Photo: AFP
Florida News That Impacts You – August 5th, 2021
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- According to CDC data, Florida posted 16,935 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday – a number that’s been consistent over the past four days. Florida’s weekly average for daily cases stands at 17,757 – a new high during the pandemic. Related...
- Hospitalizations for COVID-19 continued to rise Wednesday and now stand at 12,041, with about a quarter of patients in ICU. Related...
- In a roundtable with Governor DeSantis, hospital executives briefed the governor on the state of hospitalizations. The message was clear. Hospitals are busy with COVID-19 infections but far from overwhelmed. However...
- Numerous South Florida hospitals have begun to postpone elective surgeries. Memorial Healthcare said it’s Broward hospitals will suspend elective procedures starting Monday. Baptist Health South Florida Hospitals are selectively postponing elective procedures in the Palm Beaches and Cleveland Clinic’s Weston location has likewise begun selective postponements.
- Governor DeSantis made clear that school boards lack the authority to issue mask mandates. A spokeswoman for DeSantis said final policy is being finalized between the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Education that will state any mask policies adopted at the school district level must include the ability for parents to opt their children out.