Florida COVID update: 901 added deaths, largest single-day increase in pandemic history https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article253766203.html Florida on Thursday reported 21,765 more COVID-19 cases and 901 deaths to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Miami Herald calculations of CDC data. All but two of the newly reported deaths occurred after July 25, with about 78% of those people dying in the past two weeks, according to Herald calculations of data published by the CDC. The majority of deaths happened during Florida’s latest surge in COVID-19 cases, fueled by the delta variant. It is the largest single-day increase to the death total in the state’s COVID pandemic history. (More at above url)
Florida Surgeon General leaving Ron DeSantis’ administration amid coronavirus surge: report Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be battling the coronavirus pandemic without the aid of his current surgeon general. "Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, the state's top medical official, is exiting Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration in September," Florida Politics reported and WFLA-TV confirmed. Following the news breaking, DeSantis Press Secretary Christina Pushaw issued a statement. "We thank Dr. Rivkees for his meaningful work during the most challenging pandemic of our lifetime.
Can someone explain why DeSantis doesn't mandate nursing home staff be vaccinated. It is an obvious precaution to take for the safety of the residents. Florida nursing homes have low staff vaccination rates. Resident cases and deaths are rising. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article253524984.html
AdventHealth morgues reach capacity due to COVID-19 deaths https://www.orlandosentinel.com/cor...0210826-snskgjh72fg7ddjdh64s2qwf6m-story.html Morgues throughout AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division have reached capacity due to COVID-19 deaths, the organization said in an email obtained by the Orlando Sentinel Thursday. “The Central Florida Division of AdventHealth has reached capacity of our hospital morgues due to an influx of COVID-19 patients,” the email said. “We have begun utilizing rented, refrigerated coolers at 10 of our campuses throughout Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, & Volusia counties. These coolers are quickly becoming filled also.” Florida noted another 901 previously unreported COVID-related deaths on Thursday, sending the seven-day average soaring to the highest it’s been through the pandemic. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also showed 21,183 new cases. The 901 deaths are the highest number reported in Florida, which has been releasing death counts in batches based on the date the deaths occurred. The seven-day trend based on the date the death was reported stands at 242, according to the Sun Sentinel’s analysis of the CDC data. In Seminole County, three of the four hospitals have activated “mass fatality” plans because of the COVID-19 surge, said Alan Harris, director of emergency management for the county. “What that does is it brings in contracts with funeral homes as well as coolers for additional space,” he said. Harris added that he’s not aware of such measures being taken in Seminole County earlier in the pandemic. AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division attributed this capacity issue to backup at local funeral homes. Funeral homes across Florida say they areoverwhelmed with bodiesright now. AdventHealth has contacted regional hospital disaster coalitions and requested assistance from the Florida Hospital Association. AdventHealth said it cannot request assets such as the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System (FEMORS) because Florida has not made a disaster declaration. FEMORS responded to the Surfside condo collapse, the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting and Hurricane Michael, among other disasters. It was activated earlier in the pandemic, but it hasn’t received a request for help with this wave, said Bruce Goldberger, program director. “We are available if the Florida Department of Health decides to activate,” Goldberger said. “We are a state asset, and we are on call 24/7, 365. We are always available to assist the local communities.” AdventHealth said the following in a prepared statement: “We have a robust emergency management program, which has allowed us to continue to care for our community during this surge with thorough planning and precautionary measures. With the spike of seriously ill patients in our hospitals, it’s prudent that we prepare for an increase in deaths and are putting resources in place to provide additional capacity if needed.”
Florida Covid Death Report Hits Record; Younger Adults Die https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...eath-report-hits-record-younger-residents-die