BOCC calls emergency meeting to address COVID surge
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hold an emergency meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday to discuss a possible countywide face mask mandate and […]
Covid-19
Lake City hospital maxes out oxygen supply
Lake City Medical Center went critical on Saturday when 911 advised patients needing oxygen to go elsewhere, UF Health Shands CEO Ed Jimenez reported Monday. Friday’s […]
UF Health working to conserve oxygen amid shortages
As COVID-19 ravaged India and Indonesia this spring and summer, supplemental oxygen supplies became critically scarce. For some families, that meant exhausting their life savings on […]
Week two of school starts with 613 in quarantine
More than 600 Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) students and staff are in quarantine after just four days of school. According to ACPS spokesperson Jackie Johnson, […]
BOCC willing to pay SBAC if state cuts salaries
Update: On Friday acting U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona distributed a letter to all school districts in Florida. He expressed support for universal masking policies and informed […]
Shands CEO: Record COVID hospitalizations continue
Gainesville’s hospitals are seeing record numbers of COVID-positive cases that may not peak until the end of August, local officials reported Thursday. North Florida Regional Medical […]
McNealy, Simon respond to FDOE as court date nears
Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran threatened on Monday to withhold funding equal to the salaries of the entire Alachua County School Board and Alachua County Public […]
State launches investigation into ACPS mask policy
In interviews on MSNBC and CNN this week, Alachua County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Carlee Simon said she would continue to do what she believes is […]
Legal filings take aim at school mask mandate ban
Two legal complaints filed Friday are asking separate courts to strike down Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent executive order and a health rule that allows for parents […]
Enhanced data set shows sharp vaccine increase
Alachua County is working with local hospitals to publish daily COVID-19 data that includes adult and pediatric hospitalizations, percentage of admitted patients who are unvaccinated, and ambulance transports. […]
UF Health experts to host back-to-school town hall
Parents and guardians who have questions about how to protect students from COVID-19 as they return to school can ask local medical experts for advice on […]
DeSantis dings SBAC for requiring masks
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly knocked the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) on Thursday for requiring students to wear masks during the first two weeks […]
Alachua County declares state of emergency
Alachua County has again declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, citing the recent spike in case numbers and hospitalizations. “We urge all residents […]
WHO fights COVID-19 booster shots
Germany recently announced it would start administering coronavirus boosters to the elderly, immunocompromised, and those who received single-dose vaccines. France said people who got vaccinated early […]
CDC issues new rental evictions ban
Days after the last rental evictions ban expired, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has instituted a new temporary moratorium for areas of the […]
School board: Masks on students for first two weeks
A second Alachua County Public School (ACPS) district custodian is dead from COVID-19. That announcement at the beginning of the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) […]
County eyes $100 reward for vaccinated employees
Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman said on Tuesday that she plans to reward county employees who choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine with a $100 reward. […]
Theus: County rescue teams witnessing COVID surge
Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief (ACFR) Harold Theus acknowledged on Tuesday that the county rescue staff is witnessing firsthand the surge of COVID-19 and the impact […]
Programs help people stay housed, avoid eviction
While the federal moratorium on rental evictions expired this week, rent and utility assistance programs geared to area families facing pandemic-related hardships continue to provide funds […]
ACPS adopts mandatory masking for school employees
All Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) teachers are under a face mask mandate due to rapidly rising COVID-19 cases. ACPS made the announcement in a Monday […]
State, local officials want more COVID-19 data
State and local officials are asking the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) to deliver more COVID-19 data on a daily basis so they can make informed […]
VA to host UF infectious diseases expert for Q&A
A University of Florida infectious disease specialist will present current trends in COVID-19 and answer questions about the topic as part of a VA View event […]
DeSantis: School mask mandate equals loss of funds
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is forcing school districts across the state to do the math by giving all 67 counties the same formula: A face mask […]
COVID patients pouring into local hospitals
Surging COVID-19 numbers are leading local hospitals to shift resources to meet sharply rising demand. On Wednesday UF Health Shands Hospital reported 107 COVID-positive patients, almost […]