Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 11
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.
FLORIDA’S NEXT BUDGET ON HOLD
6 p.m.: Florida’s next budget remains on hold pending another round of federal stimulus money, which could also dictate how state lawmakers readdress the spending plan amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday he has put off formally accepting and reviewing a $93.2 billion budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year that was approved by the Legislature in March and takes effect July 1.
Read the full story here.
KEYS BARBERS, SALONS REOPEN AFTER SHUTDOWN
5:40 p.m.: Rolando Liz reopened his BB’s Barber Shop in Key West to quite a buzz.
Customers filled the chairs on Monday afternoon while a couple of men had to wait outside.
“A lot of growth,” Liz said of his customers’ hair after seven weeks of the statewide salon shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Too much. They probably went without a haircut before that, too.”
Hair salons opened in most of the state Monday, except for Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which may see some reopenings as soon as next Monday. Florida nail salons were also given the go-ahead to reopen.
Read the full story here.
FLORIDA LAWSUIT FILED OVER SUSPENSION OF ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR CONCEALED WEAPONS
5:30 p.m.: Amid political fighting about the issue, a Northwest Florida resident has filed a lawsuit challenging a decision by state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried to suspend accepting online applications for concealed-weapons licenses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the full story here.
READY TO RETURN TO WALT DISNEY WORLD?
2:35 p.m.: Walt Disney World is now accepting reservations for July.
Tickets for the Central Florida theme park can be booked for as soon as July 1, according to Disney World’s website.
The coronavirus crisis forced the sprawling resort to close in mid-March. Although there’s been no announcement when the theme parks will reopen, the start of reservations could signal mid-summer.
Read the full story here.
TESTING IN MIAMI BEACH
1 p.m.: For those interested in COVID-19 testing in Miami Beach, here’s more info ...
POLLO TROPICAL GIVING AWAY FREE KID LUNCHES TO HELP DURING PANDEMIC
12:30 p.m.: Pollo Tropical is giving away free kids’ TropiChop lunch bowls to help South Florida families struggling to put food on the table during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Miami-based restaurant says it will be giving away a Kids Classic TropiChop Bowl and small bottle of water every Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon at select restaurants in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the freebie, you need to order through the restaurant’s drive-thru and have a child who is 12 or younger in the car with you.
Find out more details here.
FLORIDA’S UPDATED CASE NUMBERS
12:10 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health confirmed 386 additional cases of COVID-19 Monday morning, bringing the statewide total of known cases up to 40,982. There were also 14 new deaths announced, raising the statewide death toll to 1,735.
Read the full update on Florida’s case numbers here. The next update on Florida’s coronavirus numbers will come Tuesday morning.
WHAT’S THE 2020 OUTLOOK FOR MIAMI-DADE BUSINESSES AMID PANDEMIC?
10:50 a.m.: For Miami-Dade businesses, the year’s prospects are looking dim.
In a survey conducted by the Miami Herald, about half of the 352 respondents said they were “not at all optimistic” that the national or state economies would recover most of the ground lost to the pandemic by the end of 2020.
When it came to their own businesses, they were a bit cheerier. Almost 55 percent were somewhat or very optimist they would recover by the end of the year.
Read the full story here.
Join a free Miami Herald webinar exploring these findings and the Miami business future on May 20, 10 a.m. Panelists will include Felipe Basulto, chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and market president of TD Bank; Christina Crespi, executive director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority; Michael Finney, president & CEO of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council and Gordon Eric Knowles, president & CEO of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce. Miami Herald Business Editor Jane Wooldridge will moderate the discussion. Register at hrld.us/bizsentiment
HOW CORONAVIRUS HAS CHANGED A VISIT TO YOUR DOCTOR
9:45 a.m.: The days of sitting in a cramped waiting room for an hour or more to see your doctor are over. At least for now.
Eliminating waiting rooms, requiring patients and employees to wear masks and performing temperature checks are only a few of the new procedures at doctor offices and hospitals in South Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most physicians are also encouraging virtual appointments.
Read the full story here.
MIAMI BUSINESSES DEALING WITH PANDEMIC DISRUPTION
9:30 a.m.: In a new Miami Herald series, owners of a handful of local businesses discuss how they are coping with the impact of the coronavirus disruption. From a comic-book shop, a hotel, a bike shop and a yoga studio, it’s all covered.
▪ Coronavirus closed their dream Overtown hotel. Why they reopened it — as a restaurant
▪ Miami’s oldest comic-book shop faces its biggest foe. Can it beat the coronavirus?
▪ When you’ve had it with COVID-19 isolation, these camper vans are ready for vacation
▪ The pandemic closed a small Miami bike shop. Now a spike in bike sales may save it
▪ Miami yoga studio bets on power of community to keep business going online during pandemic
▪ No proms. No weddings. No high-flying execs — and no need for limos during a pandemic
▪ Home delivery replaced celebrity parties for this caterer during the pandemic — for now
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.
▪ South Florida again has most of Florida’s 595 new coronavirus cases and 6 deaths
▪ Elder care facilities want COVID-19 tests, so state issues order that says: let us in
▪ Miami woman arrested for refusing to leave beach in protest of Miami-Dade order
▪ Miami-Dade emergency order amendment makes it official: the Heat can resume practice
▪ Desperate cruise employees say they’re losing hope amid reports of overboard deaths
▪ South Florida lawsuit accuses China of coronavirus cover-up, fueling loss of lives and jobs
▪ Haiti coronavirus panel demands that ICE halt deportations until pandemic is controlled
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 9:11 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 11."
