Florida's Latest News

DeSantis touts expansion of antibody treatments for COVID

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the Florida Department of Emergency Management was launching an effort to increase access to monoclonal antibody treatments as a way to keep people out of the hospital.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has touted such treatments, including casirivimab and imdevimab, as potentially effective for adults and children over age 12 who stand at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19.

In announcing an emergency use authorization late last year for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the FDA said “it is reasonable to believe that casirivimab and imdevimab administered together may be effective in treating patients with mild or moderate COVID-19.”

Florida legislative leaders promise fair redistricting as Census data rolls in

The U.S. Census released the most complete data yet Thursday to be used for redistricting. The information will drive activity in the Florida Legislature as members redraw boundaries for state House and Senate districts and for 28 congressional districts in Florida.

That means redistricting season is upon Florida. Democrats worry the process will lead to maps favorable to the GOP, but Republican leaders vow that won’t be the case.

Lawmakers warn the data released Thursday comes in legacy formats, meaning it’s raw and will require substantial analysis before officials can even begin the process of drawing maps.

Moderna Selects USF For Study On COVID Vaccine In Young Children

The University of South Florida has been selected as a site for a clinical trial testing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 10 years.

Researchers at USF Health's Morsani College of Medicine are seeking volunteers in the greater Tampa Bay region to participate in the study to evaluate safety and immune responses.

“Widespread vaccination is the best defense against COVID-19, and this rigorous scientific study may go a long way toward increasing vaccine access in this younger demographics," said Dr. Charles Lockwood, dean of the College of Medicine.

Fred may regain tropical storm strength as it nears Florida

Tropical depression Fred was moving along Cuba’s northern coast and could regain tropical storm status as it pulls away from the island on Friday, ahead of its projected track towards the Florida Keys on Saturday and southwest Florida on Sunday, forecasters said.

Meanwhile, still east of the Caribbean Sea, forecasters were watching a disturbance that they said would likely become Grace, the seventh named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Island governments issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Montserrat. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands also were warned to monitor its progress.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Fred had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) and was dropping heavy rain over parts of Cuba, where the main threats were rain and flooding. A tropical storm warning was issued Friday morning for the Florida Keys and Florida Bay, and a watch was in place for southwest Florida.