Coronavirus update: Vaccine in progress; official managing Covid-19 dashboard removed

Today is Tuesday, May 19 and the biotechnology company Moderna is a step closer to making a vaccine against Covid-19. The company announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared it to begin with Phase 2 in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, which should begin shortly. This phase is expected to include experimenting with 600 people. Phase 3 is PLANNED to begin later in the summer. Although commercializing the vaccine would not be possible until 2021, it MIGHT be available for emergencies by Fall 2020.

The Florida Department of Health has maintained a dashboard that tracks Covid-19 related data. (In fact, it is the source for the data in the above graphic.) But the state official in charge of creating and managing this data portal said she has been removed from the project entirely, the Miami Herald reported.

Rebekah Jones, the official formerly in charge, also offered some “words of caution”: she does not expect the new team to uphold the transparency that she always did. She is not aware of who will be on the new team.

Groups of people in Volusia County, Florida got together for a block party. It is estimated that 3,000 were present at this party. Deputies reported objects were thrown at them. There were also firearm exchanges and “agitated crowds.” The night resulted in multiple arrests.

Victor Jorges is a broadcast journalist specialized in covering stories about culture, arts and human interaction. His work includes documentaries, feature packages and written profiles. He currently works at CNN en Español as an associate producer. He hopes to cover Miami's Hispanic American culture for a local network upon graduation. Jorges was born in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to Miami in 2007.

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Monica is working on her broadcast journalism bachelor's degree. She loves to write and is passionate about sports, the art of interviewing and strives to become an on-air sports talent. She produces digital content and is a social media manager.