FL COVID-19 News: School Districts Defy DeSantis, Mandate Masks

FLORIDA — As COVID-19 cases surge in Florida, here are some Patch headlines you might have missed this week.

Hillsborough Board Defies Governor's Order Against Mask Mandate

During a 4 1/2-hour emergency meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board, members voted to tighten the school district's mask requirements for public schools, defying the governor's order to leave the choice up to parents.

Check out other stories on COVID-19 and masks in Florida schools:

• Sarasota Schools Mask Mandate With No Opt Out Approved
• COVID-19 Rates Prompt Pasco Superintendent To Plead For Masks
• More Than 8,400 Hillsborough Students In Isolation Or Quarantine
• School Mask Mandate Approved, Medical Waiver Needed To Opt Out
• School District Employees Declared 'Essential Workers': Asplen
• School Mask Mandate With Opt-Out Provision Approved In Manatee
• Weekly COVID-19 Cases At Schools Being Released By Polk District
• Manatee High School's Preseason Friday Football Game Canceled
• U.S. Education Secretary To Support Schools With Mask Mandates

Take Our Survey: Should Students, Teachers Wear Masks At School?

FL Couple Presented Fake Vaccination Cards In Hawaii: Report

A Miami Beach couple was arrested in Hawaii after presenting fake COVID-19 vaccination cards for themselves and their children Aug. 11.

COVID-19 Surge Means More 911 Calls Than Ambulances Can Handle

Pasco County Fire Rescue's fire chief is appealing to the community to be patient and only call 911 with a dire emergency. There simply aren't enough ambulances free to respond to all calls these days.

Broward Politician's Daughter Accused Of COVID-19 Relief Fraud

The 28-year-old daughter of Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness was accused of COVID-19 relief fraud.

State-Run Monoclonal Antibodies Treatment Site Opens In Hudson

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that the state has opened a new monoclonal antibody therapy treatment site in Pasco County.

"Today we're here happy to be able to announce that we'll be establishing a site for monoclonal antibody treatment in Pasco County," DeSantis said during a news conference in Hudson. "This is a site that will be open from 9 to 5 for seven days a week right here at the Fasano Center in Hudson. And this is something that's really, really significant."

Also Read:

• COVID-19 Treatment Site Opening At Tropicana Field: DeSantis
• State-Run Monoclonal Antibodies Clinic To Open In Manatee: Servia

Hospitalized County Commissioner Battling COVID-19: Report

Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge was hospitalized Saturday after testing positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 Levels Increase 600% In Orange County's Sewage: Report

Based on levels of COVID-19 found in a Central Florida wastewater system, the virus' surge in the state is far from over.

Other COVID-19 news in Florida:

• Professional Santa Gives New COVID-19 Testing Site A Thumbs-Up
• USF Part Of Clinical Study Of Moderna Vaccine For Children
• Fort Lauderdale Officer Dies From COVID-19: Police
• Nearly 200 Students, Teachers Have COVID After 1st Week Of School
• Record COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reported At Sarasota Memorial
• Palm Beach County Reinstates COVID-19 State Of Emergency
• Local Firefighters Help Lake County During COVID-19 Surge
• Blame Game: Rising COVID-19 Cases Leads To Pandemic Rhetoric
• Weekend COVID-19 Vaccine Events In St. Petersburg
• SCAT Bus Driver Tests Positive For COVID-19: Sarasota County
• Some City Departments Resume Appointment-Only Services
• Hours Updated At COVID-19 Testing Site In North Port