Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on November 3
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.
COVID-19 is spreading faster in our homes and more often than we thought, study says
2 p.m.: A study based on families in Tennessee and Wisconsin found that the coronavirus spreads much faster within households than previously thought — 51% of individuals living with an infected person contracted the virus themselves.
Similar research from the U.S., Europe and Asia have reported that number to be 30%, or less.
The preliminary research also revealed that cases can originate from both children and adults, with at least 75% of secondary infections occurring within five days of the first person in the home experiencing symptoms.
Read the full story here.
My child’s class is in quarantine for COVID-19. Can siblings go to school?
1 p.m.: Public schools in South Florida have confirmed more than 300 COVID-19 cases among employees and students since schools reopened several weeks ago for in-person learning. And at least 1,000 students in Miami-Dade are believed to be in quarantine, according to the district’s teacher union.
Within days of reopening, two Miami-Dade County public schools were forced to close for a day and pivot online after officials received reports of positive cases and ordered the buildings closed for a deep cleaning. Other schools that confirmed positive cases later on were allowed to stay open, raising questions about how school COVID-19 closures work.
Other questions that have left families and staff confused: How do officials decide if only a few people or an entire class needs to quarantine? How long are students and employees expected to stay home if they have no symptoms? And can the siblings of a student exposed to COVID-19 go to school or do they also need to stay home?
Click here to read what Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties public school districts say.
Will Trump fire Fauci? President gives a hint at Miami rally while hearing the chants
12:30 p.m..: To the chants of “Fire Fauci,” President Donald Trump suggested during his late-night rally Sunday in the Miami area that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, might be out of a job after the election.
Fauci has helped lead the country’s efforts through the COVID-19 pandemic as a member of the White House coronavirus task force and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Trump flirted with the idea of firing Fauci during the rally at Miami-Opa locka Executive airport, where thousands crowded well past Miami-Dade County’s midnight curfew in support of the president. Miami-Dade is one of Florida’s hardest hit counties and has had more than 187,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 3,669 deaths.
Read the full story here.
Do I need to wear a mask when I vote? How to cast your ballot safely amid COVID-19
9:30 a.m.: Election Day is finally here and officials from Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties say the stepped-up safety measures made for the primary election in August are also in place for the general election.
In addition to the presidential race between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, the general election includes key local races. Voters will decide congressional races, the Miami-Dade mayor, and the Broward sheriff and supervisor of elections. Municipalities across Miami-Dade, Broward and the Keys also have local elections for commission seats and charter changes. charter. Florida voters will also have to say on six constitutional amendments.
Early voting with COVID-19 safety precautions ran from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1 in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach and from Oct. 19 to Oct. 31. Those same COVID-19 rules will also be in place at the polls Tuesday.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
9:30 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 adds 4,651 coronavirus cases, and 45 deaths push resident toll closer to 17,000
▪ Americans again stockpile groceries as COVID-19 changes future of shopping, survey says
▪ Some states want to check safety of COVID-19 vaccine before giving it. Here’s why
This story was originally published November 3, 2020 at 9:56 AM.
