Associated Press
Florida has reported 21,683 new cases of COVID-19, the state’s highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, according to federal health data released Saturday.
The state has become the new national epicenter for the virus, accounting for around a fifth of all new cases in the U.S.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccine requirements, and along with the Florida Legislature, has limited local officials’ ability to impose measures meant to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday showed how quickly the number of cases is rising in the Sunshine State. Only a day earlier, Florida reported 17,093 new daily cases.
The previous peak in Florida had been 19,334 cases reported on Jan. 7.
This is a breaking news update. AP’s earlier story follows below.
Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld are the latest theme park resorts in Florida to again ask visitors to wear masks indoors, with Universal also ordering its employees to wear face coverings to protect against COVID-19, which has been surging across the state.
All workers at Universal’s Florida park on Saturday started being required to wear masks while indoors as the employees returned to practicing social distancing. The home to Harry Potter and Despicable Me rides also asked visitors to follow federal and local health guidelines by voluntarily wearing face coverings indoors.
“The health and safety of our guests and team members is always our top priority,” Universal said in a statement.
Health officials on Friday announced that coronavirus cases in Florida had jumped 50% over the past week with COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state nearing last year’s peak.
SeaWorld on Saturday posted on its website that it was recommending that visitors follow recently updated federal recommendations and wear face coverings while indoors.
The change in policy this week at the theme park resorts came after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that everyone wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Crosstown rival Walt Disney World started requiring employees and guests older than 2 to wear masks on Friday, but it also went a step further. The Walt Disney Company said in a statement that it will be requiring all salaried and non-union hourly employees in the U.S. who work on site to be fully vaccinated.
Disney employees who aren’t already vaccinated will have 60 days to do so and those still working from home will need to show proof of vaccination before returning. Disney said it was discussing the vaccine requirements with the union, and added that all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated before starting work at the company.
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Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
9 comments
Andrew Finn
July 31, 2021 at 5:50 pm
Hey – Hey – Hey – We’re #1 !!!!! Nothing like breaking records at the expense of people dying !!!!! Good thing we have Emperor DeSantis on the job to save us all !!!!!
Ed
July 31, 2021 at 6:45 pm
Your name isn’t Andrew Finn, it’s Andrew Cuomo. You ain’t foolin me.
Charles
July 31, 2021 at 6:45 pm
Tested positive yesterday and have had both Pfizer jabs. You just never know.
Christie
July 31, 2021 at 8:15 pm
On the plus side, your odds of getting severely ill and requiring hospitalization or dying is much lower. You’re just as likely to spread it to others though. Hope you get well soon!
father lowell laurence
July 31, 2021 at 8:17 pm
IN SAN FRANCISCO PLAYWRIGHT IN RESIDENCE AT BACKYARD THEATER HAS DEVELOPED 3 NEW PLAYS
“AMBIDEXTERITY” ABT VACCINATION AND COVID
“SANTERIA STREET THEATER” ABOUT CUBA PROOTREST
“TENT CITY PSYCHOMETRY” ABOUT THE CITY HOMELESS
MYERS RETURNS TO MANHATTAN AFTER VOLUNTEERIUNG AT THE SURFSIDE MIAMI CONDO COLLAPSE SITE WHERE HE PENNED
“TOWERS FALL” HONORING THE LOST THE FAMILIUES THE WORKMEN
Sonja Fitch
August 1, 2021 at 4:18 am
Duffus Desantis is willingly slaughtering Floridians! Makes you want to puke. Get
Out Duffus Desantis .
Ed
August 1, 2021 at 7:33 am
Good morning Sonja. Your President and Vice President will allow over two million illegals to enter the country this year. They come from over 150 different countries now and many are in the double digits as far as positivity goes. Who knows what new variant these people are bringing to our country. So who is responsible for the slaughter of Americans then? These super spreaders are coming to every State in the Union. So who is really the doofus here? I’m going with “dementia”Joe and his sidekick “giggles” Harris.
zhombre
August 1, 2021 at 9:04 am
Don’t bother talking to some brain dead bitch like Sonja.
Andrew Finn
August 1, 2021 at 1:04 pm
We know that Dementia Joe has been studying “the thing” and is right on top of the situation. No problem for us to worry about. We have enough trouble here in Florida with our Emperor DeSantis issuing his moronic edicts every day while people are dying.
Comments are closed.