Orange County responds to CDC guidance on masks
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings outlined the county's next steps as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. This comes after new guidelines by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that say vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors in public if they’re in areas with high COVID transmission.
How to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Central Florida
Here's a breakdown of where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine in Central Florida.
Teacher whose husband died of traumatic brain injury warns others
Brian Fronczek loved to play ice hockey, and punishing other players was his forte. But during his high school and college career, he took a lot of hits too.
Nursing homes bracing for impact of coronavirus surge
Coronavirus cases are surging in Central Florida. AdventHealth says that they currently have over 700 patients in their facilities across the region. During the peak back in January of 2021, there were 900 patients. Nursing homes are also bracing for impact during this summer spike. According to AARP, the COVID-19 vaccination rate among nursing home workersin Florida is the second-lowest in the country. The organization says less than 42 percent of nursing home staff in Florida had been fully vaccinated compared to the national average of about 56 percent.
Mixed messaging on masks in schools
With just weeks to go before children return to school, a debate is brewing on how that should look. The American Academy of Pediatrics says all students older than two and all school staff should wear masks. There's an uptick in cases in virtually all the states in the United States, and for that reason, they want to go the extra mile to make sure that children are protected. This runs counter to the latest guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rent prices on the rise in Florida
The cost of rent in Florida has increased more than any other place in the entire country. The company CoStar Group, Inc. says it has increased more than 15 percent since the beginning of this yea -- twice the national average.
Preparing to go back to the classroom
Students across the country are soon going to be heading back to in-person classes, but with the pandemic still lingering, doctors suggest families take the time now to prepare students for what to expect with the next school year.
Seminole County physician advocates COVID booster shots
Coronavirus cases are spiking in Florida. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that Florida now accounts for one out of every five new U.S. cases. At least one Seminole County physician said additional COVID-19 boosters will be needed to extend immunity.
Augmented reality company moving to Orlando
Fighter pilots will soon be training in Central Florida. A company in California is leaving the Golden State for the City Beautiful. They say Orlando was the clear choice to continue shaping the future of the U.S. Air Force.
Melbourne airport expanding terminals
Melbourne Orlando International Airport is growing. Paving crews and heavy equipment are breaking ground on the apron area and taxiway at the airport.
Tracking coronavirus variants
COVID-19 cases in Central Florida are once again on the rise and test sites are now screening for more variants.
Orange County see jumps in delta variant of coronavirus
Orange County health officials are reporting an increase the delta variant of the coronavirus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has predicted that the delta variant, which originated in India, has likely already surpassed its U.K. counterpart as the most common strain in America.
Vaccine drive held in Orlando as Delta variant raises concerns
It event is ongoing at the Dr. James R. Smith Center in Richmond Heights. The vaccine will be available for those 12 and older.
Gov. DeSantis highlights $12 million increase in funds to fight Alzheimer's and dementia
Governor Ron DeSantis touted the $12 million in additional funding in the new state budget for issues related to Alzheimer’s and dementia on Monday.
Royal Caribbean singles out Florida as only state where vaccines are not required to sail
With Governor DeSantis' new law saying private businesses cannot require people to show proof of vaccinations, navigating the waters has been tricky.
Gov. DeSantis pushes through pardons for COVID-19 violators
With Gov. Ron DeSantis saying lockdown restrictions and mask mandates meant to stop the spread of COVID-19 did more harm than good, the state clemency board on Wednesday pardoned all Floridians who were arrested or fined for violating local-government requirements about wearing masks or social distancing.
FDA approves Biogen's Alzheimer's drug
Government health officials on Monday approved the first new drug for Alzheimer’s disease in nearly 20 years, disregarding warnings from independent advisers that the much-debated treatment hasn’t been shown to help slow the brain-destroying disease.
Royal Caribbean only 'recommending' vaccine to cruise passengers
Guests who are not vaccinated will reportedly be required to undergo testing and follow other protocols that will be announced at a later date.
Walt Disney World updating policy on face coverings for 'cast members'
Walt Disney World confirmed to FOX 35 that they have made a slight change to their mask policy for its employees, or “cast members.”
Immunity to COVID-19 could last for years, new studies suggest
Both studies published in May suggest that individuals who were infected with COVID-19 and got the vaccine could have immunity against the virus, plus variants, for years.