Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 1
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.
Connecting through art
6 p.m.: Miami city commissioner Ken Russell on Friday announced he is teaming up with the HEARTs Passion Project to help kids connect with senior citizens who may be lonely as social distancing practices continue.
Here’s how it works, according to the HEARTs Passion Project website: You select name from the site’s “Senior Center Connection Sheet” and address the artwork to that individual. When submitting, only put your first name and your senior’s name in the message boxes on the Upload Art page.
Alternatively, you can just upload a piece of art, and the project will connect your artwork to someone.
Full details can be found here.
State reveals flurry of deaths at individual nursing homes and assisted living facilities
5:45 p.m.: Florida health administrators Friday released detailed information about coronavirus fatalities at long-term care facilities in the state after more than a month of refusing to discuss the deaths.
The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis disclosed the fatality numbers after several news organizations, including the Miami Herald, filed suit under the state’s public records law to force the data’s release — and in the wake of withering pressure from elder advocates and the families of long-term care residents who have been isolated in nursing homes and assisted living facilities for a month.
Problems immediately emerged with what was released. For instance, more than a month ago, administrators at the 180-bed Atria Willow Wood ALF in Fort Lauderdale confirmed that at least six residents had died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The chart released Friday includes only three resident deaths.
Read the full story here.
Nova Southeastern plans to reopen campus this fall
5:05 p.m.: Nova Southeastern University is one of the first Florida colleges and universities to release plans on reopening its campus for the fall 2020 semester.
On May 1, NSU President Dr. George Hanbury announced that the university residence halls will be reopened and in-person classes will resume for the fall 2020 semester under its regular schedule.
Read the full story here.
Miami COVID-19 patients treated with stem cell therapy
4:45 p.m.: A team of South Florida doctors have successfully treated three critically ill COVID-19 patients with an experimental stem cell treatment for the first time, signaling a potential path to recovery for patients experiencing acute respiratory failure.
The doctors at Baptist Health South Florida, who stressed the novel treatment has not gone through a clinical trial, say the intravenous treatment is a “game-changer” and could pave the way for an effective treatment for patients in intensive care.
Read the full story here.
Should businesses be shielded from COVID-19 lawsuits?
4:25 p.m.: When some Florida’s businesses start to reopen Monday, questions about worker and customer safety are likely to be among their most pressing concerns.
Florida lawmakers want to make it easier on them — by protecting them from lawsuits by customers and employees who get infected with COVID-19 on their premises.
Businesses in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties that were deemed non-essential remain closed or limited in their operations. They will be observers Monday as the rest of the state takes the first step toward normal operations.
Read the full story here.
Keys assisted living center employee tests positive for COVID-19
3:05 p.m.: An employee at a Florida Keys assisted living facility has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Details about the case have not been released, and officials at the Crystal Health and Rehab Center on Plantation Key were not immediately available for comment.
The state Department of Health in Monroe County confirmed the case Friday afternoon, but did not release additional information.
Read the full story here.
Afternoon headline roundup
2 p.m.: Miss some of our stories today? Here are the latest
▪ Congress to investigate Carnival Corporation’s handling of COVID-19 on its cruise ships
▪ More than $775 million disbursed around the globe to fight the coronavirus, USAID says
▪ 3M files three more lawsuits in Florida alleging fraud over essential N95 masks
Everglades National Park to start reopening
11:50 a.m.: Everglades National Park is gradually reopening to the public starting on Monday, granting access to its main road from the Homestead entrance to Flamingo, as well as to the Flamingo marina and boat ramps, and all beach campsites in the wilderness. The park is waiving entrance fees.
All visitor centers and buildings will remain closed except for the Flamingo marina store, restrooms, and gas pumps, the National Park Service said in a statement on Friday. Park locations such as Shark Valley and Gulf Coast will remain closed, as will the Royal Palm area, which includes the Anhinga Trail, a popular stop for visitors. Concession tours and boat rentals are also still closed.
Read the full story here.
Florida case number updates
11:40 a.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Friday morning confirmed 1,038 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total of confirmed cases closer to 35,000. The state has a total of 34,728 confirmed cases.
Friday’s daily total of newly confirmed cases is the highest reported in the past two weeks, breaking a weeklong trend of daily totals fewer than 1,000.
There were also 46 new deaths announced, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,314. Of those deaths, 25 were in South Florida.
Read the full story here.
The rules for Broward’s parks, golf courses and marinas
11 a.m.: Parks, marinas and golf courses across South Florida have re-opened just in time for Mother’s Day — and there are lot of new rules to remember.
You’ll also want to check with your city before leaving the house because not every park or recreational area will be open. Several cities in Broward, including Hollywood and Pembroke Pines, are keeping their parks closed for now.
If you’re thinking of visiting the park, taking your boat out for the day or playing a round of golf at your local course, here are the new rules you need to know about in Broward County.
Read the full story here.
Fewer than 2% of Florida residents tested
9 a.m.: As major swaths of the state reopen for business Monday, about 1.8% of Florida’s population has been tested for COVID-19, according to a Miami Herald analysis, with percentages much lower in rural areas, including counties where nursing homes and prisons have become hot spots for the virus’ silent spread.
Read the full story here.
Prison operator with worst COVID-19 safety record has political roots
8:50 a.m.: As Florida’s prison system fights to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, two facilities stand out for the wrong reasons: Blackwater River in the far reaches of the Panhandle, where six inmates have died of the disease, and South Bay Correctional Facility in Palm Beach County, where 36 staff members — more than any other compound — became infected.
The two are among seven state prisons run by private contractors. Both Blackwater and South Bay are operated by Boca Raton-based GEO Group. GEO runs three other prisons in the state while CoreCivic and Management & Training Corporation (MTC) run one each.
Read the full story here.
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.
▪ Florida extends food stamp benefits for families as it deals with application backlog
▪ Slow-to-test prison system shows new growth in COVID-19 testing, increased death toll
▪ Federal judge orders ICE to release detainees from South Florida detention centers
▪ Vietnam veteran possibly first Florida Native American to die of COVID-19, Seminoles say
▪ Citing coronavirus challenges, Jean Monestime leaves 2020 race for Miami-Dade mayor
▪ Hall of Famer Andre Dawson on baseball — and owning a funeral home — in age of COVID-19
▪ The Keys can reopen a little starting Monday. But without tourists, is it worth it?
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 1."
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