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According to CDC data, Florida posted 16,935 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. Florida’s weekly average for daily cases stands at 17,757, a new high during the pandemic. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 continued to rise Wednesday and now stand at 12,041, with about a quarter of patients in ICU.
During a roundtable with Governor DeSantis, hospital executives briefed the governor on the state of hospitalizations. The message was clear. Hospitals are busy with COVID-19 infections but far from overwhelming. However, numerous South Florida hospitals have begun to postpone elective surgeries. Memorial Healthcare said its Broward hospitals will suspend elective procedures starting Monday. Baptist Health South Florida Hospitals are selectively postponing elective procedures in the Palm Beaches and Cleveland Clinic’s Weston location has likewise begun selective postponements.
Governor DeSantis made clear that school boards lack the authority to issue mask mandates. A spokeswoman for DeSantis said the final policy is being finalized between the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Education that will state any mask policies adopted at the school district level must include the ability for parents to opt their children out.