WLRN staff continues to add to community resource lists, including this articleon where kids and families can get food while schools are closed, and this postabout whether and where to get tested for coronavirus.
The dedicated website for the Florida Department of Health, including information about symptoms and numbers of cases, can be found here.
The dedicated website from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be found here.
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QUICK UPDATES
Florida Reports 7,569 COVID-19 Cases Because Lab ‘Dumped’ Months-Old Tests, DeSantis Says
Updated Tuesday at 3:15 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.”
Read more at our news partner the Miami Herald.
— Howard Cohen, David J. Neal, Mary Ellen Klas/Miami Herald
Keys Boat Ramps, Parks To Be Open Over Labor Day Weekend — Except In Islamorada
Updated at 11:15 a.m.
Boat ramps and parks in the Florida Keys will be open to the public over the Labor Day holiday weekend — except in the village of Islamorada.
That includes the area along the Overseas Highway, known as The Fills, from mile marker 77.5 to 79.8. Parking areas are closed and no vehicles, picnicking, tents, chairs or other items are allowed in any village park or the Fills area.
Private marinas and boat ramps are open and visitors are encouraged to use them. Founders Park is open only to Islamorada residents and homeowners. The Plantation Yacht Harbor boat ramp is open to Islamorada residents, homeowners and people who are staying at a hotel or vacation rental in the village and can show a receipt or lease to prove it.
Facilities are scheduled to reopen to the public Sept. 8.
— Nancy Klingener/WLRN News
DeSantis Extends Moratorium On Evictions Until Oct. 1
Updated Tuesday at 8:26 a.m.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has again extended a moratorium against residential evictions and foreclosures.
He did so Monday night, just hours before a previous extension was to expire, potentially giving another reprieve to scores of financially struggling Floridians who've lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The extension means residents struggling with rents and mortgages cannot be forced out of their homes until the end of the month.
Hundreds of thousands of the state's residents lost their jobs, or had their hours severely reduced, when bars, restaurants and other businesses curtailed hours because of the outbreak.
More than 1 million Floridians are unemployed.
Copyright 2020 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7. To see more, visit WUSF.com.
— Associated Press
Schools And Movie Theaters Could Reopen In Palm Beach County As Phase 2 Moves Closer
Updated Tuesday at 5:44 a.m.
Palm Beach County soon could enter Phase 2 of its coronavirus recovery, a move that could lead movie theaters, bowling alleys and schools to reopen their doors.
County commissioners are scheduled to discuss the possibility Tuesday, a day after allowing tattoo shops, body piercing businesses and tanning salons to reopen.
The county’s school system reiterated Monday that it would offer in-person classes one week after Phase 2 begins, a giant step for more than 170,000 students and their families.
Read more from our news partner at the Sun Sentinel.
— By Wells Dusenbury / The Sun Sentinel
An Elderly Miami-Dade Jail Inmate Was Diagnosed With COVID-19. He Died At The Hospital
Updated Tuesday at 5:30 a.m.
An elderly Miami jail inmate who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 has died in the hospital, authorities confirmed Monday.
Lawyers had for months been trying to get 77-year-old Nelson Martinez out of jail because of his age and health. He’d spent the past two weeks in custody at Kendall Regional Medical Center.
He is at least the second Miami-Dade County inmate to die after being diagnosed with COVID-19. In May, an inmate named Charles Hobbs died of COVID-19 and other health complications.
Read more from our news partner at the Miami Herald.
— By David Ovalle/ The Miami Herald
