Legal filings take aim at school mask mandate ban
Aug 8, 2021
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 […]
Health
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
Aug 7, 2021
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
Aug 6, 2021
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
Aug 5, 2021
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
Aug 5, 2021
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
Aug 4, 2021
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 […]
School board: Masks on students for first two weeks
Aug 3, 2021
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
Aug 3, 2021
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
Aug 3, 2021
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
Aug 3, 2021
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
Aug 2, 2021
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
Aug 2, 2021
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
Aug 2, 2021
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
Jul 31, 2021
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
Jul 29, 2021
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 […]
Businesses, government add vaccine mandates
Jul 28, 2021
As COVID-19 cases surge, President Joe Biden is expected to announce a requirement for all federal employees to get vaccinated or wear masks and undergo testing […]
ACPS releases reopening plan draft
Jul 28, 2021
Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) released a draft of the 2021-22 COVID-19 Response Plan leaving room for updates on face mask use and other policies that […]
CDC updates mask guidance as SBAC decision looms
Jul 27, 2021
Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pushed for “universal masking” at a Tuesday news conference. Given rising infections from the […]
UF Shands leads Florida hospitals in new ranking
Jul 27, 2021
A new ranking shows UF Health Shands Hospital leads the state as a top health-care facility, ranking in the top 50 in six medical specialties. According […]
COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for VA medical staff
Jul 26, 2021
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced on Monday that he will require VA health care personnel to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The order applies […]
UF Health, Scripps Research open integration talks
Jul 23, 2021
UF and Scripps Research announced Thursday that they are in talks to integrate the Florida-based branch of Scripps Research with the research arm of UF’s academic […]
ACPS to add more nurses to battle COVID
Jul 22, 2021
In an ongoing effort to mitigate COVID-19, the Alachua County Health Department has hired 30 nurses to work at the Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) this […]
U.S. life expectancy posts big drop in 2020
Jul 21, 2021
Life expectancy in the United States last year suffered its largest decline since World War II, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The […]
FDOH rescinds NE Gainesville rabies alert
Jul 21, 2021
Two months after issuing a rabies alert in Northeast Gainesville, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) in Alachua County lifted its warning Wednesday. The initial alarm […]