Florida health officials warn of ‘alarming’ outbreak of meningococcal disease

Meningococcal Disease — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Steph Photographies Florida health officials are warning residents about an ‘alarmingly large’ outbreak of a potentially fatal bacterial illness known as meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease commonly leads to two possibly fatal infections—meningitis, when the lining of the spinal cord and brain become infected, and a bloodstream infection. The disease

COVID-19 cases decline in Florida: Health experts are optimistic we are reaching the end of the Delta wave

COVID-19 Vaccine – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Prostock-studio The COVID-19 case positivity rate has continued to decline for the eighth week in a row in the Sunshine State. It is now sitting at 3.8% for the week of October 8. Just this week, the FDA vaccine advisory panel unanimously recommended booster shots for those

Orange County, Florida mayor asks residents to continue wearing masks regardless of vaccination status

Woman with Face Mask – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by JDzacovsky The Mayor of Orange County, Florida, is asking residents to wear face masks inside as the county’s COVID-19 positivity rates continue to climb.  According to Mayor Jerry Demings, the county’s fourteen-day rolling positivity rate currently sits at 7.78%. “Two weeks ago on June 28,

Royal Caribbean pushes back debut sailing for new ship out of Florida after eight crew members test positive for COVID-19

Courtesy: Joe Raedle-Getty Images Royal Caribbean announced earlier this morning that it will push back its first scheduled sailing out of Florida’s Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to the end of July. Originally scheduled for a July 3 departure, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Odyssey of the Seas, faced a predictable setback in its debut out

Florida Theme Parks slowly returning to normalcy with loosened mask requirements

Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls ride at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure theme park – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Kamira Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their mask mandate for fully vaccinated persons in a surprise move that will bring Americans one step closer to pre-pandemic “normalcy.” One day after

Florida cruise activity may get delayed another year due to COVID-19 complications

Courtesy: Image by Ed Judkins from Pixabay According to one lobbyist from the cruising sector, a majority of Florida cruises scheduled for 2021 may not be able to set sail for at least one year. In a Florida Senate Transportation Committee meeting on Feb. 2, the Florida Ports Council emphasized that cruise officials, staff, and

Popular Florida bar shuts down day after reopening its doors due to maskless patrons and insufficient social distancing

The Wharf Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. Patrons without masks. Courtesy: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Photo sent in by Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan A popular Broward County outdoor bar got the ax from county officials late Saturday night after videos and photos surfaced showing hundreds of maskless patrons in close proximity, ignoring

Despite Travel Advisory Heading Into Thanksgiving Weekend South Florida Airports Are Packed

Family with two children going on holiday, wearing face masks at the airport. Courtesy: Shutterstock – Photo By Halfpoint Despite cautionary health advisories issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pertaining to the 2020 holiday season, people seem to be ignoring the advice and are traveling in droves.  Historically speaking, Thanksgiving weekend is one