/Area hospitals have less capacity to handle a continued surge in coronavirus cases than they did in April. But they say they are prepared.The Tampa Bay area is back on the brink of a possible surge in hospitalizations related to the coronavirus, and data shows the local health care system’s ability to respond has eroded since the spring.Between early April and now, about 38 percent more people have been admitted to hospitals in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties, according to state data analyzed by the Tampa Bay Times.Elective surgeries have resumed and doctors say...…/Area hospitals have less capacity to handle a continued surge in coronavirus cases than they did in April. But they say they are prepared.The Tampa Bay area is back on the brink of a possible surge in hospitalizations related to the coronavirus, and data shows the local health care system’s ability to respond has eroded since the spring.Between early April and now, about 38 percent more people have been admitted to hospitals in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties, according to state data analyzed by the Tampa Bay Times.Elective surgeries have resumed and doctors say...WW…

“If it takes us 365 days for change to come, then we’ll be out here for the next year,” one protester said.UPDATE: 10 P.M.: After pausing to listen to speakers on the steps of City Hall, protesters took to the streets again in downtown St. Petersburg Wednesday night. The group of more than 100 chanted, danced and cheered for one another as they walked. They moved into south St. Pete neighborhoods, where they paused to learn more about the history of these areas of town. Carla Bristol pointed out ”that yellow building over there" in the heart of the 22nd Street South business district. It’s...…“If it takes us 365 days for change to come, then we’ll be out here for the next year,” one protester said.UPDATE: 10 P.M.: After pausing to listen to speakers on the steps of City Hall, protesters took to the streets again in downtown St. Petersburg Wednesday night. The group of more than 100 chanted, danced and cheered for one another as they walked. They moved into south St. Pete neighborhoods, where they paused to learn more about the history of these areas of town. Carla Bristol pointed out ”that yellow building over there" in the heart of the 22nd Street South business district. It’s...WW…

/Most contracted the virus outside the hospital, said hospital president and CEO John Couris.TAMPA — About 55 staff members at Tampa General Hospital have been infected with COVID-19 since March, president and CEO John Couris said Thursday.The majority contracted the virus outside the hospital, but at least six staffers are thought to have come into contact with the disease while in the hospital, Couris said.Those findings, he said, were determined through contact tracing, an investigative process that helps locate the source of an active infection and how it is spreading.All have been sent...…/Most contracted the virus outside the hospital, said hospital president and CEO John Couris.TAMPA — About 55 staff members at Tampa General Hospital have been infected with COVID-19 since March, president and CEO John Couris said Thursday.The majority contracted the virus outside the hospital, but at least six staffers are thought to have come into contact with the disease while in the hospital, Couris said.Those findings, he said, were determined through contact tracing, an investigative process that helps locate the source of an active infection and how it is spreading.All have been sent...WW…

/Space is dwindling at the county's hospitals as coronavirus cases rise.Four Pinellas County hospitals were without any space in their intensive care units Saturday as Florida hit an all-time high for single-day coronavirus cases.Palms of Pasadena Hospital, St. Petersburg General Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater and AdventHealth North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs had no beds for critical patients, according to data collected by the Agency for Health Care Administration.Meanwhile, Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg had just 3 percent of its ICU beds available, Mease Dunedin...…/Space is dwindling at the county's hospitals as coronavirus cases rise.Four Pinellas County hospitals were without any space in their intensive care units Saturday as Florida hit an all-time high for single-day coronavirus cases.Palms of Pasadena Hospital, St. Petersburg General Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater and AdventHealth North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs had no beds for critical patients, according to data collected by the Agency for Health Care Administration.Meanwhile, Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg had just 3 percent of its ICU beds available, Mease Dunedin...WW…

Demonstrators spent Independence Day blocking Tampa Bay traffic. In Tampa, protesters were freed from jail and one denies the allegations against him. In St. Petersburg, a motorcyclist threatened marchers.UPDATE 1 a.m.The Tampa Police Department gave this version of events during the N Dale Mabry Highway protest:Police officials said the protest had grown from 40 to nearly 100 and had blocked traffic for nearly an hour. Then, after several warnings to disperse, officers moved in at 1:28 p.m. to arrest the “organizers and leaders of the protest.” The officers said objects were thrown at...…Demonstrators spent Independence Day blocking Tampa Bay traffic. In Tampa, protesters were freed from jail and one denies the allegations against him. In St. Petersburg, a motorcyclist threatened marchers.UPDATE 1 a.m.The Tampa Police Department gave this version of events during the N Dale Mabry Highway protest:Police officials said the protest had grown from 40 to nearly 100 and had blocked traffic for nearly an hour. Then, after several warnings to disperse, officers moved in at 1:28 p.m. to arrest the “organizers and leaders of the protest.” The officers said objects were thrown at...WW…

/The governor and a top Hernando County lawmaker defend the rollout so far. “What other states are getting wrong, I believe that this governor is getting right.”Gov. Ron DeSantis and Hernando County’s top Republican lawmaker defended Florida’s coronavirus vaccine rollout on Wednesday, saying the state is a national leader in the effort and touting the lack of a detailed plan as a plus.“We are approaching this pandemic in ways that other states are not,” state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia said at a news conference in Brooksville where DeSantis announced a new vaccination site for seniors 65 and...…/The governor and a top Hernando County lawmaker defend the rollout so far. “What other states are getting wrong, I believe that this governor is getting right.”Gov. Ron DeSantis and Hernando County’s top Republican lawmaker defended Florida’s coronavirus vaccine rollout on Wednesday, saying the state is a national leader in the effort and touting the lack of a detailed plan as a plus.“We are approaching this pandemic in ways that other states are not,” state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia said at a news conference in Brooksville where DeSantis announced a new vaccination site for seniors 65 and...WW…

/Hillsborough County’s vaccination phone line was receiving an estimated 2,000 phone calls per minute at midday, a spokeswoman said. Websites and phone lines were down for hours. Ruth Kern began refreshing the Pinellas County health department website minutes before the vaccine registration portal went live at noon Monday. She couldn’t get through.The 66-year-old retired Gulfport resident was eager to sign up for a coronavirus vaccine, and Monday was supposed to be when she and other seniors across Tampa Bay finally could.But the day left local seniors feeling no closer to receiving...…/Hillsborough County’s vaccination phone line was receiving an estimated 2,000 phone calls per minute at midday, a spokeswoman said. Websites and phone lines were down for hours. Ruth Kern began refreshing the Pinellas County health department website minutes before the vaccine registration portal went live at noon Monday. She couldn’t get through.The 66-year-old retired Gulfport resident was eager to sign up for a coronavirus vaccine, and Monday was supposed to be when she and other seniors across Tampa Bay finally could.But the day left local seniors feeling no closer to receiving...WW…