This post will be updated today, Tuesday, May 5, with the latest information on COVID-19 in South Florida.
In these uncertain times, you can rely on WLRN to keep you current on local news and information. Your support is what keeps WLRN strong. Please become a member today. Donate Now. Thank you.
WLRN staff continues to add to community resource lists, including this article on where kids and families can get food while schools are closed, and this post about whether and where to get tested for the 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
Fort Lauderdale City Commission To Consider 'Urging' Congress To Enact A CARES Act Pt. II At Meeting Tuesday
Updated Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission is holding a virtual meeting Tuesday evening, starting at 6 p.m.
The city is looking to show support for getting direct funding from the federal government.
One of the agenda items before the commission, is a resolution that would 'urge' the U.S. congress to adopt a CARES Act Pt. II to expand federal stimulus funding to cities with a population of less than 500,000 people, for the purpose of alleviating "major revenue shortfalls as a result of the COVID-19 crisis."
According to the commission's memo, the city estimates it will lose $19.2 million in revenue to its General Fund, due to the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CARES Act, passed near the end of March, provides direct funding for cities with populations of more than 500,000 people, as opposed to those cities relying on possible payments from county-levels of government. (Fort Lauderdale's most-recent estimated population from the summer of 2018 was close to 182,600 people, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.)
Commissioners will also look at amending the city budget during Tuesday's meeting. They are expected to decide if the city will abandon the Las Olas Mobility Improvements Project, and move dedicated funding towards consulting services to provide a vision plan for Las Olas Boulevard.
Also on the agenda: Commissioners are expected to once again consider passing an ordinance that would prohibit camping in designated public areas, near schools and daycare facilities, expanding a previous ordinance. The commission deferred the vote last month after debate about timing during the coronavirus, and how the law could affect people experiencing homelessness.
-Caitie Switalski
Statewide Coronavirus Cases Pass the 37,000 Mark
Updated Tuesday at 12:45 p.m.
The state has more than 37,000 cases of COVID-19 as Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 542 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday morning. Florida has a total of 37,439 confirmed cases.
Tuesday's update also included the announcement of 72 new deaths, increasing the statewide number to 1,471. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 827 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported three deaths due to COVID-19.
-WLRN News
State's Cases Pass 36,800, Half Of New Deaths Are From South Florida
Updated Tuesday at 8 a.m.
Florida’s Department of Health on Monday morning confirmed 819 additional cases of COVID-19 as restaurants and shops across the state, except in South Florida, opened their doors to customers for the first time in weeks. The state is now closer to hitting the 37,000 mark, with a total of 36,897 confirmed cases.
Monday’s total daily number is the highest the state has seen since Friday, when a weeklong trend of daily totals under 1,000 was broken. There were also 20 new deaths announced, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,399.
More than half of the newly confirmed cases and half of the deaths were in South Florida.
Read more at our news partnert the Miami Herald.
-Michelle Marchante
