Access expands to COVID vaccine
About 180 hospitals across the state will have access to COVID-19 vaccines as of next week, Florida’s emergency management chief said Tuesday.
Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said five hospitals that received delivery of a Pfizer vaccine Monday and Tuesday have reached agreements to share the vaccine with 25 neighboring facilities, usually their competitors. That means 30 Florida hospitals will have access to the Pfizer vaccine this week.
By the Numbers: Florida counties with fewest COVID deaths
Florida this week surpassed 20,000 resident deaths from COVID-19. The largest numbers of deaths have happened in heavily populated Southeast Florida. But here are the dozen counties with the fewest COVID-19 resident deaths as of a Tuesday count:
— Franklin: 4
Land deals, including one in Panhandle, approved
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet agreed Tuesday to spend more than $16.7 million to protect fields in Southwest Florida where federally endangered Florida panthers roam and land in Washington County that could be used for hunting and other recreation.
DeSantis says Trump loss could affect Florida
A day after President Donald Trump lost the Electoral College vote, Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Tuesday that the exit of his close political ally from the White House could affect Florida on issues such as the coronavirus pandemic.
Medicaid cost, enrollment spiral in pandemic
A new forecast for Medicaid shows state economists and health officials continue to predict a jump in the number of people enrolling in the coming year — bringing a dramatic surge in the amount of money needed for the safety-net program.
First responder PTSD benefit claims rejected
More than two years after lawmakers passed a measure to expand benefits for first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, an appeals court Monday rejected a claim because it said a Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crew member did not file it in time.
Florida electors cast ballots, hold out hope
Florida’s Electoral College voters Monday cast their 29 ballots for President Donald Trump with hopes the Republican incumbent can still find a way to overturn election results in other states.
‘Magical moment’ as first vaccines arrive in Florida
The first wave of coronavirus vaccinations began in Florida on Monday, with health-care workers in Tampa and Jacksonville among the first to get inoculated.
Governor backs sanctions in Walton beach closure cases
TALLAHASSEE — Pointing to what they called “baseless” legal arguments, lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis have urged an appeals court to sanction a Northwest Florida attorney who filed a lawsuit to try to force DeSantis to close beaches to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Florida’s electors to cast vote for Trump
TALLAHASSEE — At this point, it seems almost like an afterthought.
Twenty-nine presidential electors will gather Monday in the state Senate chamber and formally put Florida in Republican President Donald Trump’s column.