Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on August 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.
More details, test percentages in the counties in the State’s report
1:50 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health reported on Thursday that the deaths of 117 Florida residents who tested positive for COVID-19 were reported in Bay, Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Miami-Dade, Escambia, Flagler, Gulf, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jackson, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, St. Lucie and Volusia counties.
Florida also reported Thursday was the eighth straight day below 10% positivity of new cases (6.78%) among the 77,100 people tested as of midnight Wednesday.
Miami-Dade tested 11,297 people and got a 9.65% positive rate (down from 9.73% but the 14-day average is still at 11.74%.) Broward tested 7,581 and got a 7.28% positive rate. Palm Beach tested 4,305 people and got a 5.23% rate and the Florida Keys tested 188 people and got a 4.26% rate.
Florida hits 10,000 coronavirus deaths of residents, with 117 new fatalities reported
11:40 a.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Thursday announced 117 COVID-related resident deaths, bringing the state’s resident death toll to 10,049.
There were also 4,555 additional cases of COVID-19 confirmed, bringing the state’s known total to 588,602.
Read the story here.
After rush of applicants, United Way closes pandemic fund for now
9:40 a.m.: Demand for a cash assistance program operated by United Way of Miami-Dade quickly hit capacity, prompting the nonprofit to temporarily close applications.
The Pandemic Assistance Program will distribute $20 million dollars in federal CARES Act funds to county residents impacted by COVID-19. Five days after the application opened on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 9,000 applications had already flooded in.
Read the story here.
A free Miami Book Fair goes virtual in COVID-19 pandemic
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8:50 a.m.: This year, the colorful tents won’t spring up overnight on the streets lining the college campus. Swarms of authors, readers and students won’t flock to downtown Miami for the busy street fair weekend, lining up for signings and loading up tote bags with books.
The Miami Book Fair is not coming to Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus this fall. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a book fair.
The COVID-19 pandemic has done what 9/11 and Hurricane Andrew couldn’t do: It forced the fair, which began in 1984, to cancel its annual weeklong book frenzy at the college for the first time in 37 years. But the show will go on virtually — and it will go on for free.
Read the story here.
Reach for the Stars Gala
Also going virtual this year, the 29th annual Reach for the Stars Gala, which raises funds to support Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables. The auction will open for bidding on Sept. 5 and will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 via Facebook Live and YouTube Live.
Florida and Miami-Dade change plans to host hurricane evacuees in hotel rooms
8:30 a.m.: Floridians facing an unprecedented storm season combined with a global pandemic may be more likely to evacuate to a hotel room than a friend’s house this year. But now, their options for getting the government to foot the bill are limited.
Florida’s plan to offer hotel rooms to anyone seeking an isolated place to evacuate from a hurricane has changed, according to guidance given to county emergency managers. Now the state plans to offer that option only to people who are COVID-19 positive, “knowingly” exposed to COVID, under quarantine orders, are older than 65 or have a pre-existing condition. Evacuees will get a hotel room and food covered for up to seven days via the Safer Florida app, which won’t be available for download until a storm is coming.
Read the story here.
Nearly 600 Miami-Dade County Public Schools employees have tested positive
8:20 a.m.: Almost 600 Miami-Dade County Public Schools employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus from March through July.
Spokeswoman Natalia Zea confirmed Wednesday that the district’s risk management department, tracking claims made to health insurance, reported 578 cases since the district began collecting that data.
She did not break down that figure on which of the district’s 40,000 employees, the largest employer in the county, contracted the virus.
That figure is a significant jump from July.
Read the 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 Thursday begins.
▪ South Florida hospitals, facing financial gap, restart surgeries as COVID cases drop.
▪ You can make more than $3,000 at a new COVID-19 testing site in Wynwood.
▪ Cuba is about to start testing its own COVID-19 vaccine, authorities say.
▪ State advances plan to allow restricted visits at nursing homes.
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 9:03 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on August 20."
