Coronavirus Variant

In a letter sent to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, Dr. Joseph Ladapo wrote that federal agencies should not be controlling COVID options. He asked that Florida be able to pursue unlimited acquisition of any treatment.

In a study this month, researchers concluded that "the omicron wave in Florida is likely to cause many more infections than occurred during the delta wave" — about 40,000 new cases per day.

To block a variant this transmissible, scientists say you need an N95 or other high-filtration mask. Here's how to find a good one and when to wear it.

AdventHealth in Orlando has reactivated its COVID command center. Meantime, omicron has been detected in Tallahassee and the variant has become the dominant strain in Miami-Dade.

President Joe Biden announces plans to deliver 500 million COVID tests to Americans, increase support for hospitals and expand the availability of vaccines.

Underscoring its high transmissibility, in a week, omicron went from a 12.6% share of new COVID infections in the U.S. to a dominant 73.2%, according to the CDC's latest estimates.

Sporting events and live theater announced cancellations amid major increases in new coronavirus cases, in large part because of the omicron variant.

Dr. Raul Pino, medical director of the county's Department of Health, says the majority of COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the region continue to be from the delta variant.

The test that found the omicron variant in Orange County sewage is considered preliminary. The city of Altamonte Springs also found the highly contagious strain in its sewage.

The U.S. also surpassed 50 million COVID-19 cases, the most in the world. Two experts who raised early warnings discuss how the losses continue to deepen, despite the arrival of vaccines a year ago.