The rapid spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant has prompted Polk State College, where classes resume today, to modify its return-to-campus plan, ABC Action News reports. Starting next week, professors have the option of teaching hybrid classes, allowing students to either attend in person or online. | LEARN MORE: News release Source: ABC Action News
Category: Health
Posted inHealth, Schools
Read It in the Morning Paper, COVID-19 Edition
HOSPITAL: The number of patients with COVID-19 admitted to Lakeland Regional Health has increased to 143 on Monday afternoon from 65 last Tuesday afternoon. The virus’ more-contagious omicron variant is sending a growing number of patients to the emergency room, but a lower proportion is being admitted to the hospital than during last summer’s delta […]
Posted inHealth
Polk Reports Record COVID-19 Cases; Hospitalizations, Deaths Remain Muted
Polk County joined the rest of Florida in closing out 2021 with record numbers of COVID-19 infections, but hospitalizations and deaths are substantially below their summertime peaks.
Posted inHealth
Demand for COVID-19 Tests Rises as Omicron Drives Polk Cases
Demand for COVID-19 tests — evidenced by long lines of cars at the RP Funding Center testing site — is outstripping demand in Polk County as new infections surge, according to Dr. Joy Jackson of the Florida Department of Health. Laboratory tests have confirmed that the omicron variant has arrived in Polk, she tells The […]
Posted inA & E, Health
LkldNow Readers Favored Entertainment, Health News in 2021
Entertainment and health articles drew the largest audiences on LkldNow in 2021, reflecting both interest in COVID-19 prevention and perhaps ways to find respite from the pandemic.
Posted inHealth
New COVID-19 Cases in Polk Jumped 262% Last Week
New COVID-19 cases in Polk County rose last week to 1,792 from 495 the previous week, according to the latest weekly tally from the Florida Department of Health. That 262% increase is the largest week-over-week jump since the state started reporting coronavirus numbers in March 2020.
Posted inHealth
Polk Seeing an Upward Bump in COVID-19 Cases
After Polk County experienced its lowest COVID-19 numbers in months during November, both the volume of cases and testing positivity have gradually increased during December. Dr. Joy Jackson, who directs the Florida Department of Health’s Polk office, calls last week’s 32% week-over-week rise in new cases “quite alarming” and warns we could be seeing a […]
Posted inHealth
Hospital Launching a Residency Program With First Students Arriving in 2023
Lakeland Regional Health’s quest to become a teaching hospital will soon become a reality with the first students expected to start on July 1, 2023, hospital CEO Danielle Drummond announced at today’s Lakeland City Commission meeting.
Posted inHealth
As Polk COVID Cases Fall, Testing Positivity Drops to Lowest-Ever Level
COVID 19 in Polk County for the week ending Nov. 4, according to the Florida Department of Health: New cases: 332, the lowest since mid-June 2020 and the 10th consecutive week of decreases Testing positivity: 2.8%, the lowest since testing started in March 2020 (The state is no longer disclosing how many people were tested.) New vaccinations: 1,649, […]
Posted inHealth
State Closes Its Free Monoclonal Antibody Center in Lakeland
The state of Florida shut down its monoclonal antibody treatment center in Lakeland on Friday amid lessened demand for the COVID-19 treatment, News Channel 8 reports. At least 12 of the state’s 25 sites are closing, the station reports. While treatments at the state’s centers are free, patients may face a charge at hospitals or […]