Voices
The state reported 872 Floridians died of COVID-19 over the past week, the largest weekly toll since the pandemic began.
Also, on today’s Sunrise:
— Florida recorded another 9,344 new cases of coronavirus Sunday, with almost 74,000 in the past week and that brings Florida’s total to almost 424,000 … more than any state but California.
— On Saturday, the Sunshine State passed New York for the No. 2 spot.
— Today, you’ll hear voices from the front line of the pandemic; these are the people who don’t get invited to the Governor’s press conferences. Dr. Mona Mangat is an allergy and immunology specialist in Saint Petersburg.
— Kristina Hernandez is a laboratory medical technologist from Pinellas County, who is responsible for all those COVID-19 tests. She says the essential medical workers hailed as heroes aren’t getting hazard pay or even a raise when they’re risking their lives.
— Dr. Ronald Saff is an allergist in Tallahassee and a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Saff has been critical of the Governor’s response since the early days of the pandemic.
— Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried organized this “speak out.” Fried is an independently elected member of the state Cabinet who has been mostly ignored by the Governor during the pandemic.
— Checking-in with a Florida Woman who got the best of a 17-foot python.