The Point, Aug. 9, 2021: Nearly A Quarter Of Florida’s Inpatient Hospital Beds Have COVID-19 Patients – WUFT

Subscribe to The Point to invite us into your inbox with the most important Florida news from Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.

---

• NPR News: Florida Hospitals Are Filling Up As COVID-19 Cases Hit An All-Time High. “As of Sunday, 13,793 coronavirus patients accounted for 24% of the state’s inpatient beds. Florida has become the new epicenter of the country’s coronavirus pandemic, as the highly contagious delta variant triggers a surge in cases nationwide.”

• WUFT News: Alachua County Commission Chair Declares Local State Of Emergency. “(In an interview), Commissioner Ken Cornell discusses the current COVID-19 situation and what the emergency action means for the county.”

• WESH-Orlando: University of Florida expects everyone on campus to wear face masks. “The university has put out guidelines for the upcoming fall semester to ensure the health and safety of those on campus and prevent further spread of COVID-19, officials said. ‘We expect everyone to wear a mask at all times when inside any UF facility, even if you are vaccinated,’ the release said. Though it does not say masks are mandatory, it does say the expectation is that students, faculty, staff, vendors and visitors will all wear masks on campus.”

• WFSU: Data Indicate Florida’s Current COVID-19 Spike Could Start Trending Down, But Doctors Say That Requires More Vaccinations. “Experts say once local positivity rates begin decreasing hospitalization rates should follow suit about 14 days later. But (Dr. Dean) Watson cautioned that decrease will only come if more people get vaccinated.”

• Politico: Federal judge sides with Norwegian Cruise Line in fight with Florida over vaccine passports. “A federal judge on Sunday night sided with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in a fight with Florida over vaccine passports, granting the cruise line’s request for a preliminary injunction that blocks a state law barring businesses from requiring proof of vaccination.”

• Miami Herald ($): Can the boss require workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine? There are rules in Florida. “…what about Florida’s ban on vaccine passports? The order prohibits businesses and government entities from requiring customers — or in the case of schools, students — to show proof of vaccination to get service. Businesses are still allowed to mandate vaccines for employees. That’s subject to bargaining for unionized workers.”

• WTSP: Ground-penetrating radar reveals 3 possible graves under Tropicana Field parking lot. “Research into the possibility of graves at the site began amid city talks of redeveloping the 86-acres around Tropicana Field. Three cemeteries once existed at the site: Oaklawn, Evergreen and Moffett. During segregation, Oaklawn served mostly white residents, while Evergreen and Moffett served African Americans.”

• News4Jax: UF Health Jacksonville names new CEO. “Russell Armistead was named chief executive officer of UF Health Jacksonville on Friday, replacing Dr. Leon L. Haley Jr., who died July 24 in an accident.”

• WFSU: Memories And Memorials Mark Bobby Bowden’s Passing. “Tributes to Coach Bobby Bowden are pouring in from all over the world following his death the morning of Sunday, August 8. … Multiple memorials for Coach Bobby Bowden will take place in Tallahassee later this week. FSU President John Thrasher announced the services after receiving the arrangements from Bowden’s family.”

• Mainstreet Daily News: Solar plan stalls with no location. “With the location in Archer off the table, the Gainesville City Commission still needs a location for its new solar farm contract with Origis Energy.”

---

---

• Science: Major Report Warns Climate Change Is Accelerating And Humans Must Cut Emissions Now

• Health: As Trusted Voices, Farmers Could Be Key To Boosting Rural Vaccination Rates

• Health: COVID-19 Will Be With Us For Some Time. What Might That Look Like?

• Health: How A Gay Community Helped The CDC Spot A COVID Outbreak — And Learn More About Delta

• World: The 14 Moments That Swept Us Away At The Tokyo Olympics

• Politics: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Advances In The Senate

• National: R. Kelly Is Going To Trial For Alleged Sex Crimes. Here’s What To Know

Favorite