Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on March 26
We’re keeping track of the latest news regarding the coronavirus in South Florida and around the state. Check back for updates throughout the day.
TWO BROWARD POLL WORKERS TEST POSITIVE
5:20 p.m.: Two poll workers who spent Florida’s primary day in precincts in the city of Hollywood have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Broward Supervisor of Elections said Thursday.
One of the workers also worked at an early voting center in Weston, according to the press release. Early voting ended March 15.
THE IMPACT ON MIAMI’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
4:25 p.m.: Work on two major projects — a $300 million Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines headquarters building at the Port of Miami and a University of Miami UHealth Care center in North Miami — has been delayed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, Century Homebuilders Group announced two of the construction workers at the firm’s $100 million 850 Le Jeune Road mixed-use project have tested positive for coronavirus. The company has ordered its general contractor to start a deep cleaning and sanitation process on the large project, and the site will remain closed until the cleaning is completed.
Read more about the impact COVID-19 has had on Miami’s construction industry here ...
TWO MIAMI COPS TEST POSITIVE
4:10 p.m.: Two city of Miami cops have tested positive for COVID-19.
Both officers are isolated and in “good spirits,” and are currently experiencing “mild effects” from the virus, Miami police Chief Jorge Colina said.
BROWARD COUNTY ISSUES SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER
3:50 p.m.: Broward County issued an emergency shelter-in-place order on Thursday, urging all residents countywide to stay indoors except to conduct “essential” business.
Those who work at “essential” businesses can leave their homes to go to work. Also, outdoor exercising is still allowed if it follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social distancing guidelines.
The Broward County shelter-in-place order begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has so far declined to issue a shelter-in-place order for his county. But the city of Miami issued a shelter-in-place order earlier this week.
WHY MIAMI-DADE HASN’T ISSUED A SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER
2 p.m.: The city of Miami issued a shelter-in-place order earlier this week, but Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said he does not plan to do the same for the entire county. Gimenez said his decision to close non-essential businesses, parks and beaches while encouraging social distancing is very similar to enacting a stay-at-home order.
“A shelter-in-place order should only be used for hurricanes, tornadoes and active shooter incidents,” Gimenez wrote in a message posted to Facebook. “Under my emergency orders people should act as if they have the virus and stay safe at home so they don’t contribute to the spread of COVID-19.”
TED DEUTCH UNDER SELF-QUARANTINE
12:55 p.m.: Broward Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch said Thursday he has been under self-quarantine since last weekend after his son returned home from Spain and lost his sense of taste and smell, which is a symptom of COVID-19.
“He came back from Spain, and this weekend will be 14 days,” Deutch said Thursday during a virtual press conference with members of Congress. “He had what we thought might be a symptom, the loss of taste and smell. We’ve treated him as if he has had it, but fortunately that’s the only symptom.”
FLORIDA EXTENDS COUNTY PROPERTY TAX DEADLINES
12:15 p.m.: Live in Florida? You have extra time to pay your property tax.
Florida Department of Revenue Executive Director Jim Zingale issued an emergency order Thursday that extends the usual real estate property tax deadline from March 31 to April 15. Property taxes paid on railroad, railroad terminal, private car and freight line and equipment company property, usually due April 1, are now also due on April 15.
MORE THAN 600 CASES IN MIAMI-DADE
12 p.m.: On Thursday morning, Florida’s Department of Health confirmed 378 additional cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths, bringing the state total of confirmed cases to 2,355. The death toll is now at 28.
Miami-Dade County (616 confirmed cases) and Broward County (504 confirmed cases) make up 47.6 percent of the state’s total cases.
The state’s case numbers will be updated again at 6 p.m. today.
COSTA CRUISE SHIPS WITH 30 SICK TO DOCK AT PORTMIAMI?
11:20 a.m.: Two Costa cruise ships lingered off the coast of Miami Thursday morning, still waiting for permission to dock.
The ships — Costa Favolosa and Costa Magica — have around 1,000 crew members each on board, and at least 30 people showing flu-like symptoms between the two, according to Costa Cruises, owned by Carnival Corporation.
FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SET RECORD
10:05 a.m.: Florida saw a record number of unemployment claims filed last week in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
A total of 74,021 people filed for unemployment through Saturday, March 21, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. That dwarfs the 40,403 unemployment claims filed in Florida during the great recession in the week ending January 17, 2009, the most claims filed in at least three decades, according to data from the federal Labor Department going back to 1987.
US JOBLESS CLAIMS HIT 3.3 MILLION
9:10 a.m.: Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982.
Some economists say the nation’s unemployment rate could approach 13% by May. By comparison, the highest jobless rate during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009, was 10%.
Things have changed fast because of the coronavirus pandemic. As recently as February, the unemployment rate was at a 50-year low of 3.5%.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
9 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Thursday begins.
▪ The city of Miami will enact a 10 p.m. curfew starting Friday night. Miami’s five commissioners unanimously voted to set a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Police would have the ability to stop, question and arrest anyone out in public during this time period.
▪ Carlos Gimenez, the Miami-Dade Mayor, said Wednesday police and code inspectors planned to step up enforcement of his emergency orders to close non-essential businesses and reduce crowding at establishments allowed to remain open.
▪ City officials in both Miami-Dade County and Broward County are pressing county leaders to issue decrees telling people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
▪ Wells Fargo, Chase, SunTrust and TD Bank have begun to close South Florida branches, change store hours or mandate scheduling for in-person visits.
▪ The South Beach Wine & Food Festival, along with the Florida International Chaplain School of Hospitality, is donating $1 million to a relief fund aimed at helping South Florida restaurant owners and hospitality workers.
▪ Univision’s Doral news studio building was closed after at least two employees tested positive for the coronavirus, on-air reporters announced on Wednesday afternoon.
▪ An Amazon warehouse employee tested positive for COVID-19 in Jacksonville, the company said.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 9:03 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on March 26."
