Manatee County school officials vote to push back first day of school to August 17
School leaders in Manatee County voted Tuesday to push back the date kids would return to classrooms -- or begin online learning -- in the fall.
Florida unemployment office reducing number of call center employees
As Florida enters its fourth month under a crippled unemployment system, the state says it is reducing the number of call center contract workers.
Teachers across several Tampa Bay counties to protest school-reopening plans
As Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Michael Grego gave the school board a thorough breakdown of the district's reopening plan, dozens of teachers and staff protested the plan.
Months later, first local COVID-19 patient still warns: 'Wear a mask'
Before Florida’s COVID-19 cases ever reached into the thousands, there was Kaelyn Sheedy. She’s considered the first coronavirus case in Hillsborough County and among the first statewide.
Sarasota County School Board pushes back opening date to August 31
Sarasota County's school board had some difficult decisions to make during Tuesday's meeting. At the center of it all is the need for a plan to get kids back in the classroom by August, as required by the Department of Education.
Socially distant parking lot party coming to Raymond James Stadium
The north parking lot at Raymond James Stadium is transforming into a socially distant, drive-in party.
Bay Area hospitals report delays finding plasma for COVID-19 patients
The problem is one many Florida hospitals are facing daily: The surge in coronavirus cases statewide is causing a growing demand for blood and plasma donations from people who have recovered from the virus.
Pasco superintendent plans for mandatory masks at schools
When students and staff in Pasco County return to campus, face-coverings will likely be mandatory as part of the effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Polk County to delay start of school year by two weeks
Polk County Public Schools will delay the start of the upcoming school year by at least two weeks due to the rising number of coronavirus cases.
FOX 35 INVESTIGATES: Florida Department of Health says some labs have not reported negative COVID-19 results
The Florida Department of Health released its daily coronavirus testing report showing a statewide positivity rate of 11 percent, but FOX 35 News investigated and quickly noticed some shocking positivity rates.
Instead of mandating masks, Venice leaders urge residents to wear face coverings
In Sarasota County, city officials within Venice met to consider a mask mandate, but instead passed a resolution urging residents to wear face coverings inside and outside when they can't social distance.
Tuesday's 132 new Florida coronavirus deaths is daily record; over 9,000 new cases reported
The Florida Department of Health says the number of known cases of COVID-19 in the state rose by 9,194 since yesterday morning as the virus spreads and as more people are tested across the state. The total number of cases in Florida is now 291,629.
'Isolation can kill': Florida woman gets job washing dishes at nursing home to be close to husband
A woman in Florida took a part-time dishwashing job at her husband's assisted living facility to be able to see him amid COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Florida face-covering rules: List of mandatory coronavirus mask orders in the Tampa Bay area
Doctors and local officials in Florida are encouraging the use of face-coverings, and in some cases, mandating it. Several Florida counties and some local municipalities have mask orders in place to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Slow test results hinder ability to stop spread of COVID-19, DeSantis says
One day after Florida hit a grim milestone, setting a record for the daily number of new COVID-19 cases, there were more lines at testing sites.
Median age of COVID-19 cases slowly rising
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis implemented the first phase of his plan to reopen the state back on May 4. Since then, he urged young people not to ignore the guidelines.
Winter Haven leaders unanimously approve mask ordinance; rules begin 5 p.m. Tuesday
City commissioners in Winter Haven voted unanimously Monday to approve an ordinance requiring face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Behind the numbers: What does Florida's record-number of COVID-19 cases really mean?
Florida reported more than 12,000 new cases of COVID-19 in the latest daily report, and that followed the 15,000 cases on Sunday that broke the national record for a one-day total. But there are some encouraging trends in the data that suggest the state could be bending the curve.
Protester yells 'shame on you' at DeSantis during COVID-19 press conference
A protester interrupted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s coronavirus update on Monday, July 13.
BayCare pausing some non-urgent surgeries in Hillsborough, Polk counties
BayCare Health System says it will reduce the number of non-urgent surgeries it performs to free up space for severely ill COVID-19 patients.