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5 Things To Know On Thursday, October 8, 2020

Posted at 6:31 AM, Oct 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-08 06:31:10-04

While you were sleeping, we compiled the biggest stories of the day in one place. Each story has a quick and easy summary, so you're prepared for whatever the day brings. Just click on the links if you want to know more!

1. VP Debate: Harris vs Pence vs the Fly
Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris tussled Wednesday in the first and only vice presidential debate before the Nov. 3 election, coming as the coronavirus sidelined President Donald Trump at the White House.

The internet made a fly the star of the debate. For several minutes, a fly landed in Vice President Mike Pence’s hair, not moving as he answered questions about racial injustice.

You can find a full rundown of the issues at the link above anda fact check here.

VP Debate: Harris vs Pence vs the Fly

2. How is Trump doing in his fight against the coronavirus?
President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office on Wednesday for the first time in five days following his three-day stay in Walter Reed Medical Center.

Despite complications from the coronavirus late last week, which included a high fever and low oxygen levels, the president said that his coronavirus infection was a “blessing from God.”

“I want everyone to get the same treatment as your president, because I feel great,” Trump said. “I feel like perfect. I think this was a blessing from God that I got it.”

President Trump says he feels 'perfect,' calls coronavirus infection a 'blessing from God'

3. Who else has tested positive for the coronavirus?
A FEMA report obtained by ABC News said that 34 White House staffers and contacts were infected with the coronavirus.

According to PBS, which identified 33 of the 34 confirmed cases, 11 of the coronavirus cases stemmed from workers of last week’s presidential debate in Cleveland.

The assistant commandant of the Marine Corps has tested positive for the coronavirus, days after he and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were in a Pentagon meeting with a Coast Guard leader who was infected with the virus.

4. How's Florida fighting coronavirus? It's tough to say
Florida passed 15,000 coronavirus deaths including non-residents. Florida's total of 722,707 cases is nearly 10 percent of the total infection in the U.S. though the state only comprises 6.5 percent of the population.

For months, the White House Coronavirus Task Force has provided Florida weekly reports and recommendations to fight COVID-19. But, unlike other states, Florida has not readily shared the info with the public.

A few of Florida's reports have leaked online. Journalists who waited out long info requests have posted others. The analysis shows the state isn't following some of the federal recommendations offered.

Florida death toll passes 15,000 including nonresidents

5. Want to get away? You might have to wait
Carnival Cruise Line is canceling most U.S. sailings through the end of this year.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced that it was suspending all its cruises through Nov. 30.

Some researchers are looking pretty far for an escape. A study led by researchers from Washington State University found 24 planets that may be more suitable for life than Earth.

Today's Forecast
Lots of sunshine with some isolated inland showers.

Latest Weather Forecast: Thursday 5 a.m.

Get your complete hour-by-hour forecast here.

On This Day In History
On October 8, 1871, flames spark in the Chicago barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary, igniting a two-day blaze that kills between 200 and 300 people, destroys 17,450 buildings, leaves 100,000 homeless and causes an estimated $200 million (in 1871 dollars; roughly $4 billion in 2020 dollars) in damages.

Remember, you can join Mike Trim and Ashleigh Walters every weekday on WPTV NewsChannel 5 beginning at 4:30 a.m. And you can always watch the latest news from WPTV anytime on your favorite streaming device. Just search for "WPTV."