to push back against Gov. Ron DeSantis over COVID-19, the controversial election and public protest laws.
Lawsuit dropped over Jacksonville contact lens maker's vaccine rule: A Jacksonville man who sued contact lens maker Johnson & Johnson Vision Care over its COVID-19 vaccination requirement for workers has dropped the lawsuit against his employer.
Tools to fight the variant: For anyone on the fence about whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot, the emergence of the omicron variant should provide ample motivation to seek the nearest vaccination site – right away. That was the key message from the White House COVID-19 response team and CDC during a Tuesday press conference.
On the travel front: Like dozens of other nations, the U.S. is restricting entry from countries where omicron has been detected. The CDC has also expanded surveillance at four international airports – JFK in New York, Newark in New Jersey, San Francisco and Atlanta – and is working with airlines to enhance contact tracing.
FDA panel narrowly authorizes first antiviral to treat COVID-19: An FDA expert advisory committee signed off Tuesday on the first antiviral to treat COVID-19. The drug, molnupiravir from Merck, is intended to be used in people at risk for severe COVID-19 within five days of the start of symptoms.
Latest fact checks
The good stuff
Double-digit price drops at the pump? Gas prices in Florida could drop by as much as 25 cents in the next few weeks after a sharp decline in crude oil prices over the holiday weekend.
I could quite literally never do anything like this: Watch the mad skills of these junior daredevils caught on camera, from skateboarders and snowboarders to a tot on a unicycle and a teen on a trampoline.
Anything else you want to know? Ask your questions here. And finally, thank you for reading. We appreciate you trusting our statewide journalists to keep you safe and informed. If you are encouraged by our work and want to support your local journalists, please consider subscribing. Know someone who would benefit from this newsletter? Forward this email so they can sign up here.
Megan's note of the day: I wanted to share an important conversation I had with a loyal Coronavirus Watch reader, Carol, after I sent last night's newsletter. After reading about my mention of Cyber Monday in yesterday's note of the day, Carol reached out and asked me to consider small businesses. "Local businesses have already suffered mightily due to COVID and I'm sure there are a lot of them still on life support," she said. And she's beyond right. While I had mentioned small businesses last week, I should have included them in my Cyber Monday note yesterday. I enjoy speaking with readers because they constantly challenge me to do better and be better. Thanks, Carol! So, with that, please support small businesses in your area this week. They could use some love, too.
Here's what else is happening with the coronavirus in Florida today.
— Megan Kearney, mkearney@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: All adults should get a booster because of omicron, CDC says
