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Florida ended last week with a new daily high for COVID-19 cases with 25,991. However, hospitalizations dropped for the first time since the summer surge began. After hospitalizations reached 16,100 late last week, that number dropped back below 16,000 as of Sunday.
In other news, the tropics remain active with Tropical Depression Eight forming and joining Tropical Storms Fred and Grace. However, the Depression nor Grace pose a threat to Florida nor the US. Fred is set to make landfall tonight near Panama City Beach.
The Florida Board of Education has called an emergency meeting to address the defiance of the Alachua and Broward County School Districts which are set to defy state law in mandating masks without parental choice. The meeting will take place at 4 pm Tuesday. Broward’s school year begins Wednesday. Miami-Dade is finalizing its plan on Wednesday in advance of the start of the school year next week.
Lastly, the University of Florida has reversed course and will hold in-person classes with the start of the fall semester. In the announcement, the school also said that all members of Florida’s university system will likewise have in-person classes this fall. UF’s semester starts next Monday, August 23rd.