VIRUS

Belgium has confirmed a case of the new, heavily mutated variant of the virus that causes Covid-19, according to one of the country's leading virologists. Marc Van Ranst, who works with the Rega Institute, said a sample was confirmed as the novel B.1.1.529 variant in a traveler who returned from Egypt on Nov. 11. Belgium is home to the capital of the European Union in Brussels. The variant was first detected in a small number of samples in South Africa, according to the World Health Organization. There were also reports on Friday morning that cases had been found in Israel and Hong Kong.

Trevor Bedford, associate professor at Fred Hutch, said that he highly doubted that the virus that causes COVID-19 had finished evolving.

Croatian authorities will limit gatherings and widen the use of COVID-19 passes to curb soaring infections after the numbers of infected people reached new records again on Friday

Vaccination rates have lagged among US police, even as Covid-19 becomes their leading cause of death.

Virus Outbreak-Viral Questions-Variants Will new variants of the coronavirus keep emerging? (AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin) (Peter Hamlin)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Can new variants of the coronavirus keep emerging? But that doesn’t mean new variants will keep emerging as regularly, or that they’ll be more dangerous. Experts are watching to see whether emerging variants could be better at evading the protection people develop from vaccination and infections. Read more here:[ Is the delta variant of the coronavirus worse for kids? ]

For many countries, the goal is balancing life and the coronavirus. Japan and South Korea have been at it for a while.

But what worked for Gov. Gavin Newsom in the recall election won’t all necessarily translate for Democrats in 2022

Authorities said Shawn Sommers, Raymond Witkowski and David Pfindel “are suspected of having varying roles in the creation of fraudulent covid-19 vaccination cards, which may be a violation of federal law.”

Officials deny a newspaper report saying new rules could come in around England's half-term holiday.

For the first time in recorded history, rain fell at the peak of Greenland's ice sheet summit this year. But experts say it's just the latest in a pattern of unprecedented melting in the country.

An invention that could provide clean drinking water to "sea nomads" — communities living near the ocean — has earned three Malaysian students a spot to compete at the James Dyson Awards, an annual competition that recognizes young design engineers with inventive solutions to real-world problems. Malaysia's best: Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) sophomores Bennie Beh Hue May, Loo Xin Yang and Yap Chun Yoon won the top prize of 10,000 Malaysian Ringgit ($2,400) in Malaysia’s search for its official entry to the international design competition, MalayMail reported.

"The window of opportunity" for crucial studies into how the Covid-19 pandemic started is closing, scientists say.

The virus has mutated. The delta variant is rampant. Some elements of immunity may be gradually waning for people who got shots many months ago. New research studies in the United States, Israel, Britain and Qatar have shown a partial erosion in the effectiveness of vaccines against mild to moderate infections. Immunocompromised people are winding up hospitalized despite being vaccinated.

The Guinea health authorities are tracing the close contacts of a man who died of the Marburg virus, which can be passed to humans from fruit bats.

A man who died is found to have had the highly infectious virus, the first human case in West Africa.

Health officials say the mandates are necessary to combat the rapidly spreading delta variant of the coronavirus.

Scotland's deputy first minister says it's "perfectly conceivable" that coverings could still be mandatory.

It means almost all legal restrictions on social contact in England will be removed.

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the US. States including New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois are reporting it.

They can be trained to sniff out the virus.

A new surge of the coronavirus is finally penetrating Africa’s rural areas, where most people on the continent live, spreading to areas that once had been seen as safe havens from infections that hit cities particularly hard

Cases of Covid-19 in Bangladesh have surged since May, largely because of the Delta variant.

The government is warned that unlocking in England on 21 June risks the country "going backwards".

Chris Hopson says vaccines seem to have "broken the chain" between infection and serious illness.

Baylor University’s Peter Hotez adds his voice to a chorus that includes prominent Democrats and Republicans,

As some European countries re-open to international tourists, Egypt has already been trying for months to attract them to its archaeological sites and museums

On a visit to South Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed his country will provide millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses to help African countries speed up their inoculation drives

Herd immunity is a scientific term, so why is there a row about it?

People in overcrowded homes will be offered alternative accommodation in a bid to improve compliance.

In a letter to the journal Science, top U.S. infectious disease experts join call for more information on the origins of the virus that causes COVID.

Authorities of Sao Paulo state are mobilizing on Wednesday to convince the Chinese government to authorize the export to Brazil of the raw material needed to bottle millions of COVID-19 vaccines

There’s a good chance you’ll have to get the COVID-19 vaccine every year.

WASHINGTON – Will the coronavirus ever go away? The virus emerged in late 2019 and it’s difficult to predict how it will behave over the long term. But many experts believe it’s likely the disease will eventually ease from a crisis to a nuisance like the common cold. The only virus that’s ever been eradicated from the human population is smallpox. __The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series.

A little over a year ago the world was introduced to what would soon become a very out of control and very deadly virus -- COVID-19. The CDC said the virus that causes COVID-19 is a type of coronavirus, a large family of viruses. Since the coronavirus was first discovered, multiple new variants of the virus have been documented in the United States and around the world. This variant was first detected in the United States at the end of December 2020. “So far, we’re pretty convinced that the people that are vaccinated, like myself, are still immune to coronavirus, to COVID-19,” Husty said.

This Sept. 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows a clinician preparing to administer investigational Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Johnson & Johnson said Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 that in the U.S. and seven other countries, the first single-shot vaccine appears 66% effective overall at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19. (Johnson & Johnson via AP)VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – More cases of a COVID-19 variant that originated in the U.K. have been reported in Central Florida, according to officials. [TRENDING: Video shows deputy Tasing student | How to get the vaccine in Fla. | NASA tests new moon rocket]AdSeminole County reported six cases of the variant, three were detected in Osceola County and two cases were reported in Orange County. According to Dr. Raul Pino, with the Florida Department of Health, the cases in Orange County were from two people visiting the area.

“The virus will continue to decimate Black and brown communities if it goes unchecked, and the vaccine is the one way we can stem this tide,” says Peek, an internist, bioethicist and health disparities researcher at the University of Chicago. “The tool that we have to do so is one that people are afraid of because of the years of injustice that these communities, that our communities have had to endure because of structural racism.”

Medical personnel of a nursing home awaiting French Health Minister Olivier Veran in Clamart, south of Paris, Friday, Nov. 6, 2020. Virus pressure is mounting at French nursing homes, where more than 400 people with the virus have died in the past week. “I cry every day,” said Patricia Deliry, 81, whose daughter usually provides daily assistance at her Paris care home but has been kept away for the past two weeks as part of the home's virus protection efforts. Germany launched a similar antigen test effort at nursing homes this week. France is currently under a new partial lockdown as overall virus hospitalizations and deaths have risen sharply in recent weeks, but nursing homes are allowed to stay open if they take precautions.

The government’s top infectious diseases expert is cautioning that the U.S. will have to deal with “a whole lot of hurt” in the weeks ahead due to surging coronavirus cases. Dr. Anthony Fauci’s comments in a Washington Post interview take issue with President Donald Trump’s frequent assertion that the nation is “rounding the turn” on the virus.

The virus is also increasingly sweeping across the U.S., with more cases reported on Friday across the country than any other day since the pandemic began.

As Florida inches closer to reopening schools and sees guests headed back to theme parks, the state continues to report cases of COVID-19 by the thousands. In Florida, a total of 19,334 patients have been hospitalized due to severe cases of the respiratory illness. The new statistics bring Floridas total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 301,810 since the disease was first detected in the state on March 1. The state reported 112 new resident deaths and zero new non-resident death in Florida on Wednesday, making for a cumulative total of 4,521 COVID-19 related resident deaths and 105 non-resident deaths, bringing the overall state death toll to 4,617. Previously, the theme park strongly recommended and encouraged face masks to be worn inside the park, but the use of face coverings will now be mandatory.

TAVARES, Fla. Thirty-three students and five adults are quarantining for 14 days after two students on the Tavares High School football team tested positive for COVID-19. The students and adults at the practice took shelter in a field house where they were unable to maintain social distancing, a spokesperson for LCPS said. A couple of days later, we learned that two students tested positive for the virus. Out of an abundance of caution, we asked all of the students (33 total) and the five adults who were with them to quarantine for 14 days, a district spokesperson said in an email. District officials said they have not received any reports of anyone else from the group being symptomatic or testing positive for COVID-19.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – If you’re planning a trip to Legoland or Winter Haven, you’ll now need to pack a face mask to help curb the spread of COVID-19. On Monday, Winter Haven commissioners unanimously voted to enact an emergency ordinance that would require “every person working, living, visiting, or doing business in the City of Winter Haven” to wear a face mask in any indoor space, other than an individual’s home, when social distancing is not possible. Since Legoland falls under Winter Haven city limits, the theme park will now require guests to wear a face mask to be in compliance with the emergency ordinance. Previously, the theme park strongly recommended and encouraged face masks to be worn inside the park, but the use of face coverings will now be mandatory. For the water park, masks are only recommended for use when they are dry,” park officials said on the theme park’s website.

ORLANDO, Fla. A local sorority is teaming up with churches in the Orlando area to bring coronavirus testing to minority communities. On Thursday, the first test location opened at the New Covenant Baptist Church on S. Rio Grande Avenue. We recognized there was a severe need to get testing to communities that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus, Williams said. In recent weeks, increases in coronavirus testing have led to delays in results across the state. Testing is from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the following locations:July 9 - 10: New Covenant Baptist Church, 2210 S. Rio Grande Ave., OrlandoJuly 14: Mt.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to hold a news briefing at 2:30 p.m. in Jacksonville Thursday with U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia, according to a release. DeSantis will hold the briefing at the Jacksonville Port Authority, but the topic of his address was not immediately available. You can view the governors briefing at 2:30 p.m. in the video player above.

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – The City of Satellite Beach will now mandate that all essential businesses require masks for all patrons and employees. The mandate was approved at the city’s council meeting Monday and considers grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores and gas stations under its essential business provision. “The Emergency Ordinance also requires all other businesses to post their mask/face coverings policy on the front entry doorway of the business to advise customers entering the businesses,” city officials said in a news release. “We do not want to experience another shutdown within our community.”Satellite Beach City Manager Courtney Barker said she is grateful the mask mandate was put into place. “I am grateful for the leadership of our City Council who determined it was in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of our City residents to formally adopt the Emergency Ordinances,” Barker said in a news release.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood shared in a social media post that hes not happy with how the Florida Department of Health reports cases of COVID-19. The sheriff had been posting updates on social media that included addresses and areas that had been flagged as locations of possible cases of the coronavirus. I have said that Im not in favor of a government-enforced mask mandate. But I believe the private sector - our grocery stores, restaurants, retailers of all kinds - are in a unique position to create a mask mandate that makes sense, Chitwood said. If the store tells me I need to wear a mask to come in and shop for what I need, then Im wearing a mask.

ORLANDO, Fla. As cases of COVID-19 continue to climb across the state Wednesday, Gov. On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health reported 9,989 new cases of COVID-19, as well as 333 new hospitalizations. On July 1, the Florida Department of Health began reporting resident and non-resident deaths as separate categories. The state reported 48 new resident deaths and zero new non-resident deaths in Florida on Wednesday, for a cumulative total of 3,889 resident deaths and 102 non-resident deaths. With the new cases reported as of Wednesday morning, Floridas daily positivity rate was 14.15%.

ORLANDO, Fla. Rosen Hotels & Resorts announced what the company is calling a substantial reduction in workforce across multiple locations due to the extreme business circumstances caused by the global pandemic, a news release read. Company officials said in a news release that the layoffs will impact all properties and departments and will become effective July 31.It is with deep personal regret that I announce a significant downsizing of staff at Rosen Hotels & Resorts. Never in the 46-year history of my company would I have envisioned such a drastic decision, Harris Rosen, President and COO, said in a release. Health plan premiums were deferred since March 27 for all associates, Kimberly said. Associates affected by layoffs will not be required to reimburse the company for their health plan balances.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. A Florida man and his three sons are facing federal charges that they illegally sold a bleachlike chemical mixture as a miracle cure for the coronavirus and other diseases, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. A Miami federal judge in April ordered the self-styled church to stop selling the substance, but it was ignored. Charged in the criminal complaint are Mark Grenon, 62, and his sons, Jonathan Grenon, 34, Jordan Grenon, 26, and Joseph Grenon, 32. Records in Miami federal court Wednesday did not list attorneys for any of the Grenons. The list includes hospitals with large ICUs such as Tampa General, Baptist Hospital of Miami and UF Health Jacksonville.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. The city of Cocoa Beach is set to hold a special meeting Tuesday evening to discuss whether or not to put a face mask mandate in place as cases of COVID-19 continue to climb. The mandate would need to be approved by the city commission and would require face mask use for every person working, living, visiting, or doing business in the City of Cocoa Beach wear a face covering in any indoor public location, other than their home or residence, and in any public outdoor location when not maintaining social distancing from other person(s), excluding family members or companions, according to city officials. While Brevard does not have a county-wide mandate requiring face mask use, some popular businesses have put mask rules into place to protect staff and guests. The Cocoa Beach Pier announced July 3 that it would require all guests to wear a face mask. Bars will remain closed per state guidelines, but beverage service is available at our tables, pier leaders said in a post.

As teachers across Florida prepare for in-person classes in about a month, thousands of cases of COVID-19 continue to be reported throughout the state. Despite the objection from some teachers, Florida schools will open this fall amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to a statewide executive order issued Monday. [MORE DETAILS: Florida schools ordered to reopen next month]A day after the order was issued, the Florida Department of Health reported 7,347 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, as well as 380 new hospitalizations. With the new cases reported Monday morning, Floridas daily positivity rate was 16.27%, an increase by nearly 2 points. Ron DeSantis on Monday said he was not concerned about the theme parks contributing to the current increase in COVID-19 cases.

Ron DeSantis held a news briefing Monday in Miami to discuss COVID-19 updates and said he would continue to allocate resources to long term care facilities across the state to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in vulnerable demographics. Ron DeSantis, UF Health doctors remain optimistic despite Floridas increasing COVID-19 numbers]DeSantis said the partnership to create the care center came as Florida worked to combat the spread of COVID-19 in communities of older individuals, especially by upping health and safety measures at long term care facilities. Part of that stemmed from policies in which long term care residents who were COVID positive in the hospital. The governor also said that consistent COVID-19 tests would continue to be administered at long term care facilities on a two-week basis. Weve now have a rule in place per Secretary Mayhew that all staff members of long term care facilities, need to be tested every two weeks.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) THE VILLAGES, Fla. Residents in The Villages will now have another option for COVID-19 testing with Statlab Mobile, a clinical laboratory on wheels working with the State of Florida and Floridas Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) on bringing mobile COVID-19 testing to vulnerable communities across the state, according to a news release. Statlab will offer free testing at the following locations on the following dates:Laurel Manor Recreation Center, 1985 Laurel Manor Dr., The Villages - Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Rohan Recreation Center, 850 Kristine Way, Wildwood - Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.A spokesperson with Statlab said the mobile unit will be offering walk-up testing.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Department of Health announced it would begin offering free COVID-19 testing to the public on Wednesday. According to a news release, testing will be available by appointment only at two locations in Volusia County, weather permitting:1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach. To schedule an appointment at this location, please call 386-871-3462775 Harley Strickland Blvd., Orange City. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to provide consent for testing, department officials said. The Department of Health will be using the (PCR) swab for testing.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. Lake County is opening three COVID-19 testing locations beginning Monday and will be open to residents until Friday. Adult Medicine of Lake County is offering COVID-19 swab tests and antibody tests for residents and non-residents for $20 each. According to officials, no symptoms are required to be tested and no appointments are necessary at either location. The Florida Department of Health in Lake County will be offering COVID-19 tests from 9 a.m. to noon, on a first-come, first-serve basis for residents and nonresidents, including children. Officials said that testing will be offered at the site for those who are 18 or older.

As many Floridians return to work after a long holiday weekend and many prepare to head back to theme parks after months of furloughs, the state continues to see a rise in cases of COVID-19 cases. On Monday, the Florida Department of Health reported 6,336 new cases of COVID-19, as well as new 150 hospitalizations. With the new cases reported Monday morning, Floridas daily positivity rate was 14.97%. On Saturday, the state reported 11,458 new cases of the novel coronavirus, the largest single-day increase Floridians have seen since the pandemic began. The parks were closed in mid-March as coronavirus cases increased in Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. Chicago now wants travelers from Florida to quarantine for 14 days as soon as they arrive in Chicago. Stephanie Kramer lives in Chicago and was flying out of Orlando International Airport on Monday after spending the 4th of July weekend in Tampa. Chicago joined several states including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut requiring visitors from hot spot states, like Florida, to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. "if you are a Chicago resident and you traveled to one of these states, when you return you need to stay home for 14 days. On Monday, the Florida Department of Health reported 6,336 new cases of COVID-19, as well as new 150 hospitalizations.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. If youre planning a trip to the Cocoa Beach Pier, youll need to pack a face mask in your beach bag as the pier will now require all guests to wear one. The pier made the announcement on social media Friday as people flocked to Brevard County beaches to beat the heat and enjoy the long holiday weekend. According to an Instagram post, the pier will require all guests to wear a mask in an effort to keep guests as safe as possible. Bars will remain closed per state guidelines, but beverage service is available at our tables, pier leaders said in a post. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6s coronavirus newsletter and go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. In May, management of the Sea Aire Motel was excited to be welcoming back its first guests since the pandemic. Chet Ross and his family from Leesburg are celebrating Independence Day in Cocoa Beach for their twenty-fifth year. This week, Cocoa Beach decided to limit group sizes on the beach to ten or fewer for the next two months. And while the Ross family will be enjoying the beach, Shari Wardlaw said she's getting away. Wardlaw stays in Cocoa Beach for the summer, but this weekend she said she's going to her place in Orlando to avoid all the people.

The state reported a total of **** resident deaths and **** non-resident deaths Thursday, for a cumulative total of **** deaths. The new method of reporting COVID-19 related deaths across the state comes as Sen. Linda Stewart tweeted Wednesday that the state may take a new approach to reporting hospitalizations as well. The city of New Smyrna Beach approved a face mask mandate Wednesday, following Daytona Beachs lead. While both cities approved the mandate, Volusia as a whole has not approved required face mask use county-wide. Allegiant Air is now requiring travelers to wear a face mask for the duration of their flight, while American Airlines resumed booking flights to capacity Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Florida Department of Health reported a record-breaking 10,109 new cases of COVID-19 since the same time the day before, as well as 67 new Florida-resident deaths, 1 new non-resident death, and 325 new hospitalizations. The state reported a total of 3,617 resident deaths and 101 non-resident deaths Thursday, for a cumulative total of 3,718 deaths. The new method of reporting COVID-19 related deaths across the state comes as Sen. Linda Stewart tweeted Wednesday that the state may take a new approach to reporting hospitalizations as well. The city of New Smyrna Beach approved a face mask mandate Wednesday, following Daytona Beachs lead. While both cities approved the mandate, Volusia as a whole has not approved required face mask use county-wide.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. New Smyrna Beach city commissioners voted 3-2 Wednesday to mandate the wearing of face coverings in public. Resolution No. 23-20 will require residents and visitors to wear face coverings in public, but will not be enforced by police nor carry any penalties for non-compliance. 17, 2020, officials said in a news release. To date, there have been 45 Florida resident deaths related to COVID-19.

On Wednesday morning, the Florida Department of Health reported 6,563 new cases of COVID-19 since approximately the same time the day previous, as well as 145 new deaths and 245 new hospitalizations. These new statistics bring the total number of coronavirus infections to 158,997 since the virus was first detected in the state on March 1, as well as a total of 3,650 deaths and 14,825 hospitalizations. The state does not report the number of current patients in hospitals with the coronavirus, but rather the overall total. The state also does not share the number of individuals who have recovered from the disease after being diagnosed. In May, Florida met some of those standards for reopening but now the state doesnt meet any according to the FDOH data.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. Family Health Source will be offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the Volusia Fairgrounds from July 7-9 and 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone wishing to get tested can pre-register at familyhealthsource.org and should bring a valid photo I.D. Officials at the site said test results should be available when 72 hours. The Volusia Fairgrounds is located at 3150 E. New York Ave, DeLand. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. New coronavirus cases have been reported among employees at several Brevard County Publix locations in the past week, according to a corporate spokesperson for the company, News 6 partner Florida Today reported. Four additional stores in Satellite Beach, Suntree, Cocoa and Melbourne have reported having employees test positive for the novel coronavirus since June 22. This brings the total to nine separate locations with reported cases among employees. Employees who test positive are given paid leave for 14 days and required to quarantine until they test negative for the coronavirus. Publix also requires quarantine and paid leave for up to 14 days for associates who have been in close contact with an associate who tests positive.

If youre like me, or my fellow newly married teammate Bri Volz, COVID-19 has thrown a major wrench in wedding planning. We both had to cancel and postpone our weddings due to the coronavirus pandemic, and while Im hopeful my redo date will pan out, a new COVID wedding calculator isnt inspiring much hope. We asked a wedding planner]Online wedding planning tool With Joy has developed a wedding planning calculator to help brides and grooms determine how at risk their wedding plans are at the hands of the pandemic. The process is simple: log onto the site, enter your wedding date, answer a few questions about your wedding and guests who will be attending and the site will generate your results. Joys COVID Wedding Calculator helps couples determine if their wedding is at risk of being impacted by COVID-19, indicates the level of changes that may be necessary to their plans, and provides an overview of changes to consider making, a spokesperson said in a news release.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Council continues to recommend rather than enforce a mask mandate in the county, however, the city of Daytona Beach now requires residents and visitors to wear masks when inside public places. The county launched its Step Up Volusia campaign on Monday that includes a website showing residents and public officials following CDC guidelines. Another hot topic discussed was Volusia County beaches. County leaders decided to keep beaches open days after officials in South Florida closed theirs to try and limit the spread of COVID-19. Council officials said the county invested in more than 140 sandwich boards to remind beachgoers to social distance and continue using conservation poles to space out cars.

The heightened precautions come as Florida continues to report high numbers of newly reported coronavirus cases. On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Health reported 6,093 new cases of COVID-19 since approximately the same time the day before, as well as 58 new deaths and 226 new hospitalizations. Experts are warning Americans that if the upward trend in new COVID-19 cases doesnt taper off, consequences could be severe. About two weeks later, Florida began reporting large amounts of new COVID-19 cases being diagnosed. On Monday, the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 dashboard showed there have been 10,417,063 cases of COVID-19 globally with 509,474 total deaths.

SANFORD, Fla. Dolores Romano is the owner of Totally Yours gift shop in Sanford and starting on Wednesday, shell have to tell her customers theyll need to wear a mask to go inside. The mask mandate goes into effect in Seminole County on Wednesday. "We have to do what we have to do not just for ourselves but for the people around us you know," Romano said. Officials said businesses can face penalties for not following the rules, though for now, there are no penalties for individuals. He said he supports the mask mandate in hopes of keeping his customers healthy from the virus.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Seminole County officials and local hospital leaders met Monday to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in the region. At one point here in Seminole County, we did flatten the curve we were successful in doing that, Jay Zembower, Board of County Commissioners Chairman, said. The chairman also urged county residents to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously, despite some critics who believe the pandemic is rooted in policy. We have to do whats right.[RELATED: Seminole County requiring residents to wear masks as COVID-19 continues to spread | Were going to be New York: Seminole County officials stress importance of testing as COVID-19 cases surge]Donna Walsh, Florida Department of Health in Seminole Health Officer, said the current numbers of infection in the county is cause for worry. I mean, thats all were really asking to do whats right we really dont want to penalize anybody.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Marine Science Center announced Monday that it would temporarily close to the public after a contracted staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The Marine Science Center has temporarily closed to the public so the facility can re-evaluate best practices for safe physical distancing for visitors to the popular facility. The steps were taken after a contracted staff member tested positive for COVID-19.Leaders at the center said they are working with the Florida Department of Health on any testing or self-quarantine measures that may be needed, and that the employee learned of the positive test results over the weekend. The Marine Science Center began its phased reopening June 6 after being closed for weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff will remain at the center to care for the animals housed there during the closure.

Beginning July 6, conditionally approved Global Entry, applicants will be able to complete in-person interviews at LAX Global Entry Enrollment Center, officials said on the CBP website. Applicants must schedule enrollment center interviews in advance via the applicants Trusted Traveler Programs account.Appointments will no longer be accepted at the Long Beach enrollment center location as it will be permanently closed. Officials with CBP said the agency temporarily suspended operations at Trusted Traveler Programs enrollment centers on March 19 to as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread, but the Enrollment on Arrival program has remained operational. CBP personnel at enrollment centers will be required to wear agency-approved masks when interacting with the public. CBP is also coordinating with its partners to increase the cleaning frequency of surfaces in the enrollment centers, according to agency officials.

A study by the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that if the nation continues to see an elevated infection rate, the US could see an increase of COVID-19 deaths in a range between 159,497 and 213,715. Florida reported 9,585 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, a record high for the state with more new cases than entire states reported alone. While the number of new COVID-19 cases remains high, the number of coronavirus-related deaths has stayed relatively low in the state compared to new infections. About two weeks later, Florida began reporting large amounts of new COVID-19 cases being diagnosed. On Monday, the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 dashboard showed there have been 10,173,722 cases of COVID-19 globally with 502,517 total deaths.

A few months ago, when the virus had just hit the state, health experts speculated that summer heat may slow the spread of the virus. As Florida finds itself further into the summer months, cases of COVID-19 continue to skyrocket. These numbers seem to indicate that despite hot weather, the COVID-19 pandemic continues with force. Although there are many illnesses that destruct with heat and humidity, this usually occurs in ideal situations. The medical community needs much more research and data to definitively determine the effects of heat and humidity on the virus.

But with a highly contagious virus still among the Central Florida community, is it safe to stay indoors and enjoy the air conditioning? Ron DeSantis held a news conference Friday where he posed doubt over the safety of air conditioning amid the pandemic. Air conditioning units and the spread of COVID-19 is a complicated question, but to date, there have not been large concerns or reported cases of widespread transmission due to an air conditioning unit, Bahl said. The questions surrounding air conditioning units depend on the type of air being circulated. It was hypothesized that an air conditioning unit could have been a contributing factor (to the spread of COVID-19), however not all individuals at the restaurant were infected.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. A steady stream of cars rolled into a testing site on Jean Street in Daytona Beach Thursday morning, while others like Bernadette and Al Reeves walked up to get tested for COVID-19. "I don't want to give anybody something that I don't know that I have. Sasha Staton, spokesperson for the Daytona Beach Fire Department said 668 people tested in four hours on Wednesday, a record-breaking number for Volusia County; officials said 582 people were tested at the site Thursday. The Florida Department of Health reported a record-high, single-day increase for Volusia County at 95 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19. The Daytona Beach Fire Department said within two hours on Thursday, 150 people were tested.

CVS Pharmacy announced Thursday that COVID-19 testing sites would be coming to 38 of its Florida locations, two of which opened locally in Central Florida. The opening of these new sites reflects the companys commitment to meeting ongoing demand for testing, as well as expanding testing capacity to respond to a surge in new COVID-19 cases, officials with CVS said in a news release. CVS sends test samples to an independent, third-party lab for processing, and the results are available in approximately three days. The CVS locations opened Thursday in Central Florida include:CVS Pharmacy, 5010 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33813CVS Pharmacy, 3212 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32806A complete list of CVS Pharmacy drive-thru test sites can be found here. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

ORLANDO, Fla. The line began to form outside the Orange County Convention Center at 1 a.m. for coronavirus testing, eight hours before it opened. The reason the lines are long at the Orange County Convention Center is its free and no appointment needed versus here where you need an appointment, Dr. Marcia Katz, Associate Dean at UCFs College of Medicine said. Premier Medical Associates also hosts several other locations offering COVID-19 testing. Premier Medical Associates has 12 people screening calls for those who want to be tested. Lina Cohen, Premier Medical Associates vice president of patient care, calls the group the corona team.Craig Esquenazi is the director of operations and general counsel at Premier Medical Associates in the Villages.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. An Orange County resident spent 47 days fighting for his life at an Orlando hospital. Juan Montao Matamoros was diagnosed with COVID-19 in April, and while he was in self-quarantine, his conditioned worsened toward the end of his isolation. Lleg la ambulancia por mi y yo sal caminando. "Yo no saba lo que estaba pasando, sino que ya cuando yo despert dije ya me quiero ir pa' mi casa. Me quise parar de la cama, no tena fuerzas en los brazos y ni en los pies," Juan said he didn't know what was happening when he awoke.

Ron DeSantis called an explosion of COVID-19 cases. The Florida Department of Health reported a record-shattering 5,511 new cases of COVID-19 since approximately the same time the day before, as well as 43 new deaths and 258 more hospitalizations. This is the most cases reported in a single day since the pandemic hit Florida in early March. The new statistics bring the total number of reported COVID-19 cases in Florida since the disease was first reported in the state on March 1 to 109,014 with a total of 3,281 deaths and 13,574 hospitalizations. A report by the FDOH showed that the city of Orlando has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the state, with 4,550 confirmed infections; the only city with more reported cases is Miami with 16,353 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

ORLANDO, Fla. While theres no plans to shut down businesses as coronavirus cases continue to increase daily by the thousands, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday the state will be focusing its efforts on cracking down on bars and restaurants that refuse to abide by safety protocols designed to stop the spread of COVID-19. As weve moved forward here, the guidelines are in place for a reason, youre not doing it just to do it. In Florida, the median age of patients has trended younger and younger in recent weeks as college-aged residents resume social activities. Theyre going to be a little bit more likely to have cases in that age, in that cohort, DeSantis said.

CLERMONT, Fla. A popular Clermont brewery took to social media to announce they would be closing their doors temporarily after two employees tested positive for COVID-19. All employees temperatures are checked daily, masks worn and strict sterilization practiced at all times. The two staff were sent home Saturday morning before their shift, tested and quarantined. The staff worked the week leading up to Saturday, test results were received today.[RELATED: Most Florida businesses asking customers to wear masks]The Clermont Brewing Company is among many other bars and restaurants in Central Florida that have made the voluntary decision to close as employees and staff test positive for COVID-19. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings addressed residents Monday, and again, stressed the importance of mandatory face mask use after the county saw 782 newly reported cases of COVID-19 over the weekend. Orange County Health Services is focusing free testing in more of the zip codes where we see significant numbers of new cases, Demings said. Note: Currently, hospitalizations are not as high here because many younger people have accounted for the majority of recent positive #COVID19 cases in the County. The new cases in Florida overall and in Orange County have been leaning younger in the past few weeks. #WearYourMask #SocialDistance @DohOrange Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) June 22, 2020From Sunday into Monday, the FDOH reported 243 new cases of coronavirus in Orange County as well as 49 new deaths.

On Monday, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings addressed residents on his decision to require the use of face masks - an order that went into effect Saturday morning. I do see that happening, where a bit of peer pressure is taking effect.[READ MORE: Orange County mayor reiterates face mask importance as COVID-19 cases rise, skew younger]So that begs the question: Is it legal to require the use of a face mask in public? The American Civil Liberties Union said that mandating the use of a face mask would be much in the same vein of a restaurant being able to refuse service to a customer not following house rules. Analogously, if a face mask were to pose an occupational danger, you could refuse to wear one. Click here to find out how you can make face masks at home and where to find some for free.

The number of Americans infected with the Zika virus is growing. At least 31 cases are now reported in 11 states and Washington D.C. Scientists say the virus is spreading at an explosive rate in Central and South America. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

Child respiratory virus rapidly sweeping across country Eight states have confirmed cases of Enterovirus 68. Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University, discusses the spread of the virus with the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts.

Rare respiratory virus hits children in 12 states Enterovirus 68, a dangerous strain of the common cold, is infecting children from Kansas to Georgia. The virus has hospitalized hundreds of kids over the past few weeks. Dean Reynolds reports from Chicago.

Heartbleed virus: Changing your password may not eliminate risk Changing your password may not be enough to protect yourself from the Heartbleed virus. Information security experts warn that Heartbleed is bigger than first thought. As Mark Albert reports, there is more you can do to protect your personal information from hackers.