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The Hill:

Data Show COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate more Than 90 Percent Effective, Pfizer says

Pfizer announced Monday morning that late-stage clinical trial data show that its vaccine candidate is over 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19.

The announcement was widely greeted as a sorely needed positive development in the fight against the virus, which is raging across the country.

The drugmaker said it conducted an analysis of 94 confirmed cases in trial participants after enrolling 43,538 participants in a larger study. The company added that it hopes to have the amount of safety data required for a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization by the third week of November.

The Hill:

Biden Unveils COVID-19 Task Force

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named a number of health experts who will serve on his coronavirus task force.

The experts include Rick Bright, the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority who said he was forced out his position earlier this year after opposing promoting unproven treatments.

Bioethicist and oncologist Zeke Emanuel, who served as former adviser to the Obama administration on the Affordable Care Act and is brother of former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and Atul Gawande, a surgeon who served as advisor to the Clinton and Obama administrations, will also serve on the panel.

Miami Herald:

Nursing Home Residents Who Leave Don’t Need to Test for COVID When They Return, State Says

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, which has made a concerted effort to scale back restrictions enacted because of the coronavirus, wants to make it easier for residents of long-term care facilities to reunite with families for the holidays — even it means forgoing COVID-19 testing.

The DeSantis administration on Wednesday provided answers to questions that nursing homes and other senior centers have about the state’s visitation policies, including whether residents can leave for the holidays and whether they have to be tested when they return.

Could Mouthwashes Help Reduce COVID-19 Transmission?

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers and wipes play an important part in reducing infection rates. However, other products might also have a role to play. Scientists at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA, are looking at oral rinses and mouthwashes.

In a recent study, which appears in the Journal of Medical Virology, researchers determined that several oral and nasal solutions might lower the risk of viral transmission when used by those with a coronavirus infection.

Craig Meyers, professor of microbiology and immunology and obstetrics and gynecology, led the study. “While we wait for a vaccine to be developed, methods to reduce transmission are needed,” Meyers says. “The products we tested are readily available and often already part of people’s daily routines.”

The Packer:

Florida Makes More COVID-19 Testing Available for Farmworkers

Additional COVID-19 testing sites in Florida’s Miami-Dade, Hendry, and St. Lucie counties are available for farmworkers as the fall harvest season begins, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has announced.

Commissioner Nikki Fried in a news release that the ongoing efforts to provide access to testing for farmworkers are part of a partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and local county governments.

“As the pandemic continues, we’re continuing our work to provide farmworkers with access to COVID-19 testing,” Fried said in the release.

FAC COVID-19 Dashboard

FAC CARES Act Webpage

Governor’s Executive Orders

County COVID-19 Websites

County COVID-19 Policies & Ordinances

State Agency Executive Orders

FAC Partner Resources

FAC Updates

Spreadsheet of FAC's Data

(updated daily at noon)

External Resources

Latest Updates

News Articles

Q&A with the CDC

What is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?

Cleaning with soap and water or a detergent removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It lowers the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting with a household disinfectant on List N: Disinfectants for use against SARs-CoV-2external icon kills germs on the surface.

By disinfecting or killing germs on a surface after cleaning the surface, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection. For more information review cleaning and disinfection recommendations for facilities and homes.

Send Us Your COVID-19 Marketing Signage

Counties across Florida have launched public health awareness marketing campaigns that emphasize the ways to limit the impact of the coronavirus in the community. With the 2020 Legislative Conference coming up, we want to showcase some of your creative promotional ideas while also reminding attendees of these public health practices at the event.

Please send any marketing signage related to the coronavirus to [log in to unmask].

Maybe you'll see your signage at the event!

Send FAC Your Photos or Videos!

Images or Videos of the Response:

Counties on the Frontline

Local Governments are the first line of defense and the first to take action in recovery.

During this unprecedented global emergency, we would like to share your images or videos from your county's and community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Whether it's logistics and staging, community response or neighbor helping neighbor, please share your images or videos with us and your fellow counties.

Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea surprised the team at Fav’s to show our appreciation for their dedication to serving our community throughout this difficult year.

Submit a Photo or Video

Department of Health Resources

The Florida Department of Health's COVID-19 Case Dashboard is updated twice daily with the total number of cases in Florida.

Today, there are a total of 821,526 Florida cases**, 3,924 new cases with 17,014 deaths related to COVID-19. More information on a case-by-case basis can also be found here.

**Total cases overview includes positive cases in Florida residents and non-Florida residents tested in Florida.