Controversial abortion bill heads to Florida Senate

Abortion Rights Protest — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Bob Korn A bill that would subsequently ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy is set to take another step forward on Monday, February 21. The agenda for Florida’s Senate Appropriations Committee includes the “Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality” bill. The legislation being proposed revises the requirements and

Florida could see an alarming doctor shortage by 2035

Doctor-Patient Discussing — Courtesy: Shutterstock — S_L The coronavirus pandemic has caused supply chain issues and shortages, and the medical field is no exception.  Even though Florida’s coast population continues to grow, the Florida Hospital Association reports a significant shortage of primary care physicians by 2035. The growing population paired with retirement projections show that

South Florida has passed the peak of the omicron surge

South Florida Omicron Testing Site — Courtesy: Shutterstock — YES Market Media HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — According to experts, the height of the COVID-19 omicron variant surge may be behind us in South Florida.  “In Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, hospitals have already experienced their peak,” Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, said

Up to 1 million COVID-19 rapid test kits found expired in Florida warehouse

BinaxNOW COVID-19 Rapid Test: Courtesy — Image by: Abbott Between 800,000 and 1 million COVID-19 rapid test kits were left to expire inside a Florida warehouse amid a nationwide shortage caused by the winter surge of coronavirus cases. Like many other Americans, Floridians have faced extremely long waits at testing sites for weeks, making the

Thousands of teachers & students absent amid Omicron surge

FL schools dealing with Omicron outbreak — Courtesy: Shutterstock — FamVeld Schools in Florida are reporting loads of absences among students and teachers this week, a sign that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is already interrupting the new semester. With COVID-19 cases skyrocketing throughout the Sunshine State, Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged to keep schools

Spike in COVID-19 cases causes closures, cancellations, and long lines throughout South Florida

COVID-19 Testing — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: zstock As several South Florida counties reach a “high” risk level for COVID-19 transmission, residents are experiencing extremely long testing lines, store closures, and event cancellations. With the holidays & Christmas approaching quickly, testing sites are experiencing exceptionally long lines. Tropical Park, a 24/7 PCR testing and

Omicron Update: Tampa hospital first to report patient with new COVID-19 variant

Omicron — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Andrii Vodolazhskyi TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa Bay hospital announced its first confirmed COVID-19 omicron variant case on Tuesday. A spokesperson for James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital in Tampa confirmed the omicron case in a statement. “The patient is experiencing mild symptoms and had recently returned from international

Disney halts vaccine mandate after Florida’s ban

Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Jerome Labouyrie The Walt Disney Company has put a halt to its coronavirus vaccine mandate for employees of its Florida theme park after the State Legislature and governor made it illegal for employers to require all workers to get vaccinated, a company spokesperson confirmed on Saturday.

Florida’s largest school districts ease up on masks

Running at School – Face Mask: Shutterstock — Monkey Business Images ORLANDO, Fla. — Two of Florida’s largest school districts are easing up on mask requirements this week. Beginning Monday, Orange County students will not be required to wear a face mask if their parents provide a note opting them out. High school students in

Miami-Dade schools’ mask mandate could be relaxed by end of the month

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho – Mask Mandate – Courtesy: Getty Images Miami-Dade County Public Schools could ease the mask mandate by the end of the month according to Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. On Wednesday, Carvalho stated that local rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and infections have declined significantly since the start of the 2021-2022 academic school year, as