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The latest updates on the COVID-19 outbreak in South Florida. This page ended its updates as of August 2020. Head here for additional stories on COVID-19 and the pandemic.

Coronavirus Live Updates: Memorial Healthcare To Cease Doing Elective Procedures Again

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This post will be updated today, Tuesday, July 7, and through the week 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 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

Memorial Healthcare To Cease Doing Elective Procedures Again

Updated Tuesday at 1:15 p.m.

Memorial Healthcare System has announced it will stop doing all elective and non-emergency procedures and surgeries due to ongoing and growing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The change will take effect Wednesday July 8, according to the email statement. 

Cases have been on the rise in South Florida since after Memorial Day weekend. Memorial’s shift in surgical scheduling follows other hospital systems, including Jackson Healthcare System in Miami-Dade County, which stopped performing elective and non-urgent surgeries and procedures earlier this week. 

Memorial’s statement in full: 

“After careful consideration and review of all recent healthcare data related to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Florida, Memorial Healthcare System will cease doing all elective, non-urgent, and non-emergency procedures effective Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Memorial will continue performing emergency surgeries and outpatient diagnostic procedures.Memorial Healthcare System is committed to taking care of its community as it monitors the progression of the pandemic in South Florida and continues to manage COVID-19 patients and patients with other non-COVID medical needs. Patients should contact their physician to check on the status of their previously scheduled surgery or procedure.”

— Caitie Switalski/ WLRN News

Statewide Coronavirus Cases Increase By More Than 7,300, Up To Over 213,000 

Updated Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed an additional 7,347 cases on Tuesday. The state has a total of 213,794 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.

Tuesday's update also included the announcement of 63 new deaths, increasing the statewide number to 3,841. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County make up 5,154 of the reported deaths. Monroe County has 5 reported deaths.

-WLRN News

Broward County Schools Will Not Require Students To Return To Classrooms

Updated Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.

Broward students will not be required to return to brick-and-mortar classrooms next month, Superintendent Robert Runcie said Tuesday.

Runcie’s announcement came a day after a state order that said schools must open for on-campus classes every day despite the coronavirus pandemic.

In a tweet on Monday night, Runcie asserted that school districts still have control over how to restart classes.

To read more, visit our news partner at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

- Lois K. Solomon and Leslie Postal/Sun Sentinel

Florida Schools Ordered To Reopen In August

Updated Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran on Monday ordered public schools to reopen in August and offer “the full panoply of services” to students and families.

As COVID-19 outbreaks spike in Florida, Corcoran's mandate said that extending school closures can impede students’ educational success and prevent parents and guardians from returning to work.

“There is a need to open schools fully to ensure the quality and continuity of the educational process, the comprehensive well-being of students and families and a return to Florida hitting its full economic stride,” the order states.

Under the emergency order, all public schools will be required to reopen in August for at least five days a week and to provide the full array of services required by law, including in-person instruction and services for students with special needs.

Corcoran's order also instructs school districts to follow the advice of state and local health officials as well as executive orders issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

- Ana Ceballos/News Service of Florida

Major Cruise Lines Form Panel For COVID-19 Health Protocols

Updated Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.

The second and third largest cruise companies in the world are teaming up to figure out how to safely resume operations.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — both headquartered in South Florida — announced they have organized a panel of nine outside health experts and two advisors to draw up plans on preventing and treating COVID-19 at sea by the end of August.

Five of the eleven experts have experience working at or consulting with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency in charge of the federal government’s COVID-19 response. The CDC has banned cruises in U.S. waters through July 24.

To read more, visit our news partner at the Miami Herald.

- Taylor Dolven/Miami Herald

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