Marco Rubio pushes to deepen Port Tampa Bay to ease supply chain woes
More than two years since the COVID-19 pandemic forced a global shutdown, supply chain issues continue to cause major disruptions in the global shipping industry.
'This is not gone': COVID-19 cases on the rise across Florida
The number of COVID-19 cases in Florida is on the rise. According to the Florida Department of Health, one out of five people being tested in Florida is positive for COVID-19. In Polk County, it is closer to one out of four.
Here’s why an omicron infection may protect you during this Florida COVID-19 wave
The new highly-infectious COVID-19 strain is fueling a rise in cases and hospitalizations across Florida, as it proves more effective at evading vaccines and immunity from previous infections.
Ex-Disney workers sue, claiming religious discrimination after losing jobs over COVID mandates
Three former employees are suing Walt Disney World, claiming they were fired after refusing to wear face masks and get the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious reasons.
Publix not offering COVID vaccines to children under 5
Publix says its pharmacies will not administer vaccines to children under the age of 5 at this time.
Man reunited with Tampa hospital staff after surviving harrowing COVID battle
There was an emotional reunion outside Tampa General Hospital Thursday – but it almost never happened. He spent more than 100 days at TGH battling the delta variant of COVID-19, including nearly five weeks in intensive care.
Memorial exhibit helps healing process after losing loved one
When a beloved member of the Creative Pinellas community died from COVID-19, her traditional family and work-family collaborated to remember her with an exhibit of her amazing artwork and ended up inviting the community to add their loved one's belongings to the collection.
Florida pharmacies will have COVID vaccines for eligible kids under 5
The White House says Florida doctors will be able to order COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 from the federal government.
Parents unsure how children under 18 months will get COVID-19 vaccine in Florida
Florida parents hoping to vaccinate young children against COVID-19 are unsure where to turn because the state disagrees with the recent FDA recommendation that children six months and up be vaccinated and didn't pre-order any doses.
Florida surgeon general disagrees with FDA on COVID vaccines for kids under 5; state does not pre-order doses
Parents are in the home stretch with COVID-19 vaccines for babies and their youngest children after Wednesday’s FDA advisory panel meeting. But once those vaccines are approved, parents in Florida who want their kids to get inoculated may face a longer wait. That's because Florida's surgeon general Dr. Joseph Ladapo says he does not support giving the COVID vaccine to babies and children under the age of 5 – so Florida is the only state that did not pre-order any doses.
Governor DeSantis nixes mask punishment for Florida school districts
Breaking from the Legislature’s efforts to punish school districts that imposed mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday directed Florida’s new education commissioner to ignore a plan that would have made the districts ineligible for $200 million.
Tampa Bay considered 'high risk' area as COVID-19 cases continue to spike
Data from the CDC shows more than half of Florida residents are in communities with "high risk" levels of COVID-19. It's the 10th consecutive week infections have gone up.
Three local counties see high levels of COVID-19 spread, experts say
Parts of the Tampa Bay area are now showing high levels of COVID-19 spread, a leading expert at USF Health said Tuesday.
Court rules against Florida businesses on COVID-19 insurance coverage
A federal appeals court Thursday rejected arguments by Florida restaurants and a furniture retailer that insurance policies should have covered losses stemming from shutdowns early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida marks another weekly increase in COVID cases
COVID-19 cases have been slowly on the rise in Florida, but doctors say this latest increase differs from other variants.
Tampa International Airport lifts mask mandate after TSA removes rule
After a federal judge in Tampa struck down the federal mask mandate, Tampa International Airport will no longer require masks and face coverings.
'A game changer': UF researchers help develop 30-second COVID test
A team of University of Florida researchers said a new device can give COVID-19 test results in 30 seconds. The process is like a glucose test, you put a sensor strip in your mouth, and then the device tests the saliva.
St. Patrick's celebrations return to Tampa as doctors monitor omicron subvariant in Europe
With vaccines readily available and COVID-19 cases on the decline, St. Patrick’s Day looks very different from two years ago.
Hillsborough County ends state of emergency, closing COVID-19 test and vaccine site
Hillsborough County is ending the local state of emergency for the pandemic, which has been in effect for the past two years. The order, which was first issued March 12, 2020, will expire on Thursday.
‘Enjoy every day’: Floridians adjust to new normal 2 years after COVID-19 pandemic began
Friday marked two years since the World Health Organization first declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and things are now mostly returning to a sense of normal as final barriers lift.