Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of the 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1 in the first two weeks of January, if not sooner, before switching to the Top 5 storylines -- the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- While Gov. Ron DeSantis was rallying his GOP base in steadfast opposition to masking up despite the ugly reality of unvaccinated becoming infected in increasing numbers, one of the Sunshine State's leading doctors back in July was sounding the alarm in bracing for the inevitable - death and despair in increasing numbers for those who have not heeded the health warnings about not masking and remaining unvaccinated.
"Too many unvaccinated patients are critically ill and dying of COVID-19," said Dr. Victor Herrera, the chief medical officer with AdventHealth Orlando in an Orange TV Live Stream o July 26, 2021.
Herrera emphasized that one patient in particular, just before he was intubated, said, "I wish I had received the vaccine.”
Beth Kassab, the AdventHealth media spokeswoman in Orlando, also emphasized Dr. Herrera's focus on "multiple pregnant women critically ill and on ventilators," for which he pleaded, “Please consider the vaccine.”
Beth Kassab, AdventHealth media spokeswoman, also emphasized Dr. Herrera's focus on "multiple pregnant women critically ill and on ventilators," for which he pleaded, “Please consider the vaccine.”
AdventHealth had 862 people hospitalized with COVID across Central Florida on Monday, including its other big hospital campus in Altamonte Springs. The admissions are expected to continue mounting in the coming days.
"That is approaching the previous peak in January of about 900," Kassab told Headline Surfer and other Central Florida media outlets.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.