Health News Florida

Travel On Thanksgiving? Pass The COVID

By Anna Almendrala - Kaiser Health News • 11 hours ago

Molly Wiese was truly stumped. Her parents and siblings live in Southern California, and Wiese, a 35-year-old lawyer, has returned home every Christmas since she moved to Minnesota in 2007.

Because of the pandemic, Wiese thought it would be wiser to stay put for once. But in June, Wiese’s father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and they feared this could be his final holiday season.

Friday's Coronavirus Case Total Adds to Week-Over-Week Increase

By Daylina Miller • 11 hours ago

The number of coronavirus cases continues to trend upward as the state reported 23,343 more infections for the week ending Friday.

That compares to last week's total of 19,516 and 17,117 the week before that.

However, state figures show hospitalizations from COVID-19, which usually increase a few weeks after cases spike, have been holding steady and deaths have gone down slightly.

The state reported 514 deaths for the week ending Friday, compared to 658 last week and 642, the previous week.

Surviving COVID-19: Teenager Wants Young People To Take Virus Seriously

By editor • Oct 23, 2020

More than 750,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Florida since March. Health News Florida talked to some of the survivors about what it was like to have the illness and how it's changed their lives.

Today we hear from Delaney Laing, 16, of Safety Harbor.

She didn't have severe symptoms when she was sick in early July, but she still wants young people to know they are not immune from catching the virus and spreading it to their families:

FDA Approves First COVID-19 Drug: Antiviral Remdesivir

By Associated Press & Health News Florida Staff • Oct 23, 2020

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized coronavirus patients in the U.S. It's the first and only approved treatment for COVID-19.

Positivity Rate Increase A Concern In Orange County

By Danielle Prieur - WMFE • Oct 23, 2020

Orange County's health director says he expected to see an increase in new coronavirus case numbers after Florida's Phase 3 reopening, but he urges residents to continue taking precautions seriously.

Dr. Raul Pino says many new cases have been traced to birthday parties, including a Sweet 16 party in the Avalon Park area that resulted in half of guests getting COVID-19.

Teledentistry Has A Place, But It Makes Some Dentists Wince

By Eric Berger - Kaiser Health News • Oct 23, 2020

Donella Pogue has trouble finding dentists in her rural area willing to accommodate her 21-year-old son, Justin, who is 6 feet, 8 inches tall, is on the autism spectrum and has difficulty sitting still when touched.

And this summer, he had a cavity and his face swelled. Pogue, of Bristol, New York, reached out to the Eastman Institute for Oral Health in Rochester, which offers teledentistry.

Florida Coronavirus Spike Follows Easing Of Restrictions, Health Expert Says

By editor • Oct 23, 2020

After a summer that saw a surge in coronavirus cases, a spike in hospitalizations and an increase in deaths, cases in Florida declined and then seemed to plateau.

But recent numbers from the Florida Department of Health are showing a 30% increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the state, now totaling more than 768,000 cases statewide and more than 16,000 deaths.

One thing that's changed: three weeks ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis moved the state into Phase 3 and lifted capacity restraints on businesses.

Orlando Pediatrician: Rethink Going Home for Thanksgiving Dinner

By Danielle Prieur - WMFE • Oct 23, 2020

Many health experts are recommending families go virtual this year with their holiday celebrations because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

People older than 65 are at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus, so it might be up to relatives in that age group to say no to hosting Thanksgiving and other family dinners, Orlando-area physician Michael Keating says.

Florida Expands Nursing Home Visitation

By editor • Oct 23, 2020

Despite a steadily growing number of COVID-19 cases in Florida communities, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced the state will begin allowing outdoor visitation at long-term care facilities, regardless of whether the facilities have COVID-19 infections.

Indoor visitation at nursing homes and other facilities will still be tied to COVID-19 infection rates of facility residents and staff members.

Surviving COVID-19: Tampa Man Recovers From Virus More Determined To Protect Family

By editor • Oct 22, 2020

More than 750,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Florida since March. Health News Florida talked to some of the survivors about what it was like to have the illness and how it's changed their lives.

Today we hear from Mike Thors of Tampa. He recovered from COVID-19 at home, but describes the pain he felt like "knives stabbing him" and said he's still dealing with shortness of breath months later.

Thors suspects he got the virus in July when he and a few relatives got together at his sister's home: