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Positivity remains under 10% for almost 3 weeks
Despite a dump of almost 80,000 results, positivity is under 7%
“There is reason to be cautiously optimistic,” said Dr. Scott Atlas
Long-term care facilities re-open to family visitors under comprehensive safety guidelines
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Reason
The latest data on COVID-19 cases and fatalities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirm that young people face a negligible risk of dying from the disease, while people 65 and older face a much higher risk. Patients 65 or older account for about 16 percent of confirmed cases but four-fifths of COVID-19 deaths.
The crude case fatality rate indicated by the CDC's numbers (deaths divided by confirmed cases) is about 0.25 percent for patients younger than 50 and nearly 16 percent—63 times higher—for patients older than 64. While the overall crude CFR is 3 percent, the rates among adults range from 0.07 percent for patients in their late teens and 20s to 29 percent for patients 85 or older—more than 400 times higher.
Because these calculations include only confirmed cases, the percentages are higher than the fatality rates among all Americans infected by the COVID-19 virus, many of whom never seek testing because their symptoms are mild or nonexistent. Judging from the CDC's antibody studies, the infection fatality rate varies widely from one part of the country to another—from 0.1 percent in Utah to 1.4 percent in Connecticut, for example.
The Conversation
On Aug. 26, the Food and Drug Administration granted an Emergency Use Authorization to a new rapid antigen test for COVID-19 called the BinaxNOW test.
I study public health policy to combat infectious disease epidemics. Testing is one of the most powerful tools available to fight the spread of COVID-19. The new test is inexpensive, rapid and easy to use. It will massively scale up access to testing, but hurdles remain in achieving widespread, frequent COVID-19 testing.
What type of test is BinaxNOW?
The credit-card-sized test is an antigen test that detects a specific viral protein from SARS-CoV-2. It costs US$5 and doesn’t require a lab or a machine for processing.
Performing the test is simple. A health care worker or technician would use a swab to collect a sample from less than 1 inch inside the nostril. They would then combine the sample with a few drops of chemicals inside the test card. Within 15 minutes, the test strip would show a positive or negative result. The test is also paired with an app that produces a digital code that can be scanned to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.
The Washington Post
By Emily Oster, a professor of economics at Brown University
Last month, a swimmer in Maine was killed by a shark. This tragic event was widely reported by local and national media. It was news. But the fact that there are hardly ever shark attacks in the United States is not news, because we expect most days to pass without shark-related fatalities.
Researchers have documented our preference for the unexpected, exploring how information that is “surprising” provides greater entertainment and attracts more attention. Often this is benign: A basketball game that ends in a stunning upset, for instance, gets more coverage than a routine blowout. When it comes to covid-19, however, this preference — and the media’s tendency to indulge it — presents a real danger. It warps our thinking about the pandemic and may be leading us toward irrational decisions that can cause lasting harm.
The problem is that reporting on covid-19 tends to follow the shark-attack example. We’re unaccustomed to what the virus has wrought — hospitals overwhelmed, celebrities and world leaders suffering near-death experiences in the public eye. These “surprises” are what the media focuses on. The challenge with the novel coronavirus, however, is exactly that: It’s completely novel. Nothing about it should be expected. All of the ways it behaves — and doesn’t behave — are new. In that sense, a nursing home with zero infections should be just as newsworthy as a nursing home with several.
Fox News
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday immediately severed ties with Quest Diagnostics Labs after the clinical laboratory company “dumped” nearly 75,000 months-old COVID-19 tests, skewing the state’s downward trend of new daily confirmed coronavirus cases.
Though the company had already notified patients, Quest Diagnostics failed to relay information on nearly 75,000 results--some dating back to April--to the Florida Department of Health until this week.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Florida saw 7,569 new positive COVID-19 cases. Out of those, 3,870 were results that were older than two weeks, some dating back to April, because of a delay in reporting from Quest Diagnostic Labs, according to officials.
“The law requires all COVID-19 test results to be reported to the Florida Department of Health in a timely manner," the state health department said. "To drop this much unusable and stale data is irresponsible and Quest has abdicated their ability to perform a testing function in Florida. The nearly 75,000 results date back to April and have little impact on the state of the pandemic today."
Politico
TALLAHASSEE — President Donald Trump’s newest Covid-19 adviser on Monday traveled to the swing state of Florida, where he said there is no need to test healthy people for infection and urged the state not to fear the virus, which has killed more than 182,000 people nationwide and infected more than 6 million.
Scott Atlas, who Trump named to the White House coronavirus task force this month, said people who are asymptomatic don’t require testing for Covid-19. Backing the Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis at a briefing in Tallahassee, Atlas said schools should be open to classroom instruction and college athletes should take the field.
“There is no need to fear at this point,” Atlas told reporters. “We are the only country of our peer nations in the western world who are this hysterical about opening schools.”
Atlas’ visit to the political battleground state two months before Election Day comes as Trump and DeSantis take heat for their light-touch approach to coronavirus safety. Both Republicans were slow to endorse mask use and have taken a hard line on opening schools and businesses. DeSantis has also heard criticism from business leaders saying the coronavirus restrictions could lead to massive layoffs by the end of the year.
Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) — Some coronavirus restrictions started easing up Monday in parts of South Florida.
In Miami-Dade County, restaurants were allowed to welcome back diners to indoor seating for the first time in almost two months, provided masks were worn and the establishments operated at 50% capacity.
In Palm Beach County, officials issued an order allowing tattoo and body piercing parlors, as well as tanning salons, to reopen starting Monday.
In Miami-Dade County, most indoor dining has been banned in the county since early July to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“This does not mean this is over by a long shot,” Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in an online news conference. “While we’re heading in the right direction, we’re not out of the woods.”
The loosening up of restrictions in South Florida comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was considering allowing South Florida to move into Phase 2 , which would allow more businesses to resume operations.
DeSantis reiterated that idea Monday at a news conference in The Villages retirement community, saying he’s looking at reopening bars and nightclubs and wants the three South Florida counties – Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade – to join the rest of the state in reopening businesses.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Encourages Tourists to fly to Florida on Commercial Flights
Associated Press
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made the case that tourists could safely take commercial flights to visit Florida as newly reported coronavirus cases grew by more than 3,800 Friday, down from peak averages of nearly 12,000 cases daily in mid-July.
Speaking with industry executives at an airline travel forum in Fort Lauderdale, DeSantis said he hadn't heard of any airline passenger catching the virus on a plane.
“When this industry thrives, it provides this economic security for so many people in the state of Florida," DeSantis said.
Airlines and airport executives told DeSantis the virus was having the biggest impact on international travel to Florida because many countries had implemented travel restrictions and quarantines on people traveling to and from the United States.
DeSantis said 8.8 million people traveled from March to June in Florida, down from 24 million during the same period a year earlier.
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COVID-19 by the numbers | COVID -19 Fatalities
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ICUs and hospital beds by the numbers | Current as of 9/2/2020
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20.72%
% of ICU Beds Available Statewide
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39.74% % of Pediatric ICU Beds Available Statewide
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24.49% % of Available Hospital Beds Statewide
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Governor DeSantis Appoints Michelle Cook as Clay County Sheriff
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Governror DeSantis Anounces New Visitation Policies to Reconnect Residents with their Loved Ones During Roundtable in Jacksonville
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Agency for Healthcare Administration
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Florida woman who took a job as a dishwasher at her husband’s memory-care center to be able to see him during the COVID-19 shutdown said she is putting in her two weeks notice after the state task force that she is part of came up with safeguards to protect long-term care facilities while also allowing visitors to see their family members. During an emotional news conference Tuesday, Mary Daniel, 57, of Jacksonville, and other members of the Florida long-term care facility task force described how family members will be able to see their loved ones in person at long-term care families, including nursing homes and assisted-living centers, for the first time in nearly six months due to the pandemic. “I’m turning in my two weeks notice,” Daniel said with a laugh. “I’m going back to being just a wife.” Daniel took a job at RoseCastle at Deerwood in Jacksonville to see her husband, Steve, 66 who has early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Her story made national news and caught the attention of Gov. Ron DeSantis who asked her to join a group to spearhead a way forward to allowing families to be reunited again. According to the rules laid out by the task force on Tuesday, residents at long-term care centers can receive up to five scheduled visitors as well as see people who provide essential and compassionate care. Essential caregivers are those who provide health care services or help with daily life, including dressing and eating, while compassionate care visitors provide emotional support.
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Agency for Persons with Disabilities
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New USF program Seeks to Give Young People with Intellectual Disabilities a College Education and Experience St. Pete Catalyst Many students with intellectual disabilities don’t think that college is in the cards for them, but a new program at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus is aiming to change that. UMatter, which is being funded by a $900,000 grant from the Florida Center for Students With Unique Abilities and led by a team from the College of Education, will launch in spring 2021 with an inaugural class of 8 to 12 students. They’ll have the opportunity to audit freshman and sophomore-level classes, live in on-campus housing and experience traditional college life while gaining skills that will help them find meaningful employment and live independently.
“Young adults with these disabilities tend to not have been exposed to high expectations of going to college or pursuing a career,” said Dani Roberts-Dahm, UMatter co-principal investigator and director. “But through training and support provided by UMatter, they will learn time management, develop appropriate social relationships and know how to ask for help when they need it.”
The application process for the program will be similar to the one for traditional students. They’ll need to have a high school diploma and they’ll be asked to submit recommendations and do interviews. Roberts-Dahm said they’re looking for students who can articulate why they want to go to college and how it will help them achieve future career goals. While the program will be open to students from across the country, she expects the initial class will be mostly those who live in the Tampa Bay area. She plans to do outreach through local high schools and college and fairs, while also listing the program on the national database ThinkCollege to recruit at the national level.
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Department of Business and Professional Regulation
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New Home Construction in Orlando Sees Biggest Increase During Pandemic Orlando Business Journal After a three-month slump, Orlando’s residential real estate sector enjoyed its best month of the year for new construction.
New residential construction exploded in July, with $711 million of new construction starts in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties last month, according to Hamilton, New Jersey-based Dodge Data & Analytics. Residential starts were up 22% from July 2019.
It’s a continued reversal of fortune for homebuilders, as June was the first month since the start of the pandemic that new housing construction did not decrease year over year. That’s not true for new nonresidential construction, which was down 45% from last July.
It’s also a sign that the construction industry is trying to keep up with skyrocketing home demand in Central Florida. Local home sales jumped more than 18% from June to July, according to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association. After Closing Due to COVID-19, Joella’s Hot Chicken Reopens its Seminole Location Tomorrow Creative Loafing
After a nearly three-month wait, hot chicken fans can finally return to Joella’s Seminole location for their fix on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
The Seminole location, which is one of three in Florida, initially closed in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To celebrate its reopening, the restaurant is holding a grand opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at 7893 113th St. in Seminole. In attendance will be Mayor Leslie Waters, Vice Mayor Chris Burke and other city officials.
To sweeten the deal even more, Joella’s is offering their jumbo chicken meal for $5.99 all day. The meal includes chicken tenders, a side, a sauce and a drink. Customers can choose from varying heat levels including “Fire-In Da-Hole” which Joella’s considers waiver-worthy. For those with special dietary needs, Joella’s tenders can be made gluten-free or vegan. The menu also features chicken and waffles, mac & cheese, wings and other Southern classics.
Keeping safety in mind, the location has added an option for curbside pick-up and takeaway meal packs in order to remain safe amid the pandemic. Customers who wish to stay home can also order food to be delivered.
Following the reopening, Joella’s will be open Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
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Department of Children and Families
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DCF Participates in National “All In” Challenge
DCF is excited to share that Florida has joined the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) “All-In” Foster Adoption Challenge, committing to reduce the number of foster children waiting to find their forever families in our state. This is a result of a historic Executive Order (EO) President Trump signed on June 25, 2020 to strengthen the child welfare system. There are three key areas of action the EO focuses on:
Increase partnerships between public, private, faith-based and community-based organizations that, working together, can aid our ability to keep families safely together and to help children achieve permanent, forever families with other caring adults when that is not possible.
Increasing educational tools for caregivers and youth in the foster care system. Those who step up to care for vulnerable children need our support, especially with respect to children who have experienced substantial trauma. This EO commits to more proactively prepare and support foster/adoptive and prospective foster/adoptive parents as they step up to care for our nation’s most vulnerable children.
Increasing transparency to ensure that all professionals who work in foster care or adoption have the information they need along with best practices to continuously improve and ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children.
At DCF, we believe that each of these areas of action will move us towards a safer, transparent, and more stable child welfare system.
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Department of Economic Opportunity
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Gov. DeSantis Extends Deadline for Students to Qualify for Bright Futures WTVT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It's a sigh of relief for thousands of recent Florida high school graduates who've been hoping for another chance to qualify for the Bright Futures scholarship.
On Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order extending the deadline for students graduating in the 2019-20 school year to earn the minimum qualifying SAT or ACT score to earn a Bright Futures scholarship until Dec. 1.
In a news release, the Florida Department of Education praised the move, saying the extension "will positively impact thousands of students statewide who either need to earn a qualifying score or wanted to take either the SAT or ACT again to earn a higher score. "
According to FDOE, when school campuses closed in the spring, estimates suggested that more than 30,000 seniors qualified for varying levels of the scholarship, with roughly a quarter of them likely to qualify for either a 75% or 100% Bright Futures scholarship if given another chance to take the SAT or the ACT.
In June, the state's education commissioner extended the deadline to earn a qualifying score to July 31, but summer testing was administered sporadically. Testing site closures have continued on and off again amid the ongoing pandemic, creating a need to extend the deadline to give more spring 2020 graduates one last opportunity to earn a scholarship, according to the department.
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Department of Elder Affairs
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DeSantis Re-Opening Florida’s Nursing Homes to Visitors, with Restrictions South Florida Sun Sentinel
JACKSONVILLE — After nearly six months of keeping Florida’s most vulnerable elders isolated, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday he will sign an order to allow visitors back into nursing homes and assisted living facilities immediately, with some restrictions.
The families of more than 150,000 residents of long-term care facilities will be allowed to see their loved ones as early as Wednesday. Essential caregivers who provide emotional support or care with daily tasks can touch their loved ones, while general visitors will need to keep a 6-foot distance.
DeSantis, who choked up as he started the announcement, said closing the facilities to visitors was the right thing to do in March to protect vulnerable residents.
“It probably saved a lot of lives,” he said, but now “this is important to folks in these facilities. This is a huge part of their lives to have these interactions.”
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Division of Emergency Management
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Florida Division of Emergency Management Issues Emergency Order to Lift Visitation Restrictions in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities and Other Long-Term Care Facilities
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, at Governor DeSantis’ direction, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director and State Coordinating Officer Jared Moskowitz issued an Emergency Order that lifts restrictions for visitation to nursing homes, assisted living facilities (ALFs), adult family-care homes, adult group homes and other long-term care facilities.
The Emergency Order requires all visitors to wear PPE pursuant to the most recent CDC guidelines, and those not making physical contact still must wear a mask. Per the Emergency Order, to accept general visitors, the facility must meet the following:
No new facility-onset of resident COVID-19 cases within 14 days other than in a dedicated wing or unit that accepts COVID-19 cases from the community;
If a staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the facility must immediately cease all indoor and outdoor visitation in the event that staff person was in the facility in the 10 days prior to the positive test;
Sufficient staff to support management of visitors;
Adequate PPE for facility staff;
Adequate cleaning and disinfecting supplies; and
Adequate capacity at referral hospitals for the facility.
Every facility must continue to prohibit the entry of any individual to the facility except in the following circumstances:
Family members, friends and individuals visiting residents in end-of-life situations;
Hospice or palliative care workers caring for residents in end-of-life situations;
Any individual or providers giving necessary health care to a resident, provided that such individuals or providers comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for PPE, are screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 prior to entry and comply with all infection control requirements of the CDC and the facility;
Facility staff and residents;
Attorneys of Record for a resident in an Adult Mental Health and Treatment Facility or forensic facility for court related matters if virtual or telephonic means are unavailable;
Public Guardians, Professional Guardians and their professional staff as defined in Florida Statue 744;
Representatives of the federal or state government seeking entry as part of their official duties;
Essential caregivers and compassionate care visitors; and
General visitors under specific criteria set forth under the Emergency Order.
The Emergency Order directs all facilities to ensure visitors are not quarantining, positive for COVID-19 or symptomatic. The Emergency Order also requires facilities to screen visitors, establish limits on the number of visitors allowed, schedule visitation ahead of time, clean and disinfect visiting areas between visitors and other protective measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
General visitors will need to be 18 years of age or older, wear a face mask, sign a consent form indicating they understand the facility’s visitation policies, comply with facility-provided COVID-19 testing if offered and maintain social distance of at least six feet with staff and residents.
This order will be implemented in the upcoming days as long-term care facilities begin to put new procedures in place to comply with the Emergency Order.
For a PDF copy of the full Emergency Order, click here.
Florida Drops Quest for Coronavirus Testing After lab Reports Backlog of 75,000 Test Results CNBC
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is ordering state health agencies to cut ties with Quest Diagnostics, one of the country’s largest labs, after the company failed to report nearly 75,000 coronavirus tests in a timely manner, the state’s Department of Health said Tuesday.
The bulk of the 75,000 previously unreported tests are two-weeks old with some dating back as many as five months, the department of health said. The Department of Health said Quest informed everyone who tested positive of their results, despite the backlog in reporting onward to the state.
The governor’s office did not learn of the backlog in test results until Monday, the Department of Health said.
“The law requires all COVID-19 results to be reported to DOH in a timely manner. To drop this much unusable and stale data is irresponsible,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I believe that Quest has abdicated their ability to perform a testing function in Florida that the people can be confident in. As such I am directing all executive agencies to sever their COVID-19 testing relationships with Quest effective immediately.”
Jason Mahon, spokesman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said Quest was processed Covid-19 tests at a “limited number” of state-supported testing sites and will no longer be used at them.
“Whenever a lab does not fulfill its obligations to provide testing results with an acceptable turnaround time, or report those results to the state, the Division stops doing business with that lab,” he said in a statement to CNBC. He added that he has “no concerns” about transitioning to different labs.
Quest attributed the delay in reporting to a “technical issue,” adding that the affected test results are just 75,000 of the roughly 1.4 million coronavirus tests Quest has processed in Florida.
“We apologize for this matter and regret the challenge it poses for public health authorities in Florida. The issue has since been resolved. Importantly, the issue did not affect or delay reporting of test results to providers and patients,” Wendy Bost, a spokeswoman for Quest, said in a statement to CNBC. “We remain open to working with the state Department of Health to provide testing that meets the needs required for patient care and public health response.”
Shares of Quest traded more than 2% lower in midday trading.
The reporting backlog, the Department of Health said, is impacting the state’s data. Without including the backlog, Florida reported 3,773 new cases on Monday and 5.9% of all tests conducted came back positive, the state said. Including the backlog, the percent of tests that came back positive rose to 6.8% and the total number of new cases reported on Monday increased to 7,643, according to the state.
Labs across the country struggled to keep pace with the rapid rise of coronavirus cases earlier this summer, leading to long lines at testing centers and turnaround times of more than a week for some patients. Last week, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith pressed five of the nation’s largest testing labs, including Quest, over delays in processing coronavirus tests as the flu season approaches.
While new kinds of tests have come onto the market, alleviating the burden on commercial labs like those operated by Quest, the senators expressed concern that as flu season settles in and the same labs work double-time to process tests for both flu and Covid-19, it “may again strain labs’ ability to perform and deliver test results in a timely manner.”
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Department of Environmental Protection
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Florida State Parks Now Offering Online Virtual Experience
DEP and Florida State Parks are now offering online resources that will help the public learn about the Florida Park Service's mission to provide resource-based recreation, while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources. While users are learning, they will be entertained with an expanding library of digital and interactive resources.
These resources include Park Zen, which provides links to livestreams, timelapses, and other videos featuring the natural beauty of Florida State parks. Also included are the Virtual Junior Ranger program, coloring books, and the Outsiders Club video series.
Especially important during the COVID-19 outbreak, DEP and Florida State Parks are proud to provide a safe way to enjoy Florida's natural wonders from anywhere. Users should check back regularly for updates, sign-up for our newsletter or follow Florida State Parks on social media.
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Florida Cuts Ties with Quest Diagnostics Lab for 75,000 Withheld Coronavirus Tests Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the Florida Department of Health to no longer work with Quest Diagnostics after the lab violated state law and failed to report nearly 75,000 coronavirus tests that date back to April in a timely manner.
Despite the backlog, all patients who were tested were notified about their results, according to the health department.
“To drop this much unusable and stale data is irresponsible,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I believe that Quest has abdicated their ability to perform a testing function in Florida that the people can be confident in. As such I am directing all executive agencies to sever their COVID-19 testing relationships with Quest effective immediately.”
Most of the data was more than two weeks old, with some cases dating back nearly five months, the health department said.
In a written statement, Quest Diagnostics said the delay was because of a technical issue. The commercial clinical lab company which operates across the U.S. and in Mexico and Brazil, said they have processed and reported about 1.4 million test results for Florida and that they remain open to working with the Florida Department of Health. The company said they apologized for the delay, but that it has been resolved.
FDOH Offering Free Walk-Up COVID-19 Testing in Madison, Jefferson Counties WTXL-TV
The Florida Department of Health in Jefferson and Madison counties is conducting free COVID-19 testing during the month of September.
Health officials say their goal is to test 2% of the population each month.
No appointment, signs or symptoms are needed to be tested.
In addition, children can be tested with parent or guardian present.
When individuals arrive at the site officials say the should park and walk up to the registration table to start the testing process.
Nursing staff will perform COVID-19 testing at the times and locations listed.
Department of Health Okeechobee County Provides Free COVID-19 Testing Lake Okeechobee News
Florida Department of Health in Okeechobee County provides free COVID-19 testing using an oral swab Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment only. The health department is located at 1728 N.W. Ninth Ave. in Okeechobee. To make an appointment, call 863-462-5800 and press option 3 immediately.
It will take approximately 48 hours to get your test results.
Who can be tested?
• First responders (EMS, firefighters, law enforcement and dispatchers) *can be asymptomatic • Health care personnel • School employees and students • Long-term care facilities • Individuals living or working in congregate settings (correctional, homeless shelter) • Individuals age 65+ • Individuals with underlying medical conditions, including: ○ Cancer ○ Chronic lung, kidney or liver disease ○ COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ○ Diabetes ○ Serious heart conditions ○ Severe obesity (BMI greater than 30) ○ Asthma ○ Sickle Cell Disease • Pregnant women • Individuals living in households with a high-risk individual or provide care to high-risk individuals
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Department of Juvenile Justice
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A B.O.L.D. New Start for Young Men The Gainesville Sun
Adeyemi Young, 23, has another chance at life thanks to a program that gives young men an opportunity to create a better path for their future. The program Young recently graduated from is known as the Brave Overt Leaders of Distinction, or B.O.L.D. The program was founded in 2010 by Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones to help young men in Alachua County between the ages of 18 to 26 maximize their potential. “The ultimate goal is to make sure these young men become sustainable and independent,” said Steven Belk, program manager. “We want them to transition back to society.” The program is funded by the city of Gainesville and grants that use partnerships, resources and services for the purpose of intervention, re-entry, prevention of criminal activity and/or incarceration. The program allows participants, who work at their own pace, up to two years to complete their goals.
“We mainly focus on assisting the members with continuing education and gainful employment,” Belk said. “Our goal is to help make them sustainable, independent, career-focused and contributing members to the community. We want taxpayers and not tax-takers.” Young said he was grateful to be part of the program. “I like it a lot,” Young said. “It was very helpful.” Young said it is great having people around to better his development and character as a young man. “No matter what you did, it’s not about how you start, but how you finish,” Young said. “If you put yourself in the right mindset, good things will find you.” Young, along with Fred Perryman and Romeo Sheppard, both 18, graduated from the program last month.
“We empowered them to be individual thinkers,” Belk said. “They no longer have a fixed mindset, but they have a growth mindset.” Young and Perryman entered into the program from incarceration — Young was in an adult facility and Perryman a Department of Juvenile Justice facility. Both were referred by their probation officers. Sheppard also was referred to the program by his juvenile probation officer. Young’s goals were not to re-offend, to find work, get an education and pay his court fees. Perryman’s goals were to gain employment, meet his court orders and complete probation. Sheppard’s goals were to earn his high school diploma, find employment and enroll in a Job Corps culinary arts program.
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Department of Transportation
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces More Than $1.2 Billion in Infrastructure Grants to America’s Airports Transportaion.Gov WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced today that the Trump Administration will award more than $1.2 billion in airport safety and infrastructure grants through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to 405 airports in 50 states and the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “This $1.2 billion federal investment will improve our nation’s airport infrastructure, enhance safety, and strengthen growth in local communities, which is especially important as the economy recovers from COVID-19,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. A complete listing of grants (PDF) and an interactive map of airports receiving funding is available on the FAA website. The total includes over $1 billion from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and $152 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants to equal a 100 percent federal share. “The 434 AIP grants will fund critical airport infrastructure projects around the country,” said FAA Administrator Stephen M. Dickson. The grants will be used for a variety of critical infrastructure and safety projects. The projects include purchasing aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment, constructing runways and taxiways, repairing runways and taxiways, installing aircraft lighting and signage, conducting airport master plan studies and installing airport perimeter fencing. Since January 2017, the Trump Administration has delivered $13.5 billion to America’s Airports to improve infrastructure and safety. In 2020, the Administration has delivered $10 billion in economic assistance to America’s airports during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
South Florida Airports To Benefit From $1.2 Billion In Grants To Improve Safety, Infrastructure CBS Miami MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Federal officials announced Tuesday that they will be awarding more than $1.2 billion in grants to improve airport safety and infrastructure to 405 airports nationally, including Miami Executive Airport, Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, North Perry Airport and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International. “This $1.2 billion federal investment will improve our nation’s airport infrastructure, enhance safety, and strengthen growth in local communities, which is especially important as the economy recovers from COVID-19,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. In Florida, the Department of Transportation is awarding federal grants to the following airports:
• $800,700 for Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport to install runway incursion lighting. • $7,280,576 for Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport to install lighting, rehabilitate a taxiway and install a visual guidance system. • $1,614,518 for North Perry Airport in Hollywood to extend the runway. • $4,958,363 for Key West International Airport for noise mitigation. • $5,554,235 for Lakeland Linder International Airport to improve a taxiway and rehabilitate taxiway lighting. • $5,214,381 to Leesburg International Airport to rehabilitate a runway and runway lighting. • $6,895,959 to Melbourne International Airport to improve the terminal building. • $8,411,277 to Miami Executive Airport to construct a taxiway. • $2,464,301 to Naples Municipal Airport to improve airport drainage and install perimeter fencing. • $10,941,888 to Orlando Sanford International Airport to rehabilitate a taxiway and taxiway lighting. • $970,768 to Witham Field in Stuart to install perimeter fencing and reconstruct the apron. • $6,032,375 to Tallahassee International Airport to rehabilitate the taxiway. • $4,261,666 to Tampa Executive Airport to rehabilitate the runway. • $2,747,720 to Valkaria Airport to widen the taxiway. • $3,334,955 to Vero Beach Regional Airport to rehabilitate the apron.
“The 434 AIP grants will fund critical airport infrastructure projects around the country,” said FAA Administrator Stephen M. Dickson.
Federal Grant Will Make it Easier for Pinellas Bus Riders Who also Need a Rideshare Tampa Bay Times The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has received a grant that will help riders more easily book trips that involve bus service and a rideshare. The $120,000 grant is from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Riders from low-frequency transit areas who book subsidized trips that require both a bus ride and a rideshare will soon be able to do that in one step in the agency's app, called Transit. Since July 2019, the agency's app has linked to information about the program. With the grant money, the agency will build the Transit app so riders can book everything there seamlessly. "The grant will allow us to integrate into the transit app," said Brad Miller, CEO of the transit agency. "Hopefully it'll be much, much easier to put in where you are, where you need to go, it will automatically connect to you. You won't have to open the Uber app separately. You'll be able to get it all right there, your Uber, your bus ride to your ultimate destination. "The agency announced a county-wide partnership with Uber, United Taxi and Wheelchair Transport in 2017 that helped subsidize those services to take people from the bus stop to their final destinations for about $1.The partnership was designed to help solve what's known as the "first-mile, last-mile" problem - how to get riders from the bus stop to their final destination, whether it's their home, workplace or grocery store. PSTA said at the time that it was the first transit agency in the country to partner with a ridershare company in that manner. "This is the future of transit," Miller said then. The program, known as Direct Connect, was an expansion of a pilot project PSTA rolled out in East Lake and Pinellas Park. The pilot was successful enough that PSTA decided to subsidize Uber and cab rides for bus patrons throughout the county. "It just does not make sense to run an $800,000 bus to every corner of Pinellas County," Miller said then. "If we can work out these arrangements with Uber and taxi companies in more suburban, low-density areas then we can run the buses we have on the major corridors of Pinellas County."
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Florida Department of Corrections
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
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FLHSMV Reminds You to Take a Break, Don't Drive Drowsy
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is leading the Drowsy Driving Prevention Week campaign to remind motorists to get adequate rest before getting behind the wheel, take breaks to remain alert, and never drive drowsy. FLHSMV is partnering with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Trucking Association, and AAA - The Auto Club Group to recognize September 1-7, 2020, as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.
“Getting adequate rest before getting behind the wheel is the best way to drive safely,” said FLHSMV Executive Director, Terry L. Rhodes. “Drowsy Driving Prevention Week is a sobering reminder that falling asleep at the wheel has deadly consequences and is preventable. We urge all motorists to take responsibility and never drive drowsy.”
Throughout the campaign, FLHSMV will be urging drivers to safely pull off the road and take a break if they are having difficulty focusing, yawning repeatedly or drifting into other lanes. Fatigue slows thought processes and reaction time, affects judgement and vision, impairs the senses and abilities and can cause micro-sleeping (“nodding off”) or falling completely asleep, making it very dangerous to drive. In 2019, there were 3,700 drowsy driving crashes in Florida, which resulted in 224 injuries and 12 fatalities.
“Drowsy driving can be just as deadly as driving impaired or texting while driving,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “It is critical to take a break on long trips, pull into a rest area or seek lodging when you feel fatigued, change drivers to ensure you have adequate rest, and allow plenty of time to travel to your destination.”
In 2008, eight-year old Ronshay Dugans lost her life after a cement truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and hit the school bus she was riding. Florida’s Ronshay Dugans Act was established in 2010 and recognizes the first week in September as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week in her honor. FLHSMV will be posting video messages from Ronshay’s family about her and the importance of the campaign on social media throughout the week.
FLHSMV is joined by state partners in honoring Ronshay Dugans and spreading the messages of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week:
“No matter how far away your destination, driving drowsy is never worth the risk,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. “Always rest up before getting behind the wheel and pull over at a safe location to take a break if you need to rest. Your life and the lives of those around you depend on it.”
“Florida is an internationally known tourist destination showcasing our natural resources, theme parks, and beaches that are all now reopened for our guests and the citizens that we proudly serve. On behalf of our Florida sheriffs, I fully endorse and support the FLHSMVs ‘Drowsy Driving Prevention Initiative,” stated Sheriff Bobby Schultz, President of the Florida Sheriffs Association.
“If you have missed just two hours of sleep, you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk by getting behind the wheel,” said Matt Nasworthy, Public Affairs Director for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Drowsy driving is impaired driving.”
FLHSMV urges all drivers to be fully alert when operating a motor vehicle. Commercial motor vehicle drivers are required by federal and state law to adhere to hours-of-service regulations that put limits on when and how long they may drive.
“Professional commercial motor vehicle drivers know the risks of drowsy driving, especially in a vehicle that can weigh 80,000 pounds,” said Ken Armstrong, President of Florida Trucking Association. “All motorists should recognize the signs of drowsy driving and take a break when fatigued to ensure everyone on the road gets home safely.”
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Florida Department of Law Enforcement
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Sweetwater Commissioner charged with perjury; resigns City Commission seat
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and FDLE Special Agent in Charge Troy Walker announced the charging of former Sweetwater Commissioner, Sophia Lacayo with one count of perjury when not in an official proceeding. The charge is a first-degree misdemeanor crime.
"I am proud of our team's diligent efforts in this investigation and grateful for State Attorney Kathy Rundle's Public Corruption Unit's partnership,” said Troy Walker, Special Agent In Charge of FDLE’s Miami Regional Operations Center. “Our citizens rightly expect integrity from their elected officials, and when they breach that trust, they must be held accountable, as we have done here."
Commissioner Sophia Lacayo was elected in May 2019. However, she did not actually reside within the city limits, a requirement of the City Charter in order to run for office. In her filed Affidavit of Residency, Ms. Lacayo officially swore that she lived at 11132 SW 7th Street when she actually resided at an address in unincorporated Miami-Dade County. The landlord at the SW 7th street address also verified that Ms. Lacayo did not reside at the property.
“Deliberately swearing to false information in order to run for a City Commission seat, as occurred here, deceived those voters who believed in the candidate,” commented State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “Such a deliberate action can never have a good result for a city.”
Sophia Lacayo has pleaded guilty to the charge of perjury when not in an official proceeding and has been sentenced to one year of county court probation through the Advocate Program. Ms. Lacayo has received a withhold of adjudication from the court. As a part of her plea, Ms. Lacayo has resigned from the City of Sweetwater Commission and is prohibited from running for public office during the term of her probation. There will be no early termination of the probation. Additionally, she will take an ethics course with the Miami Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust and pay various investigative cost recovery fees.
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Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs
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World War II Veterans Celebrate 75th Anniversary of Formal Surrender
It was 75 years ago today that the formal instrument of surrender was signed on the deck of the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, ending the Second World War. We honor our World War II veterans on this day and thank the members of the Greatest Generation for keeping America free.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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USDA Forest Service, Florida agencies and partners finalize Florida National Scenic Trail Big Bend reroute
The USDA Forest Service Southern Region recently approved a public land Big Bend reroute of the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) through a collaborative partnership with several state agencies and stakeholders.
The comprehensive plan, known as the Big Bend Reroute, was developed through a coordinated effort between the Forest Service’s FNST Program staff and state agency partners which include the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida State Parks and the Office of Greenways and Trails, the Florida Forest Service, Taylor County, Four Rivers Land & Timber Company LLC, the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation, and the Florida Trail Association (FTA).
“Providing access to natural areas is critical in perpetuating support for conservation. We are honored to be a partner and we look forward to having this new trail among the segments located on other wildlife management areas (WMAs) throughout the state,” said FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton. “Trail users will enjoy the Big Bend’s beautiful and diverse landscape.”
Over the years, representatives from each agency worked closely to develop a solution to bridge one of the largest gaps in the Florida Trail. In 2016, a planning team identified a stretch between the Twin Rivers State Forest and the Aucilla River Wildlife Management Area that would provide hikers the opportunity to experience some of the most scenic and undeveloped coastal public lands in Florida. This 50-mile proposed reroute was outside the original 20-mile reroute planned in 1986.
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Florida Housing Finance Corporation
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WWSB
Eviction protections were set to expire today for those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, but Governor Ron DeSantis changed that ruling overnight. For the 5th time since this pandemic began, the governor has signed an executive order extending that moratorium for evictions and foreclosures. Those that can’t pay their bills because of their situation during this pandemic, now have a new expiration date - October 1st.
“I was scared. The night club that I worked at was closed. They were telling me to file for unemployment, and I was using my savings. Unemployment didn’t go through for a really long time – I actually never got it. They never called me or emailed me back, and I sat on the phone for hours,” explained Sarasota resident, Hope Karam.
Karam is one of the thousands of people who found themselves in a tough situation from one day to the next because of this pandemic. Most rent and mortgage payments are due today as it being the first day of the month, but this extension gives those directly impacted by COVID-19 another temporary relief – they will not have to pay their housing bills just yet.
“I’ve been very blessed to get the help that I got, but if I didn’t have it, I would be homeless,” expressed Karam.
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New Data Reveals 42.5 Million Americans Predicted to Road-Trip Over Labor Day Weekend Travel Pulse Arrivalist, the travel industry’s leading location intelligence platform, is projecting that road-trip volume in the U.S. over the coming Labor Day holiday weekend will be down just 5.3 percent from 2019, despite pandemic conditions.
The location data firm estimates that 42.5 million Americans will take to the nation’s roadways over the extended weekend to escape the humdrum of daily life amid COVID-19. Its predictions rely on data from the company’s Daily Travel Index, of which it will also be launching an improved version on September 1 that includes year-over-year insights.
"Americans continue to seek respite on the road," remarked Arrivalist’s Founder and CEO, Cree Lawson. "These latest projections are a promising sign for the travel industry."
The Daily Travel Index uses Arrivalist’s proprietary location data to measure daily travel activity carried out by residents across all 50 U.S. states. Arrivalist’s methodology relies on a balanced, representative panel of GPS signals that accompany trips that are specifically taken by car (excluding air-travel activity), comprised of at least 50 miles and where travelers have spent a minimum of two hours at their destination.
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Helping Survivors of Hurricane Laura
One of the best ways that individuals can help those affected by Hurricane Laura is by donating monetarily. During disasters, cash can be transported instantly and can be used to purchase essential supplies that are needed for both response and recovery activities. For more information about where to donate or how to affiliate with a volunteer organization, we recommend reaching out to Louisiana and Texas’ state service commissions. Similar to Volunteer Florida, Volunteer Louisiana and One Star Foundation in Texas coordinate volunteers and donations before, during and after disaster. For more information, please visit www.volunteerlouisiana.gov and www.onestarfoundation.org.
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Department of The Lottery
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Department of Management Services
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Florida Department of Citrus
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