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Florida sees more COVID cases, higher positivity rates

Florida sees more COVID cases, higher positivity rates

Florida health officials reported an increase in COVID-19 cases and a higher positive test rate over the past week. The number of virus cases in Florida rose by about 8,000 compared with the week before, for a total of 23,747 new cases, the state Department of Health reported Friday. New cases of the coronavirus have been on the rise in Florida over the past month. The rate of positive tests was 7.8% last week after trending at about 4% positivity in recent weeks. [Source: AP]  

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The Scott Center's strides in autism treatment

Since its founding, the center has treated about 160 clients through in-center services such as early intervention, about 200 with its social-skills program and about 800 diagnostic evaluations, says Dr. Kimberly Sloman, center interim director and director of autism services. About 1,100 children have been impacted by center services in some way, and the center has become as one of the state’s leading institutions in researching and treating autism and training parents and clinicians how to help children. [Source: Florida Trend]

AARP wants financial help for millions of caregivers in Florida

An estimated 48 million people in the U.S. are providing in-home care to an adult loved one, with 3 million of those caregivers in Florida. AARP says a new study demonstrates the need to support family caregivers with financial assistance. AARP is a membership group that lobbies for those over age 50. The group is touting the proposed Credit for Caring Act in Congress, which would provide a tax credit up to $5,000 for eligible caregivers. [Source: Health News Florida]

Our masks are off. Now comes fever, sniffles and other bugs

As Floridians whip off their face masks and attend events in person again, all the germs that had been kept at bay by COVID practices are surfacing. Local health providers say they are seeing patients with summer sniffles, coughs, fevers, respiratory infections and illnesses that until only recently had been reduced to negligible threats. “There’s a host of viruses out there that we usually only see in cold and flu season,” said Rachel Guran, director of epidemiology and infection prevention at Memorial Healthcare System. “The best we can all do is rely on good hygiene efforts.” [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Governor Ron DeSantis urges swift approval of Florida's Canadian prescription drug importation program

Within 90 days of approval by the FDA, the Agency for Health Care Administration will finally be able to physically import prescriptions drugs, ensure customs inspections are complete and proper testing has taken place, and then fulfilling state agency orders. The state will begin by providing prescription drugs in a small number of drug classes which will include maintenance medications to help individuals that have chronic health conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and mental illness. [Source: Florida Trend]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› FSU selects recognized national leader in digital health as new dean of the College of Nursing
Florida State University Provost Sally McRorie has announced Jing Wang as the new dean of the College of Nursing. She will start the role Aug. 16, 2021. Wang, an interdisciplinary trained researcher, educator, policy and executive leader in nursing and higher education, currently serves as the vice dean for research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing.

› Florida Blue launches mental health platform for small businesses
Florida Blue, the local Blue Cross Blue Shield provider with a major presence in Tampa Bay, has launched a new resource for small business owners hoping to mitigate their employees' stress. The Jacksonville-based company has launched the meQuilibrium stress-management solution, which can allow any employer in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network to support the mental health of their employees.

› Vibra Healthcare plans specialty hospital in Palm Beach County
Vibra Healthcare announced plans to build a specialty rehabilitation hospital in Boynton Beach. The Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania-based hospital company said it plans to make a $32 million capital investment and create 160 jobs at 10301 Hagan Ranch Road. It did not disclose the size of the facility, which will specialize in patients who need long-term recovery from injuries, illnesses and medical conditions.

› Ambulance service EMTs and paramedics in Sumter County get giant boost in pay
Medical transport company AMR is doing what it can to improve ambulance response times and hold onto its contract in Sumter County. And that adds up to better pay for its paramedics and EMTs. A Sumter County committee is studying ambulance service options after seniors in The Villages complained of long delays.