Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on June 15
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.
Miami-Dade violated a federal coronavirus act. It owed a worker back pay, sick time.
6:30p.m.: A domestic violence assistance employee who was put on quarantine got $911 back pay and restored sick leave after Miami-Dade County was found in violation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
The Department of Labor on Monday announced the county’s violation as well as the restoration of time and money.
According to Labor, a doctor put the worker, stationed at the Coordinated Victims Assistance Center, on COVID-19-related quarantine for 14 days. The county gave the worker 40 hours of paid leave and had the worker use personal sick time to make up the difference.
Read the full story here.
Miami, Miami Beach mayors say no new restrictions yet, despite rising COVID-19 numbers
5:30 p.m.: The mayors of Miami and Miami Beach said Monday that they are concerned about the increasing totals and positive test rates of novel coronavirus cases in Miami-Dade County, but that they won’t yet roll back the reopening of their cities’ economies or order residents to stay at home.
“There are major concerns,” Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said at a press conference with Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber at Miami City Hall. “Now is not the time to let your guard down.”
Suarez said the Florida Department of Health told elected officials Monday that, over the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 in Miami-Dade County has jumped by 13 per day on average, while the percentage of positive tests has increased by 0.11% per day.
Read full story here.
Jamaica, Bahamas start to welcome back tourists, nationals.
3 p.m.: After 12 long weeks of closed borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamaica began welcoming back tourists — and hundreds of its nationals — Monday as the country reopened both of its international airports. Cruise ports remain closed for now.
“The feeling at the airport was so festive as the prospect of over 5,000 workers getting back to work became clear,” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told the Miami Herald just as an American Airlines flight with an all-Jamaican crew arrived at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport.
The reopening of Jamaica’s tourism industry coincided with a phased reopening of the Bahamas’, which on Monday started allowing international boaters and yachters to once again cruise its waters, and private charters to land. Bahamian citizens, legal residents, homeowners qualifying for economic permanent residency and their immediate family members were also allowed to return on commercial flights ahead of a July 1 official reopening for all international tourists.
Read the full story here.
South Florida reports more than 600 new coronavirus cases as state death toll nears 3,000
12:30 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Monday confirmed 1,758 additional cases of COVID-19, following a weekend of cases surpassing 4,000. The state now has 77,326 confirmed cases of the disease.
There were also seven new deaths announced Monday, raising the statewide death toll to 2,938.
Free food giveaways in Miami-Dade
9:15 a.m.: There are more than a dozen drive-thru food giveaways happening in Miami-Dade County Monday to help those in need during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Everyone is required to wear a mask or face covering (a fabric that covers your mouth and nose) and must stay in their car at all times. Make sure you have room in your trunk, that’s where the volunteers will be putting your meals to promote social-distancing.
Most sites are open until the early afternoon but there are a few that will remain open until 6 p.m. or 9 p.m., if supplies last.
Here are some of the places you can visit Monday:
▪ Carol City Park, 3201 NW 185th St. in Miami Gardens — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
▪ Christ Fellowship Palmetto Bay, 8900 SW 168th St. in Palmetto Bay, and Christ Fellowship West Kendall, 9353 SW 152nd Ave. in Southwest Miami-Dade — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
▪ El Futuro de America Community, 830 E. First Ave. in Hialeah — 9 a.m. to noon
▪ Hosana Community Foundation, 2171 NW 56th St. in Miami — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Children age 18 or younger must be in the vehicle. One meal per child.
▪ Gifted Love Family Empowerment, 701 S. Homestead Blvd. in Homestead — 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
▪ Islamic Center of Greater Miami, 4305 NW 183rd St. in Miami Gardens — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Open to families with children age 18 or younger. One prepared meal per child.
To see the full list, visit https://www.miamidade.gov/information/library/2020-06-14-food-distribution.pdf
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.
▪ Florida’s number of confirmed new COVID-19 cases exceeds 2,000 for second day in a row
▪ Baptist Health allows visitors again at outpatient locations with new guidelines
▪ In Miami-Dade, COVID hospitalizations fall while new cases surge. Here’s what we know
This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 9:05 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on June 15."
