Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on April 8
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.
DESPITE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, HIALEAH CHIEF ORDERS HAIRCUTS FOR COPS
6 p.m.: Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquez — a big believer that good grooming and good policing go hand in hand — worked out an arrangement with a local shop, Tony’s Barberia, to trim the hair and beards of cops, according to a memo sent to his department Tuesday.
Trouble is, under county and state coronavirus restrictions, keeping up officer appearances may also be breaking the law.
Read the full story here.
MIAMI MANDATES FASK MASKS
5 p.m.: The city of Miami mandated Wednesday that customers and workers inside grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores wear masks or face coverings to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
The order requires all customers and employees at most retail establishments that are still open to cover their faces while inside. The measure also requires all delivery workers to don masks, as well as all construction workers on job sites.
Similar orders have been implemented in Miami Beach, Cutler Bay and Aventura. Monroe County is requiring all people inside all businesses wear masks.
Read the full story here.
HOW MANY AT KROME DETENTION CENTER HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO CORONAVIRUS?
4:40 p.m.: The Krome detention center has placed 238 immigration detainees in quarantine after they were exposed to the coronavirus, the head of the south Miami-Dade facility told a federal judge Wednesday.
In a sworn statement, Liana J. Castano, the acting director in charge of the Krome facility, says that at least one detainee on the premises has been confirmed to have COVID-19 and has since been placed in medical isolation, as well as two security officers who have been ordered to quarantine at home.
Read the full story here.
DORAL TROLLEY SERVICE SUSPENDED
3:50 p.m.: Effective Friday at 6 p.m., Doral Trolley service will be suspended until further notice amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement, the City of Doral announced: “As the situation continues to develop, we invite the community to follow us on social media – @cityofdoral (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and on the City of Doral COVID-19 webpage for announcements regarding impacted city services, business assistance programs, and daily cases reported by the state in Doral and Miami-Dade County.”
MIAMI DOCTORS AND NURSES GET APARTMENTS AWAY FROM FAMILY
3:25 p.m.: The José Milton family and United Property Management donated 300 apartment units for the Jackson Health System’s doctors, nurses and other medical staff who are working on the front lines combating COVID-19.
The units are for the medical staff to temporarily use during the pandemic, free of charge.
“Nurses were living in their cars and some doctors were sleeping in their offices in order to avoid bringing the disease home to their families,” said Ana VeigaMilton, president of the José Milton Foundation and the director of corporate social responsibility for United Property Management. “We thought it would be a great thing to do to offer them a refuge.”
Read the full story here.
CORONAVIRUS HOSPITAL COMING TO MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER
2:35 p.m.: The Miami Beach Convention Center will be retrofitted by a federal contractor to house patients if area hospitals become overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. There will be 400 beds and 50 intensive-care beds for COVID-19 patients, but it can expand to up to 1,000 beds.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded the $22.5 million building contract to Alabama-based Robins & Morton Group, which is expected to complete the new “alternative care facility” by April 21.
Read the full story here.
TWO MORE SOUTH FLORIDA PUBLIX EMPLOYEES TEST POSITIVE
1:40 p.m.: Employees at Publix supermarkets in Cutler Bay and downtown Miami have tested positive for COVID-19, a spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
The stores at 20425 Old Cutler Rd. and Mary Brickell Village at 911 SW First Ave. are the eighth and ninth Publix stores in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties at which an employee has been infected with the novel coronavirus.
Read the full story here.
THIRD PERSON IN FLORIDA KEYS DIES FROM CORONAVIRUS
1:15 p.m.: A third person in the Florida Keys has died from complications linked to the novel coronavirus, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Bob Eadie, administrator of the Health Department in the Keys, said the the person died in a Miami-Dade hospital. It’s not immediately clear if the case was travel-related or spread in the community.
Read the full story here.
MIAMI-DADE MAYOR GENERATING EXPOSURE IN CAMPAIGN
12:40 p.m.: As Carlos Giménez wields unprecedented power fighting the epicenter of Florida’s coronavirus pandemic, the three-term Republican mayor of Miami-Dade County is also generating unmatched exposure in his congressional campaign against an incumbent Democrat who struggles for attention by comparison.
Read the full story here.
FLORIDA’S UPDATED CASE NUMBERS
11:45 a.m.: On Wednesday morning, Florida’s Department of Health confirmed 709 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total of confirmed cases to 15,456. There were 13 new deaths reported, raising the statewide total to 309.
Miami-Dade County (5,354 confirmed COVID-19 cases) and Broward County (2,358 confirmed COVID-19 cases) make up 49.9 percent of the state’s confirmed case total.
Here are more details on the latest COVID-19 numbers for Florida. The state’s numbers will again be updated Wednesday evening.
BIRTHDAY QUARANTINE PARADES
11:30 a.m.: Did you have to cancel your child’s birthday party because of COVID-19?
Instead of canceling the party, make it a birthday quarantine parade. You already have an RSVP: the Coconut Creek Police Department’s Birthday Responders team.
“Our police departments and first responders are gonna drive by your house — lights, sirens, loud speakers — and even dropping a little goodie bag at the end of the driveway to celebrate your child’s birthday,” said Joshua Rydell, vice mayor for the Broward city.
Email birthday@coconutcreek.net and let them know your child’s birthday is coming up. Someone from Coconut Creek police’s community division department will contact you to schedule the birthday quarantine parade.
RELIEF ON WAY FOR ARTISTS
10:50 a.m.: With concerts canceled, art galleries closed and theaters dark because of COVID-19 concerns, many artists are struggling financially.
To help, seven separate arts organizations, including the Miami-based National YoungArts Foundation, have teamed up to create a $10 million multi-disciplinary, direct-to-artist relief fund.
Artists from any discipline, including arts journalists, can apply for $5,000 Artist Relief grants through a process, which opens up Wednesday. An applicant must be 21 years old, live and work in the U.S. and show financial need.
Read the full story here.
HOW TO AVOID CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS SCAMS
10 a.m.: Money will soon be sent to the masses as part of the coronavirus pandemic economic relief package, and scammers could be planning to take advantage.
“We urge people to take extra care during this period. The IRS isn’t going to call you asking to verify or provide your financial information so you can get an economic impact payment or your refund faster,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “That also applies to surprise emails that appear to be coming from the IRS. Remember, don’t open them or click on attachments or links. Go to IRS.gov for the most up-to-date information.”
Here are three basic tips to help young, old and middle-aged avoid coronavirus stimulus scams.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
9:10 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Wednesday begins.
▪ Florida’s Department of Health Tuesday evening report said there were 14,747 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide, with the death toll at 296.
▪ Dozens of Brickell and downtown Miami residents stood on balconies and sidewalks banging pots and pans and cheering Tuesday night in appreciation of the Miami Fire Department as they paraded by in an impromptu celebration of first responders.
▪ As Broward approaches 2,500 novel coronavirus cases with nearly 20,000 tests done in the county, another mobile testing site is opening Wednesday at Central Broward Park.
▪ Miami-Dade commissioners convened electronically for the first time Tuesday, holding a remote meeting that served as a legislative tour of scattered corners of the county’s coronavirus crisis.
▪ JohnMartin’s Irish Pub & Restaurant closed its doors with the rest of Miami’s restaurants over coronavirus concerns. And it will not reopen when the pandemic is over.
▪ Monroe County is furloughing up to 100 employees in the Florida Keys as a result of the economic crisis brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 9:16 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on April 8."
