Just in time for summer, Florida's seeing a surge in coronavirus cases. But there's good news, too

First, the bad news: The number of new coronavirus cases reported in Florida each day has increased an average of roughly 46% over the past week, according to a national tracking website. But the percentage of coronavirus test results that turn out to be positive is only 4%, according to Covid19-projections.com, a modeling and tracking website cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But there are still reasons why Floridians and beachgoers to the state should be cautious. More from CNN, FOX 13, and Florida Politics.

See also:
» Healthcare workers encourage people to wear masks as Florida enters phase 2 of reopening
» Florida Department of Health Updates New COVID-19 Cases

Embattled Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence sues insurers

The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence is suing two insurers, asking a court to force the companies to cover costs resulting from state lawsuits against the embattled domestic-violence agency because of allegedly “exorbitant” executive compensation. Hanover Insurance Co. and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America each issued one-year policies to the coalition effective Dec. 19, 2019, according to a complaint filed Wednesday in Leon County circuit court. [Source: Health News Florida]

Florida nursing homes fare well in federal report, but glaring discrepancies abound

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted its first set of COVID-19 data collected from nursing homes nationwide, and it indicates Florida is below the national average in the per-capita number of nursing home cases and deaths among residents and staff. CMS, however, acknowledged data, which ran through May 31, are incomplete. On May 1, CMS issued rules for nursing homes to report COVID-19 cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new reporting requirements excluded assisted living facilities. [Source: The Center Square]

See also:
» One in five Florida nursing homes tell feds: We hardly have any gowns, masks

South Florida healthcare workers come together to pray for peace and unity

In memory of George Floyd and countless others, healthcare workers at all six Memorial Healthcare System hospitals simultaneously held a unity prayer Monday to inspire peace and solidarity in what they call a time of social unrest. Local religious leaders joined dozens of Memorial Healthcare workers who came together and bowed their heads. “We come together seeking to summon the spirit that inspires this whole place at Memorial,” said Father Dave Collins, director of spiritual care for Memorial Regional in Hollywood. [Source: Local 10]

‘High Times’ for booming Florida cannabis space

A big name is coming into Florida’s medical marijuana market. High Times, the venerable cannabis magazine, has launched a retail arm, and intends to launch businesses in Florida soon, pending regulatory approval, in collaboration with Red, White, and Bloom. Yet even without High Times the magazine, these are high times indeed for Florida’s vertically-integrated medical marijuana market, a flourishing concern with nearly 350,000 patients, and a lot of options to serve them. [Source: Florida Politics]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Health First co-founder Larry Garrison dies at 70 after battle with cancer [Florida Today]
Larry Garrison, who co-founded Health First in 1995 and served as president and chief operating officer until his retirement in 2012, died Thursday night after a battle with cancer. He was 70. “Larry was a visionary who helped pave the path for healthcare in Brevard County," Steve Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Health First said in a statement Saturday.

› Can sex ed and needle exchanges teach us how to live with a pandemic? [Tampa Bay Times]
Julia Negron sometimes refers to her work with the Suncoast Harm Reduction Project as “meeting people where they’re at,” a phrase that captures the organization’s philosophy, and its actions, like lobbying for needle exchange programs and distributing the overdose-reversing drug naloxone. But like many, her job changed with the COVID-19 pandemic.

› Center for Advanced Healthcare at Brownwood opens [Villages Daily Sun]
The Villages health care landscape grows this week as more medical providers begin to see patients inside the Center for Advanced Healthcare at Brownwood. The four-story, 240,000-square-foot facility is the newest jewel to the community’s expansive healthcare system. When fully operational, it will house nine medical tenants providing more than 25 outpatient specialities and an ambulatory surgery center.

› Collier Dept. of Health to hire Immokalee residents to promote COVID-19 education [WUSF]
Immokalee residents account for 43% of the total COVID-19 cases to date in Collier County and health officials are seeking new ways to keep the community informed about the virus. Kristine Hollingsworth of Department of Health Collier said they want to deploy a street team of “Promotoras” or Promoters, to promote community education and discuss prevention information with residents of Immokalee. Hollingsworth said they want to hire people who are from Immokalee.