Florida is in the midst of another COVID-19 spike as reported cases reached 7,783 on Nov. 17.
Here is the latest from local governments:
The Hillsborough School District reported 62 cases on Nov. 16, its highest daily number of COVID-19 cases yet. The total reported student and teacher cases has now reached 1,504 for Hillsborough County Public Schools.
In response to the increasing number of cases, the State Board of Education announced students will be allowed to continue virtual learning through the end of the school year.
“There is going to be teachers, there is going to be parents or guardians who have health issues,” said Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. “We’ve got to protect those. We’ve got to make sure our kids are getting the best education.”
Tampa International Airport has resumed international flights on Nov. 19, for the first time since March. JetBlue Airline’s flight to Cancun will be the first to pass through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility in Tampa.
Tampa General Hospital has confirmed that it will be among the first in Florida to receive the new coronavirus vaccine.
“Tampa General’s commitment to treating the community during this global pandemic is what allowed us early access to this first in class treatment,” said Dr. Abe Schwarzberg in a written statement. He is chief of oncology and senior vice president of Oncology and Network Development at TGH. “Having these monoclonal antibodies will allow our medical teams to provide fast, effective treatment to those patients at highest risk for falling critically ill or possibly dying of complications from COVID-19.”
Racial disparities in health care killing pregnant women of color
The Centers for Disease Control and and Prevention reported that Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than white women. The disparity increases with age.
Per 100,000 live births, there will be 41 pregnancy-related deaths for Black women, 30 deaths for American Indian and Alaska Native women and 13 for white women.
The CDC reports that implicit racial bias in the health care system affects patient interactions, treatment decisions, adherence to recommendations and outcomes.
Many pregnant women seek birth centers as an alternative to having their chid in a hospital due to the lack of health insurance, high costs of specialists and racial bias that they may experience.
“The reproductive organizations that put marginalized women first, they know what they are doing, they’ve been helping people,” said Aura Lindo, a birth worker trainee at The Birth Place in Winter Garden. “I feel like the only thing that is holding us back is the support, money, resources.”
Tampa solar energy company reduces pollution
Solar energy company Solar Army says it has saved more than 14,000 tress this year alone.
While utility companies generate power using fossil fuels, Solar Army systems save 140 trees, 120,000 pounds of coal and 20,000 gallons of gas for each solar system it installs.
The product is an alternative use for power that helps the environment as solar energy does not contribute to releasing carbon emissions that cause pollution.
Solar Army also provides stable electricity prices that reduce the energy burden of low-income households.
“You can’t deny the cost savings. You can’t deny the tax incentives, and you can’t deny the financial benefits that are associated to solar energy,” said Hakeem Abunada, president of Solar Army in downtown Tampa.
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Anchors: Caylee Cottrell, Dylan Zuccarello
Reporters: Diana Halum, Carla Ibanez
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Associate Producer: Gabe Castro
Web Editor/Social Media Producer: Natalie Hernesman
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Faculty Adviser: Jeanette Abrahamsen, Wayne Garcia
