At University of Florida, a rise in face-to-face classes prompts pushback
The in-person college experience is back by popular demand. But faculty, local residents and some students are sounding alarms.
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GNV Unite, a group formed by Gainesville resident Danielle Hawk, put up a display of tombstone art outside the University of Florida campus Wednesday to protest the school s decision to offer more in-person classes this semester. [ Courtesy of Danielle Hawk ]
Published Feb. 6
When the University of Florida announced plans last fall to reopen this semester with a âhy-flexâ model, many balked.
It meant that the spring 2021 course schedule would have roughly as many in-person classes as it did last spring, before the pandemic.
Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast is one of 27 Florida hospitals that soon will begin issuing COVID-19 vaccinations to people under 65 who are considered extremely vulnerable if infected with the coronavirus.
According to information provided by Mike Burke, spokesman for Ascension Sacred Heart, the Florida Department of Health is doling out 28,500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for the initiative. Along with Ascension Sacred Heart s location in Panama City, its hospitals in Pensacola and Miramar Beach also will receive a shipment of shots earmarked for high-risk patients. Ascension Sacred Heart has received 3,000 doses with plans to administer 1,000 in Milton on Wednesday, 1,000 in Destin and South Walton over two days this week and 1,000 in Panama City on Friday, Burke wrote in an email Monday.
Gainesville Roller Rebels stay afloat amid pandemic
Roller Rebels anxious to start practicing again The Roller Rebels pose for a team picture.
Marilee Griffin walked into the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center on Oct. 5, 2019, sat on the creaky, dark blue bleachers and buckled her shiny, dark red skateboard helmet.
The helmet matches everything about Griffin especially her retro red lipstick and fiery-colored hair.
She then strapped on her black-and-red-outlined knee pads and wrist guards. She slid on her rose-colored knee-high socks and her quad black skates with red laces.
On the track, she’s night and day from the nine other skaters zipping around the 88-foot, oval-shaped roller derby. Mostly because she pairs her red accessories with her grass-colored Swamp City Sirens jersey.
COVID-19 Update: 362 UF students test positive for COVID-19 in last week
Quarantine numbers increase again slightly while total UF students cases for spring total 854 COVID-19 graphic generic Photo by Carley Noll | The Independent Florida Alligator
UF reported 362 COVID-19 positive cases among students in the last week on Tuesday, according to UF’s testing dashboard. Last Monday, the university had nearly 500 total student positives since the start of the semester. Now, the total positive student cases for Spring is 854.
Since Jan. 11, 159 UF employees and 96 UF-affiliated employees have tested positive. There have been 1,109 total positive cases in the UF community so far this Spring. There were 1,542 cases at the same point in the Fall se
The largest single COVID-19 vaccination event so far in Alachua County is planned Friday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, where thousands are expected to receive the shots, officials said.
UF Health is working with the Alachua County Department of Health to administer the vaccines to people 65 and older who have already registered for the shots.
The event is planned for the Touchdown Terrace area at the north end of the stadium.
Paul Myers, administrator for the Alachua County Department of Health, said the event will be staffed by UF Health and health department workers.
“It’s not going to be on the field. It’s going to be in one of the concourses, he said.