Coronavirus Variant

At the VA — the nation's largest health care system — dozens of hospitals have had to implement "contingency standards" since the omicron wave began.

She said getting vaccinated, receiving a booster shot and wearing a mask is the best way parade-goers can stay safe during the festivities.

In December, UF researchers predicted the omicron wave would reach its peak in February, but with the recent surge they’re now predicting the variant will peak within the next two weeks in the state.

Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar says a "massive exodus" of teachers is contributing to the shortage.

The president and CEO of Visit Florida said the agency will continue to expand its marketing efforts and encourage tourists to vacation in Florida this winter.

The university's president called for people on-campus to wear masks and to be fully vaccinated, while USF faculty recommended holding the first few weeks of the spring semester online.

USF Health expert Jason Salemi says omicron seems to be less deadly than delta, but cautions Floridians should still take the surge in cases seriously.

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.

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.

Mayor Lenny Curry wrote on Twitter that "'the science' isn't science" and that he is against vaccine mandates, as COVID cases surge nationwide.

Tourism officials are slightly lowering expectations through the middle of 2022 for Canadian and overseas travelers, along with looking at the impact on the state's economy.

The Omicron Covid-19 variant has been detected in Orange County wastewater. The test that found the omicron variant in Orange County sewage is considered preliminary. It’s a Beta version, which