Government

NYC Health Commissioner Quits, Scorches De Blasio

ABC News reports: Dr. Oxiris Barbot resigned as New York City’s health commissioner, saying in her resignation letter that “the Health Department’s incomparable disease control expertise was not used to the degree it could have been.” “I leave my post today with deep disappointment,” her resignation letter said. “Our experts are world renowned for their epidemiology, surveillance and response work. …

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Six States Form Rapid-Testing Coalition In Absence Of Any National Strategy From The Trump Administration

The Washington Post reports: In the absence of a national testing strategy for the novel coronavirus pandemic, six governors have formed a first-of-its-kind purchasing compact they hope will pressure companies that make rapid-detection tests to quickly ramp up production. The governors, three Republicans and three Democrats, say that other states and cities may join them and that talks have already …

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REPORT: Texas Isn’t Counting All COVID+ Test Results

The Houston Chronicle reports: The government’s official data on the coronavirus outbreak is startling: More than 4.6 million cases in the U.S. More than 440,000 in Texas. More than 70,000 in Harris County. But those numbers don’t include all positive COVID-19 patients. Texas, unlike 27 other states, excludes the results of increasingly popular, rapid COVID-19 tests from the numbers it …

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FL Breaks Deaths Record For Fourth Straight Day

The Orlando Weekly reports: The Florida Department of Health reported 257 new COVID-19 deaths in Florida on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive day the state has surpassed its own daily death record. The state’s total amount of lives lost to the virus since the beginning of the pandemic in March now nears 7,000, with 6,843 Florida resident deaths and 123 …

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FL Sees 10K New Cases, Again Breaks Deaths Record

The Miami Herald reports: The Florida Department of Health announced 9,956 new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Thursday, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 461,379 since the pandemic began. The number of reported deaths of Florida residents surpassed Wednesday’s single-day record increase, setting a record of 253 new deaths reported in a single …

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Michigan Gov Stiffens Lockdown, Closes Bars Statewide

Click On Detroit reports: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-160, amending Michigan’s Safe Start Order and issuing revised workplace safeguards amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Starting on July 31, statewide indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people and bars will be closed for indoor service across the state. “As we see COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Michiganders …

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FL Reports 9K New COVID Cases, Pence Visits DeSantis

Florida Today reports: The Florida Department of Health reported 8,892 new COVID-19 cases Monday. While that marks the lowest daily total since July 9, it’s the 34th consecutive day the state has recorded more than 5,000 new cases. Florida has counted a total of 432,747 cases since the pandemic began. The state also reported 77 new deaths, increasing the state’s …

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Cain Still Hospitalized After 27 Days, “Getting Better”

Just in from Herman Cain’s staff: We know it’s been a few days since we last gave you an update on the boss. But he is still in the hospital being treated with oxygen for his lungs. In the meantime, the doctors say his other organs and systems are strong. Re-strengthening the lungs is a long and slow process, and …

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Vietnam Evacuates Tourist Hot Spot Over Three Cases

Reuters reports: Vietnam is evacuating 80,000 people, mostly local tourists, from the central tourism hot spot of Danang after three residents tested positive for the coronavirus at the weekend, the government said on Monday. The evacuation will take at least four days with domestic airlines operating approximately 100 flights daily from Danang to 11 Vietnamese cities, the government said in …

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NY Bars, Restaurants Hit With Another 105 Violations

New York City’s ABC News affiliate reports: Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that investigators issued 105 violations of COVID-19 restrictions at bars and restaurants in downstate New York this weekend. The counties where violations were uncovered included Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, the governor said in a Sunday morning conference call with the press. “This weekend in every …

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Florida Business Regulator To Discuss Reopening Bars

The Associated Press reports: Florida’s top business regulator said Saturday that he planned to set up meetings with bar owners to discuss how they can reopen their businesses again safely, as almost another 12,200 coronavirus cases and 126 virus-related deaths were reported in the Sunshine State. Halsey Beshears [photo], secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, said …

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FL Sees 12K New Cases, Total Now Second Only To CA

Click Orlando reports: The Florida Department of Health on Saturday reported 12,199 new cases of COVID-19 as well as 126 new deaths. Saturday marks the second day in a row that the FDOH reported over 12,000 cases. On Friday, officials reported 12,444 new cases. The state is now also releasing data about currently hospitalized coronavirus patients. The Florida Agency for …

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Cuomo Continues To Mow Down Bars For Violations

Gothamist reports: For the last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo has been shaking his fist at restaurants and bars that continue to break the state’s COVID-19 guidelines, particularly after videos went viral last weekend showing people partying on Steinway Street in Astoria. Earlier this week, four businesses in the NYC area have had their liquor licenses suspended. And today, Cuomo announced …

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FL Sees 12K+ New Cases, State Total Now Over 400K

NBC News reports: Florida surpassed 400,000 total coronavirus cases on Friday, one day after Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state had “clearly stabilized with the cases.” As of 9:25 a.m. ET Friday, Florida had recorded some 402,312 cases of COVID-19. The state logged an average of 10,700 cases per day over the last seven days. In all, some 5,653 people …

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“Weighted Lottery” Proposed For Vaccine Distribution

Exactly as it happened in Contagion: When a coronavirus vaccine becomes available, who should get it first? One solution that is starting to attract the attention of public health experts is a so-called weighted lottery, which gives everyone a chance at access, although some get a better shot than others. Doctors and ethicists rank patients, deciding which groups should be …

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20 Teens Infected At NJ Party, Parents Fight Tracers

Fox New York reports: Health officials in New Jersey are investigating a cluster of coronavirus cases connected to a house party. Roughly 20 teenagers tested positive for COVID-19 after the Middletown event that took place on July 11. The Middletown Township Department of Health and Social Services says that the confirmed cases are all among teens between the ages of …

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TX Hospital Forms Ethics Committee For COVID Triage

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports: Starr County is at a dangerous “tipping point,” reporting an alarming number of new cases each day, data show. Starr County Memorial Hospital — the county’s only hospital — is overflowing with COVID-19 patients. The county health board — which governs Starr Memorial — has been forced to create what’s being compared to a so-called …

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NY Legislature Approves Automatic Voter Registration

Albany’s CBS News affiliate reports: The New York State Legislature passed automatic voter registration, which introduces a streamlined, more accessible voter registration process. New Yorkers would be automatically registered whenever they interact with a “qualified” government agency like the DMV or Department of Health. Having passed the Senate on Wednesday and the Assembly on Thursday, the legislation still must be …

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FL Sees 10K New Cases, Gov Says Totals Are Inflated

Fox News reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told Fox News on Thursday that “there’s a testing industrial complex now ” that could be inflating positive COVID-19 test results. DeSantis made the comment after host Ainsley Earhardt noted that “some people” in Florida have said, “they never got a test, but now they’re listed as testing positive.” “It didn’t happen at …

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GOP Indiana Gov To Issue Statewide Mask Mandate

Indianapolis’s ABC News affiliate reports: Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb will sign an executive order that will require masks for all Hoosiers effective Monday, July 27. Holcomb said he will sign the executive order Thursday. “When I asked you months ago to hunker down, you did. We did. We slowed the spread. It’s just factual. We protected our hospitals,” Holcomb said. …

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