Florida knocked out of Top 10 list where coronavirus is spreading the fastest

Welcome to today's edition of the Florida Coronavirus Watch Newsletter. Let's get you up to speed with the latest news of the day from the USA TODAY Network-Florida.

Florida COVID data

The USA TODAY Network-Florida has updated the way we share Florida's weekly data on COVID-19. We'll share these numbers every Monday, unless there is a holiday. Please share any feedback about this data here.

New coronavirus cases dropped in Florida in the week ending Sunday, dipping by 3.4% as 408,841 cases were reported. The previous week had 423,150 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. Florida now ranks 11th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. Here's a look at some other numbers you should know:

• Residents with at least one dose of vaccine: 75.5%, or 34,496,916 total doses

• Coronavirus cases reported: 408,841 in the latest week; 423,150 in the previous week; 5,041,918 in the pandemic

• COVID-19 deaths reported: 184 in the latest week; also 184 in the previous week; 62,504 62,688 in the pandemic

Sources: USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data (cases and deaths); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (vaccines); U.S. Health and Human Services (hospitalization)

Here's what's happening across the state

COVID case surge: After weeks on a Top 10 list of states where coronavirus spreads the fastest, Florida is now No. 11 (see paragraphs above). However, there still is a COVID case surge in Florida counties. Adding the most new cases overall were Miami-Dade County, with 93,321 cases; Broward County, with 48,103 cases; and Orange County, with 30,752. Weekly case counts rose in 63 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Duval, Brevard and Pinellas counties.

"COVID-related circumstances" force Port Canaveral cruise cancellation: A third scheduled sailing of Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas out of Port Canaveral has been canceled. In FLORIDA TODAY reporter Dave Berman's story, the cruise line told passengers it canceled the two-night cruise that was scheduled to sail out of Port Canaveral on Jan. 22 "as a result of ongoing COVID-related circumstances." In a statement about the cruise cancellation, Royal Caribbean said: "We regret canceling our guests’ vacations, and appreciate their loyalty and understanding." Passengers who were booked on Independence of the Seas' Jan. 22 sailing are being given the option of getting a 100% refund or a 125% "future cruise credit" to book a new cruise.

This one's rough. COVID, then cancer sidelined a 40-year-old mother of two: Before Shawania Wyatt contracted COVID-19 through her work in June 2020, she had never been seriously ill. After, she was never again healthy. Her bout with COVID, which continued for months, had camouflaged the threat of a growing aggressive cancer. Wyatt, a nurse and mother of two teen boys, whose determination to overcome her illness and hold her family together inspired the generosity of Palm Beach Post readers, died Jan. 5 in hospice care. She was 40 years old.

At-home COVID test website launches early. You can now order free testing kits from the government. USA TODAY offers tips on how to find at-home COVID tests. COVIDTests.gov was expected to start accepting orders on Wednesday, however, an "order free at-home tests" button was added Tuesday, which brings users to usps.com/covidtests to order four at-home free tests. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday the site is in its beta phase to allow troubleshooting. “We can’t guarantee there won’t be a bug or two,” Psaki said, “but the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.”

Fact check: Image of TV news report altered to include mannequin as COVID patient

The claim: TV news report shows hospitals in France using mannequins to pose as COVID-19 patients. An image on social media claiming to be a screenshot from the French television news channel implies mannequins are being used in hospitals to simulate COVID patients. "France: Hospitals are so saturated with the omicron variant that there is not even time to put the arms to the mannequins for the media," reads text from a purported screenshot of a news broadcast.

The verdict: Based on USA TODAY's Fact Check Team's research, we rate ALTERED an image claiming a TV news report shows hospitals in France using mannequins to pose as COVID-19 patients. The image in the post combines two independent screenshots: one from a Canadian video of a COVID-19 treatment simulation and another from a news broadcast about the French prime minister testing positive for COVID-19.

Omicron causing COVID case surge. Helpful links for you

Because of the COVID case surge — as of Jan. 17, Florida ranked No. 11 on a list of states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest — we will include these links in this weekday newsletter.

• Is it the flu, a cold, or the omicron variant? How to know, and when to get tested for COVID

• Do COVID-19 boosters protect against omicron? Where and when can I get a booster in Florida?

• This free tool compares the spread of COVID-19 in your area (this story, and the free tool it mentions, is free for readers)

• Symptomatic or not, should you bother getting a COVID-19 test?

• A guide to mixing and matching Pfizer, Moderna, J&J vaccine booster shots

• What to know if you're exposed or test positive for coronavirus

Feedback on our COVID coverage. What do you want to know?

Anything else you want to know? Ask your questions here. And finally, thank you for reading. We appreciate you trusting our statewide journalists to keep you safe and informed. If you are encouraged by our work and want to support your local journalists, please consider subscribing. Know someone who would benefit from this newsletter? Forward this email so they can sign up.

Jennifer's note of the day: When my husband found out we could order at-home COVID tests, he didn't waste any time. Four are scheduled to arrive in our mailbox sometime this month. My colleague said her sister ordered tests already, too. On my social feed, I see lotsa chatter about COVID tests. The long lines for COVID testing have been crazy — but obviously necessary — and we'll supply whatever news we can on this hot topic. Hoping if you do have to test for COVID that the results are negative. Be safe!

Here's what else is happening with the coronavirus in Florida today.

— Jennifer Sangalang, @byjensangalang on Twitter and Instagram, Facebook or jsangalang@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: COVID: Florida out of Top 10 list where coronavirus spreads fastest