| More COVID cases are being reported in Florida More COVID-19 cases are being reported in Florida. The state reach a high point on July 28 with 17,589 cases. This comes as many people are discarding their face masks and going to back to restaurants, stores and workplaces. But recently, there are more lines at testing sites, reduced visitations at hospitals and more demand for single dose vaccines. Maggie Hansen, director of nursing for Memorial Healthcare System said she wants people realized COVID is serious and can affect anyone. She wants people to know it does not just affect elderly people. Because of the Delta variant more younger people are on ventilators. Broward County and the cities, Coral Springs, Weston and Boynton Beach now require people to wear masks inside their municipal buildings. Palm Beach County is expected to issue a similar requirement. Large numbers of people were seen at Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale to get tested for COVID. Florida had a low point of daily cases in 2021 on June 14 when only 904 were reported. Now the state has seen a 1,780 percent increase in new cases in the last month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
| Broward County has given an order that masks must be worn in County owned building The Broward County Commission has given an administrative order requiring anyone entering a County-owned or operated building to wear a face mask. This order goes into effect on July 30. Miami-Dade County has issued a similar order. Broward Mayor Steve Geller said the County Commission can issue this order because the buildings are county owned. He said the county has a right to protect its staff and law enforcement personnel at every building will enforce the order. Even though Geller has pleaded that people get vaccinated and wear face masks, the county cannot require face masks outside of county run buildings because of an order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis that local governments cannot mandate face masks. Geller said he disagrees with DeSantis and wishes he would spend more time focusing on the life and safety of people in Florida. Geller wants to governor to strongly urge people to get vaccinations. |
| Memorial Healthcare to restrict visitation Memorial Healthcare, the public hospital system for South Broward has restricted its visitation policy because it is facing a rapid increase in COVID-19 emergency department visits and hospitalizations. The hospital system will allow only fully vaccinated visitors during designated hours in its five hospitals. These include: Memorial Regional, Memorial Regional South, Memorial Hospital West, Memorial Hospital Pembroke and Memorial Hospital Miramar. Each patient is allowed one visitor during set hours. Wait times in the Emergency Department often go for hours for those who are less sick and some patients are now being sent to Memorial’s urgent care facilities. COVID-19 patient rooms are being double-bedded, triage tents are being set up to diagnose COVID-19 patients, and areas of the hospitals such as the cafeteria and auditorium have been roped off to treat non-COVID-19 patients. |
| Miami Dade requires masks inside County buildings Miami-Dade County is now requiring that face masks must be worn by employees and visitors inside all county facilities. This includes people who have been vaccinated and those who have not been vaccinated. Residents and encouraged to wear masks when in large crowds or enclosed areas, according to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. She did not announce mandates for businesses.Miami-Dade may face a challenge from the state. A Florida law signed in May gives. Gov. Ron DeSantis the power to invalidate local policies made during the pandemic. This includes mask mandates and limitations on businesses. Levine Cava said that Miami-Dade’s positivity rate is now over ten percent. |
| Broward School Board mandates masks in school at the beginning of the school year. During a Special School Board meeting on Wednesday, July 28, The School Board of Broward County, Florida discussed back to school plans and protocols for the upcoming 2021/22 school year. Because of recent release of updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the School Board voted to continue its mandatory masks requirement to begin the school year. The Board decided that face coverings will be mandatory for students, staff and visitors at all schools and District facilities. No masks will be required when outdoors. Schools should maintain at least three feet of physical distancing between students within classrooms. Standard seating capacity will resume on school buses. School cafeterias will open for meal service through the traditional food service line. All sports and athletic facilities are now open. Laptops will continue to be issued to students who need them. The District will continue to provide two nurses per school and offer voluntary COVID-19 tests at all schools. Cleaning and disinfection of schools and District facilities will be continued and everyone will be encouraged to do their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19 through frequent hand washing and staying home when sick. This means that Broward may become the first Florida school district in Florida to require masks in the fall. This may mean a battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis who is against mask mandates.The School Board members unanimously agreed to require masks through at least the beginning of the school year. They are concerned about raising COVID-19 rates and few federal recommendations for masks in schools even for the vaccinated. The Board will reconsider the issue soon after Labor Day.Board member Laurie Rich Levinson said the District has always followed science when making important decisions about the health of students.Board member Patti Good said that if masks are optional most students would not wear them. Most other school districts in Florida has announced that masks in schools will be optional.Many parents don’t want their children to be required to wear masks in school. Some participated in demonstration outside the administration building where they burned masks.Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he might call a special session of the state legislature to ensure a normal and mask optional school year. House Speaker Chris Sprowls said he would support the special session. |
