Coronavirus in Florida: What’s next?

Florida’s coronavirus crisis evokes the uncertainty that comes with the approach of a hurricane. We could escape with little damage, as we usually do, or we could endure a historic disaster that kills a lot of people and disrupts daily life for months. In the worst-case scenario, experts say, we could see thousands of cases, school closures, employees staying home, travel restrictions and shortages of hospital workers. Or coronavirus could follow the well-trod path of swine flu, SARS and Zika, which inspired scary predictions and never quite became the historic disasters that many feared. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

See also:
» Florida leaders seek to reassure the public as confirmed coronavirus cases rattle the tourist haven
» Disney, Florida theme parks on alert for coronavirus
» Florida coronavirus cases likely to grow, Gov. DeSantis warns, as CDC confirms 2 cases
» Coronavirus: Florida governor and surgeon general say threat to the public is ‘low’
» Rays take coronavirus precautions; Choi, Tsutsugo worried about homeland
» Ebola preparations gave Jacksonville-area hospitals ‘jump start’ for new virus
» Hillsborough coronavirus patient flew through Tampa International Airport, spokeswoman says

Florida law limiting first opioid prescription linked to drop in use

A Florida law restricting the quantity of opioids a doctor can prescribe for acute pain to three days’ worth may have led to overall reductions in opioids dispensed to patients in the state, a new study suggests. After the law was passed in July 2018, doctors wrote fewer and shorter prescriptions for opioids, researchers report in JAMA Network Open. [Source: Reuters]

UF Health study finds 45,000 “superagers” in Florida

University of Florida Health scientists knew the retirement-friendly Sunshine State has its share of residents age 90 and older. But their hunch was that relatively few are largely unscathed by the infirmities of long life. What they discovered surprised them. An ongoing pilot study of the factors associated with successful aging in a population of those 90 and older found about 45,000 “superagers” in Florida. [Source: Florida Weekly]

Pharmacist flu treatment backed in Florida Senate

A Senate committee Thursday approved a controversial proposal that would allow pharmacists to test and treat people for influenza. The vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee sends the bill (SB 714) to the full Senate. The issue has drawn opposition from physicians’ groups, who contend that pharmacists do not have adequate training to test and treat patients for the flu. [Source: News4Jax]

Florida, other states agree to settlement with drug manufacturer Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals

Florida is part of a national settlement with generic drug manufacturer Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, which has tentatively agreed to pay $1.6 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits stemming from the opioid epidemic. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody called the tentative agreement, announced last week, “a step in the right direction towards providing relief for victims and protecting Floridians from this deadly epidemic.” [Source: WPTV]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› House votes to protect organ transplants for people with disabilities [Florida Politics]
The House unanimously approved Wednesday protections for people with disabilities who need organ transplants. Jacksonville Republican Rep. Jason Fischer‘s bill (HB 1179) would prevent health care facilities, insurers and other entities from denying organ transplant services to people with developmental or intellectual disabilities solely on that basis.

› Ride across North Central Florida for Meridian Healthcare [WCJB]
More motorcycles than usual flocked to Harley Davidson of Gainesville to take part in the "Ride for Meridian" Meridian is one of North Central Florida's largest organizations aiming to help people suffering from addiction or mental illness. More than 50 riders signed up to roar their engines for the poker ride and fundraiser

› New heart-transplant program raising Largo Medical Center profile [Tampa Bay Newspapers]
Largo Medical Center may have already performed its first heart transplant procedure by the time you finish this article. LMC has identified its first heart transplant patient and is awaiting a donor. “The transplant may be as early as the next week as so,” Adam Rudd, chief executive officer of Largo Medical Center, said.

› Hospitals in Live Oak, Starke shutting down inpatient, non-emergency services [First Coast News]
Two hospitals on the First Coast are preparing to be sold and discontinuing inpatient and non-emergency services. Shands Stark Regional Medical Center, 922 E Call St, Starke, and Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center, 1100 11th St SW, Live Oak, are both being converted to emergency-only operations, according to a news release from Community Health Systems Inc., current operators of the hospitals.