Summer COVID bump intensifies in L.A. and California, fueled by FLiRT variants

Published by: Los Angeles Times
Published on: June 24, 2024
By Rong-Gong Lin II

The new COVID-19 subvariants collectively nicknamed FLiRT are continuing to increase their dominance nationwide, fueling a rise in cases in Los Angeles County and growth in the coronavirus levels seen in California wastewater.

Taken together, the data point to a coronavirus resurgence in the Golden State — one that, while not wholly unexpected given the trends seen in previous pandemic-era summers, has arrived earlier and is being driven by even more transmissible strains than those previously seen.

It remains unclear how bad the COVID situation may get this summer, however. Doctors have said that by the Fourth of July, we may have a better feel for how the rest of the season will play out.

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Florida

Florida is swamped by disease outbreaks as quackery replaces science

Published March 3, 2024

Published by: The Guardian
Published on: March 3, 2024
By Richard Luscombe

Shortly before Joseph Ladapo was sworn in as Florida’s surgeon general in 2022, the New Yorker ran a short column welcoming the vaccine-skeptic doctor to his new role, and highlighting his advocacy for the use of leeches in public health.

It was satire of course, a teasing of the Harvard-educated physician for his unorthodox medical views, which include a steadfast belief that life-saving Covid shots are the work of the devil, and that opening a window is the preferred treatment for the inhalation of toxic fumes from gas stoves.

But now, with an entirely preventable outbreak of measles spreading across Florida, medical experts are questioning if quackery really has become official health policy in the nation’s third most-populous state.

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pro-virus policies

How lawmakers in Texas and Florida undermine Covid vaccination efforts

Published November 10, 2023

Published by: CNN
Published on: November 10, 2023
By Amy Maxmen

Katherine Wells wants to urge her Lubbock, Texas, community to get vaccinated against Covid-19. “That could really save people from severe illness,” said Wells, the city’s public health director.

But she can’t.

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Florida

Florida settles lawsuit over COVID data, agrees to provide weekly stats to the public

Published October 9, 2023

Published by: The Associated Press
Published on: October 9, 2023

Florida will have to provide COVID-19 data to the public again after a former Democratic state representative settled a lawsuit with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration over the decision two years ago to stop posting information on the virus’ spread online.

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Tag: Florida