COVID-19

Saturday’s report from the Florida Department of Health included 612 new positive tests and nine deaths in the greater Tampa Bay region.

While Florida's death toll Friday surpassed 14,000 since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the positivity rate for those tested for the first time was again below 5%.

The move allows more employees to work on the base and expands access to services. But leaders are urging those who live and work on the base to remain vigilant in curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Of 63,874 tests returned Wednesday, 4.45 percent of those tested for the first time were positive, according to the Florida Department of Health.

The group wants to exempt “essential businesses” from COVID-related litigation and change rules for “non-essential businesses” that could be sued.

Notre Dame officials said seven of its 94 players tested positive for coronavirus following the USF game.

State health officials reported 203 coronavirus-related deaths Wednesday. The last time the daily death toll was over 200 was Sept. 10.

Local VA facilities could expand in-person services to offer more routine care if downward trends in coronavirus cases continue, says Secretary Wilkie, but they have to be cautious to protect vulnerable patients.

The comments marked the first time DeSantis has publicly supported limiting lawsuits for businesses grappling with COVID-19.

The Florida Department of Health said in its Tuesday report that the positivity rate on new tests returned Monday was higher than five percent for the first time since September 10.

She called the "cupboard" meeting to address such issues as coronavirus and unemployment.

The total number of tests done statewide also dropped by about half, as the rate of new positives stayed low.