Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on April 20
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.
MONDAY NIGHT UPDATE
7:30 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Monday evening confirmed 398 additional cases of COVID-19 since the morning, bringing the state total of known cases to 27,058, as the state announced 34 new deaths, spiking the overall death toll to 823.
Here’s the state’s complete Monday night update.
MIAMI-DADE’S PLAN
6:15 p.m.: Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez held a a virtual town hall meeting Monday on Facebook and Twitter. The objective of the meeting was to receive community input on the reopening plan, specifically on the subject of reopening parks and waterways.
While it’s still unclear when Miami-Dade parks and waterways will reopen, here’s the first look at the plan ...
ANOTHER ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE SHIP CREW MEMBER PASSES AWAY
4:10 p.m.: Another Royal Caribbean crew member from the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship died Monday, according to a recording from the ship’s captain obtained by the Miami Herald.
“Our dear fellow team member, waiter Iputu Sugiartha, passed away this morning,” the ship’s captain said over the loudspeaker Monday morning. “You should all know that he was well cared for at the hospital and by our medical team and that his family was contacted and offered support.”
Read the full story here.
WHEN WILL THE KEYS REOPEN FOR TOURISTS?
3:45 p.m.: Monroe County leaders said Monday that the Florida Keys will not reopen to tourists until neighboring counties to the north, including Miami-Dade, significantly ease their restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The concern is that if Monroe is the first county to open businesses, beaches, parks and marinas — and lift the two checkpoints heading into the county — the island chain would be overwhelmed with visitors.
Read the full story here.
FLORIDA RELEASES UNEMPLOYMENT DATA
2:30 p.m.: Just 40,193 Floridians who have filed for unemployment since March 15 have received their benefits, according to a new website the state launched Monday.
That’s less than 3 percent of the more than 1.5 million claims filed since mid-March when the state saw a record surge in people thrown out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read the full story here.
DEREK JETER FORGOES MARLINS CEO SALARY AMID CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN
1:50 p.m.: With the coronavirus pandemic keeping Major League Baseball in a holding pattern, Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter told his baseball operations staff on Monday they will receive full pay through at least May 31 while he forgoes his salary for the foreseeable future.
Members of the Marlins’ executive team are also facing paycuts. The organization is still evaluating if other financial measures will need to be taken on the business side with no revenue streams coming in as the pandemic continues.
Read the full story here.
MIAMI NIGHT LIFE ALIVE AND WELL THIS PAST WEEKEND
1:05 p.m.: Despite being locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic, Miami nightlife was alive and well over the weekend. EDM superstars David Guetta and Cedric Gervais both held separate outdoor concerts downtown to help the community.
Read the full story here.
FHSAA CANCELS SPRING SPORTS SEASON
12:55 p.m.: The Florida High School Athletic Association on Monday announced that the spring sports season, including the state series for those sports, has officially been canceled as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
The cancellations of championships is a first for the FHSAA, which had held state playoffs continually each year since 1922.
Sports impacted by this include baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, lacrosse, water polo, boys’ volleyball, flag football, and boys’ weightlifting. Spring football was also set to begin on April 27.
Read the full story here.
SOUTH FLORIDA POLICE CHIEFS RECOVERING AFTER POSITIVE TESTS FOR CORONAVIRUS
12:30 p.m.: When Miami’s police chief announced Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19, it marked at least the second chief in Miami-Dade County to admit publicly to have contracted the virus.
Pinecrest Police Chief Samuel Ceballos Jr., tested positive for the quickly-spreading virus on April 6 after acquiring a minor cough. A second test for the virus last week turned out negative. Pinecrest Village Manager Yocelyn Galiano Gomez said Monday that Ceballos would need one more negative test before returning to work.
On Friday, Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said he tested positive for the deadly contagion. Over the weekend, the chief was said to be at home resting comfortably with “mild symptoms.”
Read the full story here.
FLORIDA’S UPDATED CASE NUMBERS
11:40 a.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Monday morning confirmed 526 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total of known cases to 26,660 as the statewide death toll nears 800. The state announced 15 new deaths, bringing the toll up to 789.
Miami-Dade County (9,460 confirmed COVID-19 cases) and Broward County (4,038 confirmed COVID-19 cases) combine to make up 50.6 percent of Florida’s confirmed case total.
Read the full update on Florida’s case numbers here. The state’s numbers will be updated again Monday evening.
DEPORTATION FLIGHTS CONTINUE FROM MIAMI
11:05 a.m.: As the number of immigration deportees with COVID-19 continues to climb in U.S. detention, countries around the world have urged the Trump administration to halt deportations during the global pandemic.
Despite the nations’ requests, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has continued to book deportation flights without testing for the illness those that get onboard. The latest flights took off from Miami International airport early Sunday.
Read the full story here.
HOW SOME ARE SPENDING A SOCIALLY DISTANCED 420 DAY
9:45 a.m.: Every year on April 20, marijuana lovers across the country come together in an unofficial celebration of a drug that is still federally illegal but hailed as medicine and recreation in 33 states across the U.S.
But amid a statewide stay-at-home order to stop the spread of COVID-19, the highly contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus, this 4/20 is different for medical marijuana patients in Florida.
In response to a Facebook post by a Miami Herald reporter, several patients say they are celebrating at a distance with their neighbors, over video chat with friends or simply taking the time to meditate on the ups and downs of marijuana policy in Florida over the past year. Others said they plan to get creative in the kitchen, making marijuana-infused butters, desserts and even hot wings.
Read the full story here.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
9:15 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Monday begins.
▪ Florida confirmed novel coronavirus cases surpass 26,000, state death toll reaches 774
▪ Miami-Dade beaches won’t be reopening soon. Next up: return to parks, golf and boats
▪ South Florida nonprofits are ramping up aid amid the pandemic, but it’s costing them
▪ Officer attacked at Florida prison where two dozen prisoners have coronavirus
▪ Citing hellish conditions, COVID-19 cases, Florida suspends 2 nursing home administrators
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 9:17 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on April 20."
