Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 5
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.
WHEN DID COVID-19 START SPREADING THROUGH FLORIDA?
6:20 p.m.: It was March 1 when Florida announced its first two cases of the novel coronavirus, a 29-year-old Hillsborough County woman who had traveled to Italy and a 63-year-old Manatee County man. But buried in data recently published by the Florida health department is an intriguing revelation: The spread of COVID-19 in Florida likely began in January, if not earlier.
State health officials have documented at least 170 COVID-19 patients reporting symptoms between Dec. 31, 2019, and February 29, according to a Miami Herald analysis of state health data. Of them, 40 percent had no apparent contact with someone else with the virus. The majority had not traveled.
At least 26 people who contracted COVID-19 started showing symptoms in late December or January — and at least eight of them both had not traveled and did not have contact with another person infected by the virus. The trend continued into February.
Read the full story here.
KEYS HIGHWAY CHECKPOINTS SEE A RISE IN VISITORS TRYING TO ENTER
4:25 p.m.: Deputies staffing the two coronavirus checkpoints into the Florida Keys saw an increase in the number of people trying to get through who were not authorized to enter the island chain.
The numbers increased as the Keys prepared to ease some of its restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19, including restaurants and retail stores allowed to open but at 25 percent of occupancy. That first wave of reopening took effect on Monday morning in Monroe County.
Read the full story here.
FLORIDA GROUPS CLAIM ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLL TAX’ IN MAIL BALLOT LAWSUIT
4:15 p.m.: Three organizations are suing Florida over vote-by-mail requirements they claim limit people’s right to vote during the coronavirus pandemic, amid ongoing efforts from left-leaning groups to change mail voting in the state.
Citing concerns of COVID-19 exposure during in-person voting, the groups — Priorities USA, Alianza for Progress and Florida Alliance for Retired Americans — filed suit Monday in federal court in Tallahassee, alleging in part that the postage required for a mail ballot in Florida amounts to “an unconstitutional poll tax,” and that a ban on voter assistance violates the Voting Rights Act.
Read the full story here.
CORONAVIRUS MYTHS VS. FACTS
3:15 p.m.: Prime Care Associates in Coral Gables, a team of doctors affiliated with PrimeHealth Physicians, sent out a list of coronavirus “myth busters” Tuesday.
“A lot of different information is circulating about COVID-19 and sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between fact and fiction,” the team said in an email.
Here are some of their “myth buster” answers to help you stay more informed about the facts of COVID-19.
FAIRCHILD TROPICAL GARDEN IS REOPENING WITH NEW RULES
2:45 p.m.: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is reopening after shutting down amid the pandemic, with new social-distancing strategies in place — and new rules about who’s allowed in. The 83-acre garden in Coral Gables reopens May 6, but this is not the same old Fairchild.
First of all, you can’t just walk up and buy a ticket like you did in olden times; you buy a ticket online. Visits are limited to two-hour blocks starting at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Only 100 visitors are allowed in at a time, and all visitors must wear a mask.
Seniors and others who identify as vulnerable can reserve spots during the special early hours from 7-9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Here’s more information on Fairchild’s reopening.
STUDENT SUES FLORIDA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AMID PANDEMIC
1:40 p.m.: A University of Florida graduate student is accusing the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s 12 public universities, of “unlawful” behavior, alleging the refusal to issue prorated refunds to students after campuses shut down mid-semester to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus is unfair.
Anthony Rojas filed a class-action lawsuit Monday in a Leon County Circuit Court in Tallahassee. He is representing all Florida residents who paid fees to enroll at a public university this spring, or at least 300,000 students, according to his lawyers’ calculations.
Rojas is demanding that state schools, including Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University in South Florida, partly reimburse students for charges like athletics, activities and services, transportation and other mandatory fees paid for the spring semester.
Read the full story here.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE SAYS THERE IS ‘SUBSTANTIAL DOUBT’ ABOUT FUTURE
12:20 p.m.: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said there is “substantial doubt” about the company’s ability to continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic and warned it may have to seek bankruptcy protection.
The world’s third largest cruise company, headquartered in Miami, said in a securities filing Tuesday it expects to report net losses for the quarter ending on March 31, 2020, and the year. The company owns three cruise lines: Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises.
“If we are not able to fulfill our liquidity needs through operating cash flows and/or borrowings under credit facilities or otherwise in the capital markets, our business and financial condition could be adversely affected and it may be necessary for us to reorganize our company in its entirety, including through bankruptcy proceedings, and our shareholders may lose their investment in our ordinary shares,” the filing said.
Read the full story here.
FLORIDA’S UPDATED CASE NUMBERS
12:10 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Tuesday morning confirmed 542 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total of confirmed cases to 37,439. There were also 72 new deaths announced, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,471.
Of the new deaths, 45 were in South Florida, pushing the region’s death count up to 830.
Read the full update on Florida’s case numbers here. The next update on Florida’s coronavirus numbers will come Wednesday morning.
INSTEAD OF RELEASING DETAINEES, ICE IS TRANSFERRING THEM
10:50 a.m.: A Miami federal judge has agreed to allow U.S. immigration officials to transfer detainees to other detention centers, rather than release them, in order to decrease the populations at three South Florida facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, at least 200 detainees have been taken from the Krome Processing Center in Miami-Dade, the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach and the Glades County detention center in Moore Haven and sent to the Baker County Detention Center in North Florida, the Folkston ICE Processing Center in Georgia, and Pine Prairie ICE Processing Centers in Louisiana, among others.
Read the full story here.
UBER DONATING FREE RIDES IN HIALEAH
10 a.m.: Uber has donated $50,000 in free rides for at-risk Hialeah residents, including seniors, seeking transportation within the City of Hialeah during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rides can be redeemed for a free trip to grocery stores, pharmacies, banks or work.
The free Uber rides begin Wednesday. Here’s more info ...
MIAMI-DADE LIBRARIES ADAPTING TO CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS
9:35 a.m.: After being shut down since March 17, the Miami-Dade library system is now offering pick-up services for patrons who reserve materials online or by calling one of the 50 branches. The library will notify the patron when materials are ready for pick-up outside the branch door. The service is available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
A library card is required to check out materials. Residents who don’t have one can apply online and start using it right away. For questions, call 305-375-2665.
LONGTIME BROWARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE 911 DISPATCHER DIES FROM CORONAVIRUS
9:20 a.m.: A 911 dispatcher who worked for the Broward Sheriff’s Office for more than 15 years died Monday after fighting the coronavirus for more than a month, the agency announced.
Nikima Thompson, 41, joined the department in 2003. Her last day on the job was March 26.
Read the full story here.
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 Tuesday begins.
▪ State coronavirus cases pass 36,800, and half of new deaths are in South Florida
▪ Gov. Ron DeSantis is reopening Florida ‘the conservative way’ after weeks of criticism
▪ South Beach park closes after 5 days. Is it a warning that reopening too fast may backfire?
▪ Florida Keys slowly getting back to business as restaurant dining rooms reopen
▪ Hialeah, Miami offering coronavirus financial relief grants. Applications opened Monday
▪ Within 1 hour, thousands applied for Miami’s financial relief. Two programs closed.
▪ Carnival announces comeback: Some cruises will resume Aug. 1 from Florida and Texas
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 9:05 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 5."
