Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on September 1
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 reports 7,569 COVID-19 cases because lab ‘dumped’ months-old tests, DeSantis says
3 p.m.: The Florida Department of Health on Monday reported 7,569 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 because, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said, Quest Diagnostics suddenly unloaded 80,000 test results, some of which were as old as April.
After what DeSantis called a “dump” of test results, the state of Florida dumped Quest Diagnostics.
“To drop this much unusable and stale data is irresponsible and Quest has abdicated their ability to perform a testing function in Florida,” the Florida Department of Health said on its Twitter feed. DeSantis “is ordering all Florida executive agencies to sever their COVID-19 testing relationships with Quest effective immediately.”
“This Is the most egregious dump we have,’‘ DeSantis said Tuesday at a media event in Jacksonville.
Read the story here.
White House adviser joins DeSantis to tout COVID strategy
8:50 a.m.: Gov. Ron DeSantis brought the White House’s new coronavirus adviser, Scott Atlas, to Tallahassee on Monday to embrace a controversial testing policy that suggests people with no symptoms should be discouraged from testing because it leads to shutdowns, a position opposed by other members of the president’s task force.
“The CDC is not saying you cannot get a test. They’re just saying there’s a rationale for getting a test, and if you are concerned, you can contact your doctor or your local health official,’’ said Atlas, an adviser to the White House Coronavirus Task Force, at the media event held at the state Capitol. “But there must be a prioritization because we need to use the testing — not to lock down society — you need to have the testing result in something very positive and that is decreasing deaths.”
Read the story here.
Worried about being evicted? DeSantis extends evictions, foreclosures order
8:45 a.m.: If you have been struggling to pay rent or a mortgage because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis is giving you a little more time.
Only hours before an executive order suspending COVID-related evictions and mortgage foreclosures was set to expire, DeSantis for the fifth time extended the order. It will now expire at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1 instead of 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1.
Read the story here.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
8:20 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Tuesday begins.
▪ Florida reports the fewest new COVID-19 cases since June and 68 more deaths.
▪ An elderly Miami-Dade jail inmate was diagnosed with COVID-19. He died at the hospital.
▪ Miami demolishes a Liberty City man’s home, putting him on the street during a pandemic.
This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 9:17 AM.
