Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on June 30
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.
Bay Harbor Islands closes town hall
7 p.m.: In Bay Harbor Islands, interim town manager Marlene Siegel closed town hall to the public “until further notice” Tuesday afternoon and told 22 town employees to self-isolate for 14 days and get tested after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The town also decided to shut down its summer camp program for 14 days “in an abundance of caution” amid countywide increases in coronavirus cases.
A town spokesman, Brian Andrews, declined to comment on the specific circumstances related to the employee who tested positive.
“Should you require services from Town Hall that require an in-person visit, we will not be able to accommodate you at this time,” the town told residents in an alert. “Please consider using our online portal or emailing the department you need for service.”
The police department headquarters, which occupy a separate building next to town hall, remain open.
Professional tennis returns to Miami with eight-player backyard tournament
6:30 p.m.: Unbeknownst to most South Florida tennis fans, five of the top 65-ranked men in the world are playing an eight-man tournament in Miami this week — one of the most competitive fields on American soil since COVID-19 shut down the sport in March.
The three-day Altec Styslinger Tennis Exhibition, being played without spectators at a private home, was dubbed the “ReOpen” by Tennis Channel Plus, which is broadcasting the event. It began Monday, and the final is Wednesday.
The field included No. 29 Hubert Hurcacz of Poland and Americans Reilly Opelka (No. 39), Sam Querrey (No. 45), Tennys Sandgren (No. 55), Steve Johnson (No. 63), Brandon Nakashima, 2016 NCAA champion Mackie McDonald and former University of Virginia star JC Aragone, who was the brainchild behind the event.
Read the full story here.
Reopening continues in the Caribbean. So does reversal of COVID-19 health protocols
4:45 p.m.: The island nation of Antigua and Barbuda was barely three weeks into its early June tourism reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic when 39 visitors tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival and American tourists started flouting the rules.
After health officials informed infected tourists they needed to be placed under a 14-day mandatory quarantine, the visitors threatened to sue and some immediately booked return flights back to the United States.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, relaying the story over the weekend as he discussed the challenges posed by the new tourism health protocol requiring everyone to be tested upon arrival for the novel coronavirus, said Antigua would be switching course — again.
Read the full story here.
Islamorada shutting down popular outdoor gathering spots for Fourth of July weekend
4 p.m.: Following the lead of Monroe County and the city of Key West, the Village of Islamorada will close its beaches, parks and boat ramps to the public over the Fourth of July weekend.
The shutdown includes the “Fills” area near Indian Key, which is a popular destination for Miami-Dade County residents who enjoy picnicking, barbecuing, swimming and boating there.
The village announced Tuesday that the entire area, from mile marker 77.5 to 79.8, will be off limits to parking, tents, chairs and other items starting Wednesday.
Read the full story here.
More than 6,000 new coronavirus cases in Florida as the death toll hits 3,500
1:30 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed 6,093 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total past 152,400. The state now has 152,434 confirmed cases.
There were also 58 new deaths announced, raising the statewide death toll to 3,505.
Tuesday’s single-day total is the fourth highest reported in the state since the pandemic began. The highest single-day total was reported on Saturday with 9,585 cases.
College football during a pandemic: Miami’s team doctor discusses the return so far
11:20 a.m.: It has been two weeks since the Miami Hurricanes formally welcomed 65 players back to campus for voluntary small-group workouts. The COVID-19 pandemic is still sweeping the country — and cases are particularly increasing in Florida — but Miami’s reintegration of players has apparently been smooth.
While athletic director Blake James said the university won’t reveal any testing information, no reports have surfaced suggesting the sort of outbreak which has disrupted workouts for other teams like the Clemson Tigers, LSU Tigers and Texas Longhorns.
Medical director Dr. Lee Kaplan, who is also the medical director for the Miami Marlins, said the first two weeks have gone mostly smoothly, “but that doesn’t make it easy.”
Florida’s coronavirus outbreak complicates Republican convention, Trump’s reelection bid
10:40 a.m.: When Vice President Mike Pence, the head of the White House coronavirus task force, returns to Florida Thursday, he’ll find a much different situation than when he last visited in late May.
Florida at the time was reopening restaurants and gyms. Politicians were paving the way for the Republican National Convention to relocate from Charlotte. And the state — a must-win this November for President Donald Trump — was hailed by Fox News anchors as a conservative success story.
But as Pence prepares to return to Florida to reassess the situation — his campaign stop in Sarasota was called off but he’s still planning a visit to meet with DeSantis, his office said Monday — the state’s coronavirus outbreak is escalating to new levels, complicating Trump’s reelection campaign and clouding the outlook for the convention.
What will school look like this fall in the Florida Keys? It could be 1 of 3 scenarios
10: 20 a.m.: When students in the Keys return to class in August, they’ll have to get used to a number of new rules aimed at limiting the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus.
Classes are scheduled to resume Thursday, Aug. 13, and one thing is certain: Teachers and students will be wearing face coverings almost everywhere they go on campus.
But, the Monroe County School District unveiled three scenarios Monday that each contain their own set of rules regarding learning in a COVID-19 environment.
Not wearing a mask can cost you $50 in South Beach under new COVID crackdown
9:40 a.m.: Not wearing a mask in South Beach may cost you $50 beginning on Tuesday.
Amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Miami-Dade County, the mayor of Miami Beach announced Monday the city would begin issuing fines to those who ignore rules requiring the use of facial coverings indoors and outside if social distance cannot be observed.
Miami to impose minimum 10-day shutdown for businesses violating COVID-19 regulations
9:20 a.m.: Businesses within Miami city limits will face mandatory multi-day closures for violating emergency measures meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Under a new emergency order expected to be issued Tuesday, businesses flouting rules that limit crowding and mandate the wearing of face masks could be shut down for 10 days for an initial violation, 15 days for a second offense and 30 days for a third.
Mayor Francis Suarez told the Miami Herald that the city will impose stiffer penalties on individual establishments instead of reinstituting citywide closures, a step administrators are not taking yet.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
9:20 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Tuesday begins.
▪ Miami-Dade coronavirus total surpasses 35,000. Florida reports 5,266 additional cases
▪ DeSantis vetoes $1 billion from state budget as COVID crisis hurts tax revenue
▪ Two players test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Orlando for MLS tournament
▪ Miami Seaquarium says it’s closing again because of Florida’s coronavirus increase
▪ Beaches in the Keys will close this week in advance of July 4 due to COVID-19 spread
▪ Jacksonville will require masks indoors. That likely includes the RNC convention
▪ Zoo Miami employees in quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 9:24 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on June 30."
