According to CDC data, the summer surge in COVID-19 cases has resulted in greater than 28,000 new cases each of the past two days. This includes a pandemic high of 28,317 new cases reported on Monday. The trend from daily cases over the past week has risen to 22,484 cases. A year ago, Florida was averaging 6,500 cases daily.
On a related note, COVID-19 hospitalizations totaled 13,614 on Monday and related deaths have now averaged 113 daily over the past week. The highest since early March. A rise in related deaths has typically occurred about three weeks after a rise in hospitalizations.
The Army Corps of Engineers finalized the “CC” plan for future discharges from Lake Okeechobee. The “CC” plan was the option that sends the most water south into the Everglades, the natural flow of Lake O’ runoff water, and reduces eastern discharges by approximately 66%. The plan will be in force upon the completion of the Lake O’ dike restoration project next year.
Today’s the first day of the 2021-2022 school year in Palm Beach County. With Superintendent Michael Burke’s decision to implement a mask mandate with a parental opt-out, parents who don’t want their children to have to wear masks are to write a note indicating the preference which is to be provided by students to their first-period teacher. Broward and Miami-Dade are evaluating mask policies in advance of next week’s start.