Reported COVID cases falling in Florida
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.
Florida COVID data
The USA TODAY Network-Florida has updated the way we share Florida's weekly data on COVID-19. We'll share these numbers every Monday. Please share any feedback about this data here.
In the latest week COVID-19 cases in Florida were about 13.2 times what the CDC says is a high level of community transmission. A Sunday report said the state had 10,573 COVID-19 patients in hospital beds, from 11,541 a week earlier. Here's a look at some other numbers you should know:
Residents with at least one dose of vaccine: 76.8%, or 16,502,846
Coronavirus cases reported: 282,520 in the latest week; 408,841 in the previous week; 5,324,438 in the pandemic.
COVID-19 deaths reported: 605 in the latest week; 470 in the previous week; 63,763 in the pandemic.
Sources: USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data (cases and deaths); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (vaccines); U.S. Health and Human Services (hospitalization)
Here's what's happening across the state
COVID cases in Florida falling: After four weeks on a Top 10 list of states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest, Florida dropped to No. 11. How are we doing this week? The state is barely in the Top 40. However, in some areas, such as Marion County, reported positivity was at an all-time high, and some hospitals continue to see record numbers of patients. And...
COVID deaths up, again: New infection numbers reported are dropping, but the state's death toll ramped up for the second week in a row.
State ends health care worker mandate appeal: After a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this month that backed President Joe Biden's administration -- and after multiple health care providers have said they can't afford to lose federal funding -- Florida has dropped its appeal in a legal fight against federal COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health care workers.
UF tells students sick with COVID-19 to leave dorms, go home: The University of Florida is facing controversy yet again this semester, this time focused on its COVID-19 quarantine policy and the impact it has on students and the broader community. The Gainesville Sun has the story for its subscribers.
COVID patient in ivermectin lawsuit dies: The man at the center of a court case between the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and his family over allowing an outside physician to treat him with ivermectin and other drugs for COVID-19, died last week, according to the family's lawyer.
A PG-rated airline mask battle: An Irish soccer coach bound for a new job in Daytona Beach was arrested on Jan. 7 after refusing to wear a mask on a flight and causing numerous disturbances, including mooning a flight attendant, federal court documents show.
Fact check: COVID-19 vaccines primarily designed to prevent serious illness, death
The claim: CDC director says vaccines can’t prevent transmission of COVID-19
The verdict: Missing context. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, did, in fact, say that vaccines can’t prevent COVID-19 transmission in an interview with CNN back in August, a statement that is suddenly making the rounds on Facebook again. But that's not a reason to skip the vaccine, which has been proven to dramatically reduce the numbers of hospitalizations and death from COVID.
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: Is the omicron surge receding? Let's hope, and let's also hope another variant doesn't bring it all back because frankly, we're tired.
Meanwhile, all my friends seem to have abruptly become Bengals fans over the weekend, for some reason.
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: Reported COVID cases falling in Florida
