Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on April 24
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.
Miami Beach business openings on the horizon?
6:10 p.m.: Gyms, salons and retail stores could reopen in Miami Beach by mid-May if reported cases of coronavirus decrease and robust surveillance testing and contact tracing become available in Miami-Dade County.
The city presented a draft proposal to reopen the economy during a meeting of the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee on Friday. City Manager Jimmy Morales said the May timeline was optimistic and public health opinions would guide policy decisions.
“My sense is we can be in a Phase One as early as the first or second week of May if those numbers hold up,” Morales said.
Read the full story here.
How COVID-19 could complicate hurricane season prep
5:40 p.m.: To avoid the spread of COVID-19, Florida’s officials might not open up mass shelters or schools for people seeking cover during a hurricane.
Instead, the state might use hotels, paid for with federal funds, and deploy ride-sharing services to shuttle people out of harm’s way, Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz told members of a task force to reopen Florida.
Read the full story here.
Pharmacists will be able to order and give COVID-19 tests
5:35 p.m.: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced that licensed pharmacists in Florida will be able to order and administer tests for COVID-19, the highly contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
He said the rules have not yet been worked out, but that he would hope anyone could get tested at a participating pharmacy.
Read the full story here.
Food distribution in Little Havana on Saturday
5:25 p.m.: Commissioner Joe Carollo and non-profit Adopt-A-Box Florida will hold a food distribution at Little Havana’s Jose Marti Park on Saturday starting at 7 a.m. A total of 800 20-pound boxes of fruits and vegetables will be available.
“There is no doubt that our Little Havana community has suffered greatly during this trying time,” Carollo said in a press release. “Many residents have lost their jobs and are finding it difficult to provide a proper meal for their families, especially when it comes to fresh produce. Thanks to Adopt-A-Box Florida, some of our neediest families will be able to receive a box locally-grown fruits and vegetables.”
20 new South Florida Publix stores confirm coronavirus cases
5 p.m.: As Florida surpasses 30,000 novel coronavirus cases and 1,000 deaths, Publix has confirmed to the Miami Herald 20 new stores have had confirmed cases. Other major grocery retailers haven’t been transparent on how the virus is affecting their workers.
The 20 new stores are located throughout South Florida.From West Palm Beach to Hollywood to Brickell to Coral Springs, since the coronavirus pandemic began the Herald has confirmed 30 Publix stores in South Florida have had positive cases.
Read the full story here.
In case you missed it
3:30 p.m.: Here are some of our latest headlines from the day.
▪ Now you absolutely can’t reach Florida’s unemployment website. It’s down until Monday
▪ Lifeguards will save you when beaches reopen, and it will involve a mask but not a mouth
▪ South Florida school districts hustled to teach students online. They’re logging on
▪ ICE plans to increase COVID-19 testing as Haiti commission calls for pause in deportations
UM survey: Miami-Dade has tens of thousands of missed coronavirus infections
2:30 p.m.: About 6 percent of Miami-Dade’s population — some 165,000 residents — have antibodies indicating a past infection by the novel coronavirus, dwarfing the state health department’s tally of about 10,600 cases, according to preliminary study results announced by University of Miami researchers Friday.
The study, spurred by Miami-Dade County officials, will be an ongoing weekly survey based on antibody testing — randomly selecting county residents to volunteer pinpricks of their blood to be screened for signs of a past COVID-19 infection, whether they had tested positive for the virus in the past or not. The goal is to measure the extent of infection in the community.
Read the full story here.
Miami’s city government might help with rent
1:30 p.m.: Miami’s city government could provide up to $1,500 to residents who have lost their jobs and need help paying their rent and utility bills.
On Friday, Mayor Francis Suarez announced a new proposal to use $2.2 million in federal grants to provide rent and utility subsidies for tenants who have lost work since the spread of the novel coronavirus caused the COVID-19 pandemic, a public health emergency that has shuttered much economic activity nationwide and led to massive job losses.
Read the full story here.
Two Zoo Miami tigers tested for coronavirus
12:10 p.m.: Runny noses and lack of appetite prompted Zoo Miami veterinarians to test two Sumatran tigers for the novel coronavirus this week.
On Friday, the zoo announced that both tigers tested negative. Workers will continue to monitor the tigers and retest if necessary.
The other big cats in the zoo will likely be tested as well, said Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill.
Read the full story here.
Florida has more than 30,000 confirmed cases, 1,000-plus deaths
11:20 a.m.: The Florida Department of Health confirmed 526 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total of confirmed cases to 30,174. The statewide death toll has jumped past 1,000, with 25 new deaths announced. The toll is now 1,012.
Thirteen of the new deaths were in South Florida.
Read the full story here.
Keys staying closed to tourists
10:25 a.m.: The Florida Keys will remain closed to tourists through May and maybe even into June due to the threat of COVID-19, Monroe County leaders said Friday.
“Not allowing visitors back to the Florida Keys will still be in place throughout May and potentially longer given the state of the virus,” county spokeswoman Kristen Livengood said in a statement.
Hotels, restaurants, bars and nonessential businesses have been closed for weeks, even as Monroe has avoided becoming a hot spot for the novel coranavirus.
Read the full story here.
Data: Coronavirus resurgence could occur if Florida re-opens before mid-June
9:15 a.m.: State officials could jeopardize their constituents’ safety if they relaxed social distancing before June 14, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington reported Wednesday.
Even then, the target date is only viable with certain “containment strategies that include testing, contact tracing, isolation, and limiting gathering size” in place.
Read the full story here.
Celebrating Ramadan during COVID-19
9:10 a.m.: As mosques began to close amid the coronavirus pandemic, millions of Muslims across the globe soon realized that celebrating Ramadan, the monthlong holiday that commemorates Allah revealing the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, would take a different tone.
Although Florida’s statewide suspension of nonessential businesses does not include religious services, most in South Florida’s Muslim community have pivoted to online prayers. But the month of Ramadan represents a different kind of loss for Muslims, who usually gather in the hundreds, celebrating in mosques every night during the holiday to break fast and pray.
Read the full story here.
Food distribution coming to Marlins Park
9 a.m.: Beginning on Wednesday, Marlins Park will host a weekly drive-thru only food distribution in partnership with Farm Share.
The food distributions will take place every Wednesday, beginning at 1 p.m., through the month of May on the east side of the ballpark at the Humana Lot of Marlins Park. Recipients must enter the lot by heading east on Northwest 7th Street and then south on Northwest 14th Avenue.
The Miami Marlins Foundation is partnering with Performance Kitchen to provide support to families from Allapattah, Liberty City, Little Havana and Overtown. Through the Home Plate Meals Relief Fund, 1,700 meal coupons will be distributed to local children, seniors, and impacted working families that will be redeemable at local retailers where Performance Kitchen is sold.
Catch up to start the day
8:45 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Friday begins.
▪ 2 nursing homes become COVID-19 death traps. Why are they more dangerous than ALFs?
▪ Florida confirmed more than 1,000 more cases on Thursday, bringing the state total of reported cases to almost 30,000.
▪ Vicious dogs, angry people and coronavirus. Animal rescue work in Florida harder than ever.
▪ Healthcare groups ask Florida governor for legal immunity during COVID-19 pandemic
▪ Approved for $2M federal loan, Fisher Island now asking residents whether to accept it
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 9:17 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on April 24."
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