National cabinet set to decide on scrapping COVID-19 isolation; US warned of

US President Joe Biden has issued a major disaster declaration after Hurricane Ian carved a path of destruction across Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, cutting off the only bridge to a barrier island, destroying a historic waterfront pier and knocking out power to 2.6 million people as it dumped rain over a huge area.

A vicious combination of winds, rain and storm surge caused at least a dozen deaths with warnings the tally will rise.

“This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history,” President Joe Biden said on Thursday – the morning after the hurricane make landfall in southwest Florida.

“The numbers are still unclear, but we’re hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life.”

Since crossing the coast, Ian has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but the storm is dropping heavy rain on central and northeast Florida throughout Thursday.