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DeSantis nixes Florida's daily COVID-19 reports

By and Christine Sexton
Updated  June 5, 2021 11:01pm EDT
Coronavirus in Florida
The News Service of Florida

Florida ending daily COVID-19 case reporting

Since the pandemic began, we've been able to learn the number of new positive COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths on a daily basis. But the Department of Health says that is going to change. FOX 13's Justin Matthews reports.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida Department of Health plans to cease the daily COVID-19 reports that have been used by the media and the public to track changes in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis' press secretary Christina Pushaw told The News Service of Florida on Friday that there is no need to keep issuing the daily reports.

"COVID-19 cases have significantly decreased over the past year as we have a less than 5% positivity rate, and our state is returning to normal, with vaccines widely available throughout Florida," Pushaw said in an email.

Friday, the state's COVID-19 website was reconfigured to link to new reports that will be updated weekly.

The state had already stopped producing its daily updates on COVID-19 infection rates among staff and residents at long-term care facilities. The daily reports, which listed the names of facilities with infections, have been replaced by less-detailed weekly reports.

RELATED: Florida COVID-19 hospitalizations at lowest point in more than a year

While Florida is ceasing its daily updates, a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic remains in effect and is scheduled to expire on June 26. DeSantis has indicated that he does not plan to extend it any further.