Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on September 5
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.
Another BSO employee dies from coronavirus, deputies say.
4:05 p.m.: The Broward Sheriff’s Office has lost another longtime employee to the novel coronavirus. After serving the community for nearly three decades, Pamela Ford has died from the virus, the sheriff’s office said.
Ford, 54, tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 12 and died on Friday, BSO said. She is survived by her husband and a host of family and friends.
“Sheriff Gregory Tony and the men and women of the Broward Sheriff’s Office are deeply saddened and grieving her loss,” BSO said in a statement.
Read the story here.
Annual celebration of Our Lady of Charity will be livestreamed
3:55 p.m.: The Archdiocese of Miami announced that the annual Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Charity will go on, but will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, from St. Michael the Archangel Church rather than held in person due to COVID-19.
“La Ermita de la Caridad” was proclaimed a national shrine 20 years ago by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski will celebrate the Mass and it can be seen on the Archdiocese of Miami website, www.miamiarch.org.
Keeping COVID from spreading among Miami’s homeless
3 p.m.: When the coronavirus pandemic hit, people were told to stay home and to practice personal hygiene. These guides were manageable for those with roofs over their heads, but for the almost 4,000 individuals who make up Miami-Dade’s homeless population, protecting themselves from COVID-19 suddenly became another daunting task.
To help stop the potential spread of COVID-19, the Homeless Trust implemented a robust testing program; strictly followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines of wearing masks, disinfecting surfaces and maintaining social distance; and sent out advocates to educate the population about personal hygiene.
The organization has administered more than 6,200 tests to homeless individuals, first responders and front-line personnel, according to a report in el Nuevo Herald.
Read the story here.
New COVID-19 cases are up and new deaths are down as Florida hits 643,867 cases
11:50 a.m.: The Florida Department of Health on Saturday added 3,656 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 61 resident deaths. The case number rose by 458 compared to Friday but there 39 fewer reported deaths across the state.
The number of non-resident deaths went down by one to 152.
Florida’s pandemic totals are 643,867 cases and 11,811 deaths.
Read the story here.
Florida is privatizing state-run COVID testing sites, starting with Broward County
9 a.m.: Less than two months after state-run COVID testing sites were overwhelmed with demand amid a surge in new infections, Florida officials are turning to a single private vendor to reduce operating costs for the sites, beginning with a Broward County site at the busiest intersection in Pembroke Pines.
The state will consolidate vendors for nurses, equipment and lab work at the testing site at C.B. Smith Park, according to Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz.
Read the story here.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
8:50 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Saturday begins.
▪ Florida adds 3,198 new COVID-19 cases and 100 deaths as numbers fall across the state.
▪ State says it’s preparing for 5 million doses of COVID vaccine. Who gets it and how?
This story was originally published September 5, 2020 at 9:15 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on September 5."
