WLRN staff continues to add updates on testing and vaccination sites, executive orders and messages from government officials, and the latest news on COVID-19. You can find information on free food and food distributions here.
The dedicated website for the Florida Department of Health, including information about the 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
Florida Adds More Than 3,000 New Cases, 39 New Resident Deaths
Updated Monday at 5:15 p.m.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 3,075 positive cases of COVID-19 Monday. The state has a total of 2,245,853 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Monday's update also included the announcement of 39 new resident deaths, increasing the statewide number of Floridians who died to 35,307. Factoring in non-resident deaths the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 36,009.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 11,865 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported 49 deaths due to COVID-19.
— WLRN News
Miami Parks Are Reopening Gyms And Picnic Shelters. You Can Do Other Things, Too
Updated Monday at 9:46 a.m.
Parks across the city of Miami on Monday are reopening gyms, community centers and other indoor facilities that have been closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some outdoor facilities, including water fountains and outdoor picnic areas, can also be used again. And Grapeland Water Park is set to reopen Memorial Day weekend as usual, according to the city.
Monday’s reopening of the city’s Parks and Recreation buildings also includes meeting rooms, stand-alone restroom facilities and locker rooms. Parkgoers can also use open grills, benches, bleachers and table games again, the city said.
— By Michelle Marchante / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
Broward Schools Will Begin On-Campus COVID-19 Vaccinations Tuesday With Eight-Day Tour
Updated Monday at 6:05 a.m.
Broward County students will soon have the opportunity to get vaccinated without leaving campus.
Beginning on Tuesday, the Broward County School District will offer the COVID-19 vaccine at six schools, with all of the county schools visited over an eight-day span from Tuesday through May 13.
All students 16 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine, which will be administered by staff members from the state department of health in Broward County. The shots will be provided on a walk-up basis, so no appointments are necessary.
— By Wells Dusenbury and Scott Travis / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Miami Dade College Graduates 14,000 Students During Historic Commencement Ceremonies
Updated Monday at 6:00 a.m.
Little Havana’s loanDepot Park, which usually hosts Miami Marlins home baseball games, and more recently COVID-19 testing and vaccine shots, dressed up its red clay infield Saturday with a red carpet for Miami Dade College’s commencement ceremonies.
MDC, whose 120,000 students enrolled make it one of the nation’s largest public colleges, graduated 14,000 this weekend, awarding them a combination of certificates and associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.
About 1,500 graduates attended each of the three loanDepot Park ceremonies spread out throughout the day — a morning one for the North, Medical and West campuses; an afternoon one for the Kendall, Homestead and Padrón campuses; and an evening one for the Wolfson and Hialeah campuses.
— By Jimena Tavel / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
PBC Eases COVID-19 Mask Mandate As Florida Drops Residency Requirement For Vaccinations
Updated Monday at 5:50 a.m.
Palm Beach County updated its mask mandate Friday to reflect updated federal guidelines saying fully vaccinated people need not wear masks outdoors except in crowds.
The order now exempts vaccinated people from having to wear a mask when outdoors "except in certain crowded settings and venues where there is a decreased ability to maintain physical distance."
The county's move came a day after Florida dropped measures criticized for hindering undocumented people's ability to get coronavirus vaccinations.
— By Chris Persaud / The Palm Beach Post
Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post.
Restaurants Can Apply Starting Monday For Aid, Part Of $28.6 Billion American Rescue Plan
Updated Monday at 5:44 a.m.
Starting Monday, restaurants, caterers, bars and other businesses that serve food and drinks will be able to apply for relief through the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
The $28.6 billion in funding is part of American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in March to help industries hurt by closures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Eligible applicants can get funding of at least $1,000 and up to $10 million per business, according to a guide on the U.S. Small Business Administration website.
— By Hannah Winston / The Palm Beach Post
Read more from our news partner at The Palm Beach Post.
