Florida breaks the record with more than 21,000 new cases of coronavirus

Florida breaks the record with more than 21,000 new cases of coronavirus

Florida reported more than 21,000 new cases of COVID-19 after Delta variant raises between states; Florida is the highest single-day total, according to federal health data released Saturday, as theme parks again began requiring people to wear masks.

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccine requirements, along with the state legislature, limiting local officials' ability to enforce restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19. DeSantis on Friday banned school districts from requiring students to wear masks when classes resume next month.

The latest numbers were recorded on Friday and released on Saturday on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. The numbers show how quickly the number of cases is rising in the Sunshine State: Just a day ago, Florida reported 17,093 new daily cases. The previous peak in Florida was 19,334 cases reported on January 7, before vaccine availability became widespread.

The Florida Hospital Association said Friday that hospitalizations across the state with COVID-19 neared a peak last year and one of the state's largest health care systems. This week, the Central Florida Department of AdventHealth advised that it would not perform non-emergency surgeries for Edit resources for covid-19 patients.

On Saturday, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld became the latest theme park resort in Florida to require visitors once again to wear masks indoors, and Universal also ordered its employees to wear face coverings to protect against COVID-19, which has spread across the state.

On Saturday, all Universal's Florida Park workers began requiring them to wear masks while indoors as employees returned to practicing social distancing. The Harry Potter and Despicable Me ride home has also asked visitors to follow federal and local health guidelines by voluntarily wearing face coverings indoors.

Health officials announced Friday that coronavirus cases in Florida had jumped 50% over the past week as COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state neared their peak last year.

SeaWorld posted on its website Saturday that it recommends visitors to follow recently updated federal recommendations and to wear face coverings while indoors.

This week's policy change at theme park resorts came after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that everyone wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

Crosstown rival Walt Disney World began requiring employees and guests over two years old to wear masks on Friday, but it also went further. The Walt Disney Company said in a statement that it would require all salaried and non-union employees who work on the site to be fully vaccinated.

Disney employees who have not already been vaccinated will have 60 days to do so; she discussed vaccine requirements with the union and added that all new employees would be required to vaccinate before starting work for the company entirely.