Florida rescinds nursing home visitation orders
Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz issued an order on Monday rescinding the four orders he issued last year. As such, DeSantis said, the number of COVID-19 deaths among long-term care residents has plummeted. According to the latest state report, 523 long-term care facilities -- which include assisted living facilities, nursing homes and institutions for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities -- in the state had COVID-19-infected residents and staff. Caregivers for Compromise Florida founder Mary Daniel has been pressing the administration in recent weeks to rescind the October executive order on visitation policies. The bill is supported by the Florida Heatlh Care Assocation, the Florida Hospital Association, and other health care groups.
Publix not scheduling shots in Florida amid vaccine delivery delays
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Publix Super Markets on Thursday announced that it is not scheduling appointments for first dose COVID-19 vaccinations because of a delivery delay of more than 200,000 doses. Publix did not say in a news release when it would reopen its online appointment portal. Customers with already-scheduled appointments for second doses of the Moderna vaccine should arrive at the pharmacies as scheduled, Publix said. Moskowitz said the storm had not affected the delivery of 132,000 first doses of Pfizer vaccine this week. Through Tuesday, 2,487,055 people had been vaccinated, with more than 47 percent receiving the two-dose series, according to Florida Department of Health numbers.
Winter storm delays 200,000 vaccines headed for Florida
His office told News4Jax on Tuesday that 200,000 Moderna vaccines expected to arrive Tuesday have been delayed and are now expected to arrive on Thursday. Weather conditions across the United States are impacting the shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine to Florida. โ Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 16, 2021News4Jax was told a shipment to Florida expected Monday might arrive either Tuesday or Wednesday. Walmart, Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores, which began giving vaccines in Northeast Florida counties earlier this month. Vaccine appointments in Houston and Austin were expected to be canceled again Tuesday because of the severe winter weather.
Key Florida official overseeing COVID-19 response resigns
He's done a fantastic job,โ DeSantis said. AdMoskowitz, a Democrat and former member of the state House, assumed the state's top emergency job shortly after DeSantis, a Republican, took office in 2019. As director of emergency management, Moskowitz likely expected to focus on such events like hurricanes. During his tenure, Moskowitz has instead overseen the emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak, including setting up testing sites โ and now vaccination facilities โ across the state. The task has proven to be a logistical nightmare โ as well as politically fraught, as Florida became an early epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.
โShot shopping,โ COVID-19 vaccine allotments frustrate rural counties in Florida
(AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ โShot shoppingโ by seniors from neighboring areas and uncertainty about COVID-19 vaccine allotments are vexing local officials in rural counties, but the stateโs emergency management chief blames the problems on supply shortages. Moskowitz said the state was allotting vaccine doses to counties based on the number of residents ages 65 and older. Small county officials are also expressing consternation over the governorโs decision to steer shots to pharmacies at Publix supermarkets. Many rural areas lack a Publix, and some small counties where the Florida-based chain stores operate arenโt administering the vaccinations. She urged state officials to keep rural regions in mind as Floridaโs vaccine program moves forward.
Florida launches vaccine pre-registration website
Alachua County is not opting into the state vaccine preregistration system and urges its residents to call their scheduling number until the county health departmentโs new website is launched soon. โThere are multiple processes in place for vaccine appointments and delivery. You should return 28 days later on the same day and time of your first dose appointment. For example, if your appointment for your first dose was at 9 a.m. Jan. 4, you would return at 9 a.m. Feb. 1 for your second dose. As of Friday morning, the state has given 1,332,746 first doses and 273,249 second doses since the first vaccine made it to the state in mid-December.
Floridaโs emergency director says supply still No. 1 issue with vaccine rollout
Moskowitz said that if Florida had the supply, it has the capacity to administer as many as 250,000 doses a day. Supply continues to be the number one issue facing vaccine rollout. โThey know itโs a supply issue. Every state knows itโs a supply issue. You know itโs a supply issue,โ Moskowitz said.
Florida bill would criminalize vaccine scams
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Floridians, especially seniors, are one step closer to being protected from scams related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Reports of vaccine scams are growing. Jared Moskowitz is the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management and is in charge of the vaccine distribution network. Those are so egregious against people who are really vulnerable right now, and just wanting to get back to normal life,โ said Smith. โI think this bill sends a loud and clear message, that, hey, if you engaged in this type of activity, weโre coming after you,โ said bill sponsor Rep. Ardian Zika.
Florida emergency chief points finger at feds on vaccinations
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ The federal government is mostly to blame for what some people see as a slow distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Florida, state Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz told a House panel Thursday. Appearing before the newly created House Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee, Moskowitz said the federal government has been slow in releasing enough supply to Florida to meet demand. He called that behavior abhorrent but said it is proof Florida is doing a better job than most states at getting shots in arms. He also drew a distinction between people who travel to the state for vaccinations and people who live in the state during the winter. That included 646,327 people who had received first doses of vaccines and 61,151 people who had received both required doses.
Florida to begin statewide appointment system for vaccine
Ron DeSantis said stories of the rich flying to Florida, getting vaccinated and returning home are overblown. He said a registration system could help alleviate the strain counties are now under as they deliver vaccinations. Since then, the governor has sought to widen the number of vaccination sites. Although some snowbirds who own homes in Florida say they have gotten vaccines while here in the Sunshine State. At some vaccination sites, seniors have had to be turned away because vaccine allotments had dried up.
Gov. DeSantis extends state of emergency for COVID-19 pandemic
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday extended for another 60 days the state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic. โAs Florida recovers and re-launches its economy, l am committed to providing all available resources to assist Floridians and local communities with their efforts,โ Tuesdayโs order said. The extension maintained Jared Moskowitz, director of the Division of Emergency Management, as coordinating the stateโs response to the pandemic. A previous extension was issued on Nov. 3.
Vaccine distribution to ramp up after the holidays
As of Monday, a state vaccine report showed more than 122,000 Floridians have received their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Moskowitz said vaccinations have slowed down in recent days due to the holiday season, but he anticipates distribution of the 900,000 doses the state has received to ramp up in the coming days. How quickly the state gets to Phase II of its vaccine distribution plan depends on two factors: How many vaccines the state gets, and how many people over the age of 65 opt to get vaccinated. If that turns out to be a good mode of getting the vaccine out in the African American community, weโll expand that,โ said Moskowitz. As a precaution, kits to treat anaphylactic shock are on hand where the vaccine is being given.
Florida seniors, students to get priority for free rapid COVID-19 testing
CLEARWATER, Fla. โ A day after President Donald Trump announced a plan to disperse 150 million rapid coronavirus tests, Gov. Ron DeSantis said that seniors and students in Florida will be priorities for testing. The tests, which do not require a lab, will be free and able to show a positive or negative test within about 15 minutes. DeSantis compared the tests to a pregnancy test and demonstrated how they work during the press conference on Tuesday. DeSantis said after addressing the vulnerable populations, schools will be a priority for receiving the tests.
As COVID-19 deaths slide, vigilance urged over long holiday
Officials have been urging Floridians to wear face masks and observe social distancing throughout the three-day holiday weekend, particularly at beaches and other public places. On Saturday, the state reported nearly 3,700 news cases of COVID-19, pushing the total number of infections to nearly 644,000 since the outbreak began in the spring. The 60 new deaths from the coronavirus brought the weekly average of deaths now at 102 to its lowest since July 18. The state reported 3,235 people were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19. Most beaches were expected to remain open over the holiday weekend.
Florida Emergency Operations Center back open after COVID-19 scare
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The states Emergency Operations Center is back open after being forced to close for several days for cleaning after at least a dozen people tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Now the center is also monitoring newly formed Gonzalo, which is expected to become a hurricane on Thursday. No one gets into the state emergency center without a temperature check and answering a thorough list of questions. Under the plan, one group will continue working on nothing but COVID, and a second on just hurricane planning and recovery. It has been planning how to deal with a hurricane and COVID at the same time since March.
Florida emergency workers test positive for COVID-19
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Four employees of the Florida Division of Emergency Management tested positive Thursday for COVID-19, bringing to 12 the number of division workers with the virus since twice-a-week testing began three weeks ago. The employees are believed to have contracted the virus outside of the Tallahassee emergency-management office, as they dont work in the same areas, Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said. The EOC (Emergency Operations Center) is open, were operating, Moskowitz said. Even before the recent positive tests, Moskowitz said the office has undergone nightly sanitary spraying, and a requirement was in place for people to wear face masks when inside the building. Protocols have also been set up that will limit occupancy at the Emergency Operations Center if a hurricane threatens the state.
Florida hired doc to give virus results, despite probation
MIAMI State officials contracted with a Florida doctor to give coronavirus test results to more than 100,00 residents, even though hed been on probation by the state medical board for a decade. Emergency management officials said Friday that pediatrician Dr. Eric Pantaleon had been fired amid complaints that thousands of coronavirus test results were delayed. It took 17 until he got his test results, which were negative. Charles Bond, a research analyst at FIU, said he couldnt go into the lab to work or leave his house until he received his test results. My girlfriend wants go out and get groceries, Bond said during his wait for test results.
Jacksonville mayor: โIt looks like we may have flattened the curveโ
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said during his virtual news conference Tuesday that โit looks like we may have flattened the curve.โThe mayor continued: โThatโll be more clear to us in the next week to a week and a half when the models tell us we will peak.โCurry went on to thank the people in the community for doing their part to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. โIโm proud of the people of this city, in this community, in the responsible way that you most of you have acted. Jared Moskowitz, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, echoed Curryโs words during a Tuesday news conference alongside Gov. โWe have to stay the course.โThe mayor said heโs as anxious as anyone for people to get back to work. Per the city charter, the emergency can only be imposed for 30 days, so it had to be extended.
Florida emergency officials ready for Super Bowl
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Floridaโs emergency response team and state law enforcement agencies will be activated this weekend as the sporting world turns its eyes to the Super Bowl in Miami-Dade County. State Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said Wednesday his agency will be at โLevel 2โ staffing in support of Homeland Security operations surrounding the game. โWe are in a supporting role and not just myself but FDLE and other state agencies,โ Moskowitz said, referring to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The (state Emergency Operations Center) is actually going to be open and operating. Under Level 2, the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee will be open as well as emergency centers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Dorianโs threat dominated hurricane season in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ For Florida, the 2019 hurricane season will be remembered for a gigantic, nerve-racking scare over the Labor Day weekend. But Florida avoided a strike in September from Hurricane Dorian after the mega-storm devastated parts of the Bahamas. And with the Sunshine State still recovering from Hurricane Michael in 2018 and Hurricane Irma in 2017, this yearโs season was more psychologically challenging than physically taxing for Floridians. By comparison, Hurricane Michael caused an estimated $7.4 billion in insured losses when it slammed into Northwest Florida in 2018. Otherwise, the six-month 2019 hurricane season had the smallest impact on Florida in four years.
Florida shipping water to Bahamas
In this USCG handout image, views of the Bahamas from a Coast Guard Elizabeth City C-130 aircraft after Hurricane Dorian shifts north Sept. 3, 2019. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - After being largely spared by Hurricane Dorian, Florida and the state's largest electric utility are sending more than a half-million bottles of water to storm-ravaged parts of the Bahamas. Together with Governor @RonDeSantisFL and the state of Florida, we stand ready to help our neighbors in the Bahamas by donating nine truckloads of water. #BahamasStrong pic.twitter.com/JEN1T1AVpK FPL (@insideFPL) September 10, 2019In advance of Dorian, Florida deployed 860,000 bottles of water and 1.8 million meals to counties that faced threats from the storm, and another 819,000 gallons of water were ready for distribution. Still, DeSantis and Florida Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said the state likely will make other contributions along with donating the water.
Florida breathes easier after escaping brunt of Hurricane Dorian
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Emergency operations slowly started to wind down Wednesday as Hurricane Dorian remained offshore, inching its way north and away from Florida. In Florida, Dorian caused at least 150,000 power outages as it continued to drop rain and cause some storm surges in the northeast part of the state. Jared Moskowitz, director of the state Division of Emergency Management, said Wednesday afternoon that this "was the best-case scenario for the state of Florida." Meanwhile, Duke Energy Florida announced it no longer needed the 4,300 workers from other states that were staged in Florida to provide assistance. Duke said its 2,200 crew members and contractors were adequate for Dorian outages that may still occur.