COVID stats improving at Florida nursing homes, AARP 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 across the state
• COVID cases, deaths and vaccination rates improving at Florida nursing homes, AARP reported: As COVID-19 numbers continue to decline statewide, all seven metrics used to evaluate how the virus impacts Florida nursing homes improved during a four-week period in September and October, according to AARP's latest dashboard update. "It appears the delta wave has peaked in Florida, and we are continuing to see progress with pandemic recovery," AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson said in a press release. Check out Nikki Ross' story from the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
• Congress suspects millions in fraudulent loans slipped into PPP program: A congressional subcommittee aimed at investigating financial fraud during the pandemic broadened its probe into online lending this week to include two of the most prominent processors of coronavirus assistance. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, sent letters to Blueacorn and Womply on Tuesday requesting information about fraud prevention. Both emerged as major players that fused tech and financing to speed up lending through the government’s Paycheck Protection Program. Womply had no lending experience before COVID-19 and Blueacorn did not exist, yet together the companies captured more than $3 billion in fees – eclipsing their direct competitors.
• Doctor files complaint against Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo with Florida state Board of Medicine: Jeff Schweers of the Tallahassee Democrat writes, it took two years and a global pandemic for Florida physicians to call for the removal of former Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, whose own colleagues criticized the pediatrician for signing an emergency rule barring schools from requiring students to wear masks. But it took less than two months to call for the removal of the current surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, who doubled down on prohibiting mask mandates while adding a ban on schools sending COVID-exposed students home to be quarantined.
Latest fact check
• The claim: Video shows Kamala Harris saying most people who are hospitalized or recently died from COVID-19 are vaccinated. The verdict: Based on research by USA TODAY's Fact Check team, we rate ALTERED a video that appears to show Harris saying that most people who are hospitalized or recently died from COVID-19 are vaccinated. The clip manipulates footage of Harris' July 12 address at a Detroit vaccine mobilization event. Several records of the speech show Harris said almost everyone who was hospitalized or recently died from COVID-19 is unvaccinated.
Some good news
I'm giving thanks for turkey and all the trimmings — I will definitely indulge on Thanksgiving. But! I do plan to walk a lot of that off this weekend when I do some holiday shopping. Our talented group of USA TODAY Network-Florida features writers compiled a list of 11 outlet malls in Florida worth visiting. I saw the list. It's very helpful!
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Jennifer's note of the day: My husband and I adopted a "pandemic pup" in December 2020 from Halo No-Kill Rescue Shelter. Our dog's name is Toby, and he's 17 years old, mostly blind, mostly deaf, has a heart murmur and kidney problems. "Tobert" has a lot of disabilities and medical issues, but we love him to bits and are so grateful to be his pet parents. Happy Thanksgiving to the furry animals in your family! Enjoy your week, and, as always, thank you for reading.
— Jennifer Sangalang, jsangalang@gannett.com, also on Twitter, Insta and Facebook.
Here’s what else is happening with the coronavirus in Florida today.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: COVID stats improving at Florida nursing homes, AARP says
