FDA’s Pfizer approval kindles local optimism
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, boosting local hospital officials’ hopes for an uptick in vaccination rates. […]
Health
FDA’s Pfizer approval kindles local optimism
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, boosting local hospital officials’ hopes for an uptick in vaccination rates. […]
High Springs to get monoclonal antibody site
Alachua County will have a devoted monoclonal antibody treatment site beginning Tuesday, according to a Monday announcement from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The new location in […]
COVID plasma study ineffective in certain groups
Convalescent plasma does not effectively prevent the progression of COVID-19 from a mild to severe form of the disease in high-risk patients, according to the results […]
ACPS sticks to mask policy as state deadline passes
A 48-hour compliance deadline from the state passed Sunday with Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) maintaining its mandatory mask requirement for students. “Due to the highly […]
Simon rebuffs state order to alter mask policy
Update (4:05 p.m., Aug. 20): ACPS Superintendent Carlee Simon released a statement Friday afternoon saying the district has “no plans to change our current masking requirement.” […]
Biden mandates nursing home vaccines as booster debate continues
President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will require nursing home staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Facilities that do […]
Unanimous BOCC mandates face masks for 7 days
Update (8:34 p.m. Thursday): The countywide face mask mandate went into effect at 5 p.m. Thursday. The full order with details and guidelines is available online. […]
SBAC extends face mask mandate for 8 more weeks
The School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) voted unanimously Tuesday night to extend its student mask mandate for eight weeks, a decision that could come with […]
DeSantis announces third monoclonal treatment site
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a third monoclonal antibody treatment site on Tuesday, the second such announcement in as many days. “Since we began expanding access […]
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 […]
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 […]
New AI tool will predict high risk for opioid use
University of Florida researchers are developing a new artificial intelligence tool that will help clinicians identify patients at high risk for opioid use disorder and overdose. […]
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 […]
BOCC expresses frustration over DeSantis actions
Experts from the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute say time is running out. Alachua County Commissioners say they have no power due to Florida Gov. […]
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 […]