Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 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.
Florida knew a COVID-19 pandemic was likely. State leaders didn’t warn the public
5 p.m.: Officials at the Florida Department of Health prepared for a novel coronavirus outbreak in February, got positive test results, but did not disclose information to the public, new records obtained by the Miami Herald show. Emergency actions included stockpiling masks.
Read the full story here.
As COVID-19 cases and deaths rise, FL prisons boss says ‘major facilities’ dodged spread
4:30 p.m.: As cases of COVID-19, the highly contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus, started to spread in Florida the first week of March, the state’s Department of Corrections announced its commitment to handling any potential cases in keeping with federal guidelines.
The Department of Corrections has said in statements that it has ramped up health services, reviews of medical equipment, routine temperature checks and medical isolation measures for inmates with symptoms.
Visitation remains suspended through June to prevent carriers from bringing the disease in.
In a statement to the Miami Herald, Secretary Mark Inch calls the response to disease spread in prison a win.
Read the full story here.
You can get a manicure again, Miami. Here’s what it’s like at the nail salon
3:30 p.m.: Manicures and pedicures are happening again in Miami-Dade County, as of Wednesday. The salons are part of the Phase 1 reopening plan that also includes barber shops, hair salons and retail stores.
Here’s how it went at one salon in the Edgewater area of Miami.
Will reopening reignite pandemic? Tests of poop at Miami-Dade sewage plants may be first clue
2:20 p.m.: The biggest fear for Miami-Dade County and every other Florida community now easing into reopening parks, shops and restaurants is doing too much too soon and triggering a dreaded “second wave” of COVID-19 infections.
The first warning of that might not come from rising 911 calls or hospital visits but from a surprising place — human poop piped to county sewage plants.
Read the full story here.
A state by state breakdown: Cost of testing every nursing home resident and staff
Noon: The American Health Care Association and National Center of Assisted Living released the results of a survey conducted to see how much it would cost to test every nursing home resident in the U.S. for the novel coronavirus. Staff members also included.
The estimated cost to give everyone just one test? $440 million, according to the American Health Care Association. This does not include the cost to test residents and staff at assisted living and other long term care facilities, American Health Care Association said.
Florida is the fourth most costly. The five most expensive states:
▪ California at $36.4 million for its 1,193 facilities that house 103,480 residents and a staff of 139,060.
▪ New York at $34 million for its 619 facilities that house 104,383 residents and a staff of 121,990.
▪ Texas at $29 million for its 1,219 facilities that house 93,561 residents and a staff of 99,780
▪ Florida at $25.3 million for its 701 facilities that house 73,312 residents and a staff of 95,390.
▪ Ohio at $25 million for its 957 facilities that house 72,115 residents and a staff of 94,220.
▪ Illinois at $21.4 million for its 722 facilities that house 66,081 residents and a staff of 76,860.
“For months now, we have been advocating for expanded and priority testing in nursing homes to protect our residents and caregivers, but this is a significant undertaking and cost for nursing homes to shoulder on their own. That’s why we have asked the Department of Health and Human Services to grant our request for a $10 billion emergency relief to help fund expedited testing and the additional staffing needed to respond to this unprecedented health crisis,” Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of American Health Care Association and National Center of Assisted Living, said in a statement.
State coronavirus cases push past 47,400, and half belong to South Florida
11:40 a.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Wednesday morning confirmed 527 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total of confirmed cases to 47,471. There were also 44 new deaths announced, raising the statewide toll to 2,096.
Miami-Dade continues to have the most new cases and the highest death toll in the state.
Read the full story here.
Can South Florida’s climate change adaptation programs survive coronavirus costs?
11:30 a.m.: South Florida cities were already struggling to cover the high costs of adapting to climate change, even before the coronavirus.
Now, shutdowns and spiraling expenses associated with the global pandemic are wreaking havoc on government budgets.
Read the full story here.
Front-line workers at 34 South Florida hospitals will be honored in military flyover
10:15 a.m.: If you missed the Navy’s Blue Angels zipping by in a salute to front-line workers earlier this month, you have another chance to see a “Salute Flight” — and engage in another Facebook fight with some of the people who gripe about why the military spends the money on these honors rather than handing it out to the poor. (Hint: it’s budgeted and budgeted monies can’t be reallocated).
In honor of Memorial Day, four U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft will soar over 34 South Florida hospitals from the Keys to Palm Beach County. Additionally, a United States Coast Guard MH65 helicopter and a United States Coast Guard C-144 aircraft, will have a different flight path and fly over 16 South Florida hospitals.
Read the full story here.
Miramar opens new COVID-19 testing facility
9 a.m.: The City of Miramar in Broward County opened a new walk-up testing site Wednesday morning to test symptomatic and asymptomatic people. First responders and city officials will be the first to be tested.
The COVID-19 testing site is at the Vernon E. Hargray Youth Enrichment Center, 7000 Miramar Pkwy. The hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily and the venue can conduct 200 tests per day. Officials tout a 48 to 72-hour turnaround time.
There is no charge. State approved IDs with current address required. Minors under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian and will need to present their birth certificate or proper documentation of guardianship.
Coronavirus relief ‘fully allocated’ as hundreds of Miami Beach renters overwhelm city
8:30 a.m.: In announcing the creation of a rental assistance program, Miami Beach instructed residents to begin calling on May 11 to make an appointment. But after receiving calls May 14, a day after the City Commission vote, city staff began taking appointments immediately.
By Monday afternoon, when the city had originally scheduled to begin taking appointments, the city said it had already booked appointments through June 12 and would stop taking calls.
The announcement came on Twitter.
Read the full story here.
Catch up to start the day
8:15 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Tuesday begins.
▪ Coronavirus cases skyrocket at ICE detention center in Broward after transfer from Miami
▪ As COVID-19 rages on, this Miami-Dade city continues to fight for its financial life
▪ As COVID-19 cases rise in Haiti, president looks into Madagascar’s purported miracle cure
This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 8:43 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 20."
