Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 27
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.
ULTRA FANS FILE CLASS ACTION SUIT OVER NO-REFUND POLICY
6:45 p.m.: Ultra Music Festival faces a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of ticket holders who paid hundreds of dollars to attend the event but did not receive refunds after this year’s festival was effectively canceled as the COVID-19 pandemic began to disrupt life in South Florida.
The Miami city government’s agreement with the electronic dance music festival allowed organizers to stage the three-day event at Bayfront Park in March. When the fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus caused local governments to cancel large events and eventually shut down the local economy, Ultra was among the first events taken off the calendar.
Organizers and the city insisted the festival had not been canceled, simply “postponed” for a full year, and organizers refused to issue refunds. Most tickets cost several hundred dollars, depending on when they were purchased, with VIP tickets selling for $1,500.
Read the full story here.
THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN HAITI
4:40 p.m.: With COVID-19 infections spiking in Haiti, where fevers are quickly spreading inside the country’s overcrowded prisons, hundreds of inmates risk dying of the novel coronavirus, the government’s chief ombudsman says.
And so far, the government doesn’t seem inclined to do anything about it.
“They are turning a deaf ear,” said Renan Hédouville, director of the national Office for the Protection of Citizens.
Read the full story here.
CITY OF MIAMI STOPS BARS FROM REOPENING WEDNESDAY
2 p.m.: Customers won’t be bellying up to a bar just yet in the City of Miami.
The city manager signed an order that went into effect Wednesday at 5 a.m., drawing a clear distinction between restaurants and bars that may also have food service licenses from the state of Florida.
That means that bars and breweries within Miami city limits can’t open inside seating during this phase of reopening, while spots in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and other South Florida cities can.
Read the full story here.
FLORIDA’S UPDATED CASE NUMBERS
12:45 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health confirmed 379 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total of known cases to 52,634. Sixty new deaths were announced, raising the statewide toll to 2,319.
Wednesday’s daily total of newly confirmed cases is lower than Tuesday, which recorded 509 new cases. But the death toll is the highest the state has reported since May 8, when 69 deaths were announced.
Read the full update on Florida’s case numbers here. The next update on Florida’s coronavirus numbers will come Thursday morning.
FLORIDA THEME PARKS ANNOUNCE REOPENING PLANS
12:10 p.m.: Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have announced their plans to reopen during the summer — and have passed the first hurdle toward allowing guests in again.
On Wednesday, the Walt Disney Company and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment presented their reopening plans to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force, which is the first of three crucial steps before their parks can reopen.
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Disney proposed a phased opening schedule, beginning with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11, with cast and “soft opening” preview days. Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studio would then reopen on July 15.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is hoping to reopen SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and its water parks on June 11 to the public, with parks opening a day before on June 10 for employee appreciation night.
Read the full story here.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN SOME OF MIAMI-DADE’S FAVORITE BARS REOPEN
9:30 a.m.: Some bars and breweries will be allowed to reopen Wednesday, provided they served food before the pandemic as several South Florida cities reopen their restaurant scene. Those bars with food service licenses will be allowed to seat customers again, though they still must restrict capacity to no more than 50 percent and follow all CDC guidelines laid out in the restaurant reopening process.
Venues that are strictly bars and do not have a food service license cannot reopen yet, according to the county’s New Normal plan.
Last week, on May 18, Miami-Dade County allowed restaurants, retail stores and salons to reopen with restrictions. But several municipalities, including Miami, Miami Beach and Hialeah, banded together to delay opening retail until May 20 and restaurants until May 27.
But restaurants with a bar area must keep the bar closed during this phase of reopening. Counters will be closed for seating.
Read the full story here.
FOUR STORES CLOSED PERMANENTLY AT BRICKELL CITY CENTRE
9:25 a.m.: Four stores at Brickell City Centre — Adolfo Domínguez, Emporio Armani, Musart and Stuart Weitzman — have closed permanently, a Swire spokesperson confirmed. BCC attributed some of the closures to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have been prepared that some retailers may close or accelerate their closures as a result of COVID-19. It is an unfortunate result of this unprecedented pandemic,” said a Swire spokesperson by email.
Read the full story here.
CITY OF MIAMI FACING COVID-19 BUDGET CRUNCH
9:20 a.m.: Miami’s city government is proposing a nearly citywide hiring freeze, postponing asphalt repairs at the Miami Marine Stadium and trimming budgets across all municipal departments to address a projected $19 million shortfall amid the economic downturn in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Miami’s plan to fill about $17 million of the gap avoids the kinds of layoffs or furloughs facing public servants in other local governments. For now.
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 Wednesday begins.
▪ Florida coronavirus cases push past 52,000 as death toll rises to 2,259
▪ ‘It’s a great joy’ — Miami Catholic churches reopen after 2 months of coronavirus closure
▪ Coronavirus costs Florida $878 million in revenue in just one month
▪ After rainy weekend, sun shines for quiet beach reopening in Broward County
▪ You can work out, but not shower. Here’s how coronavirus changed going to the gym
▪ On-demand housekeeping and longer elevator rides. Life at Broward hotels amid COVID-19
▪ Florida Keys nursing home resident dies from COVID-19, Health Department confirms
▪ The NHL officially has a return plan. Here’s how the Panthers made new playoff format
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 8:59 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on May 27."
