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Coronavirus Live Updates: Statewide Cases Increase By More Than 7,900, Resident Deaths Increase By Nearly 100

Ted S. Warren
/
AP

This post will be updated today, Tuesday, Dec. 8, and through the week with the latest information on COVID-19 in South Florida.

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.

To receive WLRN's coronavirus updates newsletter on Wednesdays and Saturdays, sign up here.

QUICK UPDATES

Statewide Cases Increase By More Than 7,900, Resident Deaths Increase By Nearly 100

Updated Tuesday at 3:50 p.m.

Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 7,985 positive cases of COVID-19 Tuesday. Florida has a total of
1,073,770 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.

Tuesday's update also included the announcement of 96 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 19,378. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 19,627.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 7,376 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 28 deaths due to COVID-19.

— WLRN News

Palm Beach County Should Brace For ‘Inevitable’ COVID-19 Surge, Health Chief Warns

Updated Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

As the holiday season approaches, it is “inevitable” that Palm Beach County will see a surge in COVID-19 cases, the county’s health department director said Tuesday.

The county already has seen an increase in cases over the past few weeks and that’s likely to continue given that the county has three “whammos” all happening at the same time, Dr. Alina Alonso said at her briefing at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting. Between the current spike, the second wave of cases and the holiday season, Alonso said now is not the time for people to be complacent with their precautions. Additionally, she cited seasonal tourism as another potential issue.

“These people are going to be coming from high areas where the virus is very rapid,” Alonso said. “So we expect to have those people coming here and testing positive and spreading it.

Read more at our news partner the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

— Wells Dusenbury / Sun Sentinel

Still Struggling? Just One Week Left To Apply For Millions In Miami-Dade COVID Funds

Updated Tuesday at 9:02 a.m.

With weeks to go before nearly half a billion dollars in federal COVID assistance must be allocated, Miami-Dade County still hasn’t managed to get a large chunk of its $474 million in CARES Act relief money to the businesses and residents that needed it.

If you’re still struggling with COVID-related bills, the window to seek federal dollars through Miami-Dade is rapidly closing. While applications are still being accepted, Miami-Dade said in a memo released Monday it would stop processing requests on Dec. 15 in advance of a Dec. 30 federal deadline to allocate the dollars to 2020 COVID expenses.

With time running short, county commissioners are pushing for CARES money to get out to the tenants, landlords and financially strapped residents who need it. Miami-Dade reserved about $35 million for a rental assistance program but has only spent about $7 million of that. With looser rules for landlords announced Monday, Commissioner Raquel Regalado wants more CARES money assigned to rent in order to slow a wave of evictions and commercial defaults that could leave people homeless and depress real estate values.

— By Rob Wile and Doug Hanks / The Miami Herald

Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.

The New Snowbird: Young, And Working Remotely To Wait Out The Pandemic

Updated Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

There’s a new generation of snowbirds flocking to South Florida this season.

They’re young, mobile and working remotely because COVID-19 has closed their offices. They’re desperate for good weather and will settle for decent WiFi.

Many are in their 20s, 30s and 40s and lived in New York and New Jersey until the pandemic made them think twice about life in the big city or its suburbs.

— By Lois K. Solomon / The South Florida Sun Sentinel

Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

PBIA Could Offer Travelers On-Site COVID-19 Testing By Early Next Year

Updated Tuesday at 8:56 a.m.

Palm Beach International Airport could offer its passengers and employees the ability to get a COVID-19 test within the travel hub by early next year.

Airport officials are accepting proposals from prospective providers who can operate an on-site coronavirus testing center. One may be chosen in the first few weeks of February, spokeswoman Lacy Larson said.

Any COVID-19 test offered at the West Palm Beach airport would be voluntary and “more than likely” come with a fee, she added.

— By Hannah Morse / The Palm Beach Post

Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post.

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