The changes will affect facilities other than those in communities seeing high levels of COVID-19 transmission.

New data also showed a continued slowing in reported COVID-19 cases. Florida had a reported 17,438 new cases from Sept. 16 through Thursday and 22,913 new cases the previous week.

Elementary school-aged children already received kid-sized doses of Pfizer’s original vaccine, a third of the dose given to everyone 12 and older -- two primary shots plus a booster.

USF epidemiologist Jason Salemi said he's worried the president's pronouncement that the pandemic is "over" has taken on a life of its own. Meantime, the White House says 4.4 million Americans have gotten the booster.

Biden's comments — made as officials try to convince Americans to get a new booster shot and the White House seeks $22 billion in new COVID funding — were "unfortunate," several epidemiologists said.

In its weekly report on the pandemic, the U.N. health agency said deaths fell by 22% in the past week, at just over 11,000 reported worldwide.

They argue the threat posed by COVID has lessened because of preexisting immunity and access to treatment. Plus, some deaths may be incorrectly blamed on COVID. Others caution it's too soon to tell.

A three-judge panel upheld the Biden requirement for executive branch workers, overturning a Texas judge. But the full appeals court vacated the ruling and agreed to rehear the case.

A new report from the Lancet Commission sums up the many mistakes that have been made and offers proposals for a more effective global strategy if and when another pandemic should strike.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability and state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith claim the health department violated the state’s public-records law by turning down requests for daily data.