Gov. DeSantis favors COVID-19 treatment over prevention
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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
The GOP’s hardening views on COVID-19, vaccines: Former President Trump took a veiled swipe at Ron DeSantis over the governor's equivocating over his COVID-19 booster shot, and DeSantis said he regretted not pushing back against Trump's initial nationwide lockdown. Will the rift between the GOP’s biggest stars divide the party? Someone asked the governor about a booster shot again today, and...
DeSantis dodges booster shot question again: Gov. Ron DeSantis again declined Friday to say whether he received the COVID-19 booster shot, even after his mentor, Donald Trump, called politicians who dodge the booster question "gutless." Which is on-brand for DeSantis, because...
Gov. DeSantis has a history of promoting COVID-19 treatment over prevention: Starting with his first public appearance after the omicron variant began spreading through Florida, Gov. DeSantis has questioned or outright inveighed against the effectiveness of vaccinations, masks and testing as the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Tallahassee Democrat has the analysis available for its subscribers.
Boosters work: New data from the CDC show that booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were 90% effective at keeping people infected with the omicron variant out of the hospital and 82% effective at preventing emergency department and urgent care visits.
Omicron wave cresting in Palm Beach? The tidal wave of coronavirus infections from the pathogen’s omicron variant is crashing as fast as it surged in Palm Beach County, newly released sewage data shows. The Palm Beach Post has the story for its subscribers.
Fact check: Pfizer does not have a vaccine vaporizer
The claim: Pfizer produced and marketed a vaccine administered with a vaporizer
The verdict: False. According to the FDA, no inhaled COVID-19 vaccines are currently approved. While some scientists are researching inhalable vaccines, no such technology has been studied in humans. Besides, the packaging in the photo going around Facebook also includes a humorous reference to Pfizer's other most famous medication, suggesting this isn't meant to be entirely serious.
Omicron variant is causing another COVID surge. Here are some helpful links
Because of the COVID case surge — as of Jan. 17, Florida ranked No. 11 on a list of states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest — we will include these links in this daily newsletter.
• Your guide to coronavirus and COVID-19: Everything you need to know about vaccines, testing, travel, schools and more
• Is it the flu, a cold, or the omicron variant? How to know, and when to get tested for COVID
• Do COVID-19 boosters protect against omicron? Where and when can I get a booster in Florida?
• This free tool compares the spread of COVID-19 in your area (this story is free to read)
• Symptomatic or not, should you bother getting a COVID-19 test?
• COVID vaccine cocktails: A guide to mixing and matching Pfizer, Moderna, J&J booster shots
• What to know if you're exposed or test positive for coronavirus
• Here's how to get your free at-home COVID-19 tests
Feedback for us? Really, it's welcome
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.
Chris' note of the day: We lost two entertainment greats today. award-winning comedian Louie Anderson and iconic rocker Meat Loaf. We won't go into just how much time I spent in my teenage years driving around at night, screaming along with Jim Steinman's lyrics. But please, take care of yourself and get tested for any suspected medical problems early. I'm going to go listen to "Bat Out of Hell" again.
Here's what else is happening with the coronavirus in Florida today.
— C. A. Bridges, cbridges@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Gov. DeSantis favors COVID-19 treatment over prevention
