Ceremony to remember Sept. 11 victims
The City of St. Augustine Fire Department will continue the annual tradition of holding its Ceremony of Remembrance, a community gathering to remember those who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks 20 years ago.
The ceremony is open to the public and will be held at the St. Augustine Fire Department’s main station at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.
The ceremony will also be broadcast live online on the Fire Department’s Facebook page.
COVID-19 data released
According to the state Department of Health, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in St. Johns County since March 1, 2020, was 33,917 as of Aug. 27, 2021. The total number of people vaccinated was 168,020.
The state fatality rate, according to Johns Hopkins University is 1.36%.
Flagler Health+ reported Friday, Aug. 27, that it had nine hospital admissions for COVID-19 and four discharges. Six others were undetermined. Twenty-two COVID-19 patients were in the intensive care unit, and 20 were on a ventilator.
The total number of positive COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital since March 1, 2020, is 1,290.
Statewide, the Florida Hospital Association reported Aug. 27 that there were 16,163 current COVID-19 hospitalizations, down 3.9% from the previous week. A survey found that 75.7% of hospitals expected a critical staffing shortage between Aug. 27 and Sept. 3. This is a 1.1% decrease from Aug. 23.
“Fingers crossed, we may be seeing the beginning of a downward trend in COVID-19 hospitalizations, but new cases remain near all-time highs, so it is much too early to declare victory,” said Mary C. Mayhew, president and CEO, Florida Hospital Association. “We must remain vigilant, not let our guard down against the virus, and continue to encourage more people to get the vaccine. In the last week we have seen a 4% decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Hopefully better days are ahead.”
St. Johns County schools report COVID-19 numbers
On Friday, Aug. 27, the most recent date available for COVID-19 data in St. Johns County schools, a total of 516 students tested positive for the coronavirus, with 1,753 being quarantined. A total 74 employees tested positive.
At Nease High School, one employee and 25 students tested positive. At Ponte Vedra High School, two employees and nine students tested positive. At Palm Valley Academy, four employees and 11 students tested positive. At Pine Island Academy, two employees and 15 students tested positive.
Nassau County man wins $1 million in scratch-off game
Michael Turner, 59, of Yulee, recently claimed a $1 million prize from the $5,000,000 LUCK Scratch-Off game at the Jacksonville District Office, according to The Florida Lottery. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $760,000.
The $20 game, $5,000,000 LUCK, launched in September 2019 and features more than $329 million in cash prizes, including six top prizes of $5 million. The game's overall odds of winning are one-in-2.97.
School board salaries in two districts withheld over masks
On Monday, Aug. 30, Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced that the Florida Department of Education has withheld the monthly school board member salaries in Alachua and Broward counties, as directed by the state Board of Education.
Each district has implemented a mandatory face mask policy in violation of Florida Department of Health Emergency Rule 64DER21-12. The withholding of funds will continue monthly until each school board complies with state law and rule.
On Aug. 20, the Board of Education issued Alachua and Broward school districts an order demanding that they comply with state statute and rule; however, both districts refuse to comply.
