Florida COVID-19 cases down, deaths top 78,500

The number of Florida residents testing positive for COVID-19 has decreased in the past two weeks, but the coronavirus has killed more than 78,500 residents since the pandemic started in 2020, according to data released Friday.

Florida tops 74,000 COVID-19 cases last week

Florida has topped 71,000 new COVID-19 cases in each of the past five weeks, a report released Friday by the state Department of Health shows. It has exceeded 73,000 reported cases in each of the past four weeks — including totaling 74,481 cases during the week that started June 24 and ended Thursday.

White House: Florida doctors can order under-5 COVID shots

Florida doctors will be able to order COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 from the federal government, the White House said Friday, after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state would not order and distribute the shots in the state.

Florida only state not preordering toddler COVID-19 vaccines

Florida is the only state that hasn’t preordered COVID-19 vaccines for toddlers in anticipation of their final approval by the federal government, and Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that he won’t facilitate their distribution, though he said they’ll be available to those who want them.

Florida tops 74,000 COVID-19 deaths

Florida has exceeded 74,000 resident deaths from COVID-19, while newly reported cases steadily climb, according to data released Friday by the state Department of Health.

COVID-19 hospitalizations up slightly in Florida

The number of Florida hospital inpatients with COVID-19 has inched up after falling below 1,000, according to data posted online Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.