November 18, 2024

Dear August, please be good to us

Dear August #DearAugust

It’s Friday. Welcome to today’s edition of the Florida Coronavirus Watch Newsletter. Let’s get you up to speed with the latest news of the day from the USA TODAY Network — Florida.

Today’s overview

  • New cases: 9,007
  • New deaths of Florida residents: 257 (3,338 total)
  • New hospitalizations: 516 (26,533 total)
  • Total cases: 470,386
  • Cumulative percentage positive rate: 10.57%
  • As always, you can access more of the latest updates in Florida here. 
  • Here’s what’s happening around the state

  • Good riddance, July: This month is coming to a close in Florida with nearly three times more coronavirus cases than when it began and nearly twice as many COVID-19 deaths, marking an alarming escalation in the state’s outbreak.
  • Record deaths continue: For four straight days, Florida has reported a record number of coronavirus deaths; in three of the last days the number of fatalities was more than 200. 
  • One Goal, One Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new initiative to unite Floridians and urge them to work together in the fight against COVID-19.
  • Latest polls show: Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, more Floridians now disapprove of the job DeSantis is doing than approve. 
  • COVID-19 testing site updates: While some testing sites have closed temporarily due to Hurricane Isaias, the state announced testing sites in these counties will remain open: Charlotte, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota.
  • TGIF. Here’s some good news Stay updated with our Facebook pages and groups

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    And finally, thank you for reading. We appreciate you trusting our statewide journalists to keep you safe and informed. If you are encouraged by our work and want to support your local journalists, please consider subscribing. Know someone who would benefit from this newsletter? Forward this email so they can sign up here. Or maybe you’re looking for the latest news around the country. No worries. We’ve got you covered. Sign up for the national USA TODAY Coronavirus Watch newsletter here.

    Megan’s note of the day: It’s been a crazy week. Is Hurricane Isaias heading your way this weekend? Either way, stay safe, folks. We’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday. Here’s what else is happening with the coronavirus in Florida today.

    — Megan Kearney, Regional Digital Planner, mkearney@gannett.com

    This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Dear August, please be good to us

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