This post will be updated today, Wednesday, May 27, with the latest information on COVID-19 in South Florida.
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QUICK UPDATES
Statewide Coronavirus Cases Pass 52,600
Updated Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Florida surpassed 52,600 positive cases of COVID-19 as Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 379 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Florida has a total of 52,634 confirmed positive cases, according to the state's health department.
Wednesday's update also included the announcement of 60 new deaths, increasing the statewide number to 2,319.
-WLRN News
Miami Catholic Churches Reopen; South Florida COVID-19 Cases Near 30,000
Updated Wednesday at 7:30 a.m.
In-person masses at Miami Catholic churches began Tuesday after two months of gathering virtually because of closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We had more than usual, than the usual weekday, because our parishioners had not been to Mass in two and a half months,” said Father Manny Alvarez, from the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, told the Miami Herald.
This comes as coronavirus cases in Florida continue to rise. The Sun Sentinel reports that in the past week, there was an increase of 2,386 cases in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. That brought the total number of cases in South Florida to 29,396, according to reports released Tuesday.
The Archdiocese of Miami canceled in-person masses on March 18, just over two weeks after the first coronavirus case was reported in the state.
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski announced the reopening in a letter on May 18. He called on churches to enforce social distancing guidelines such as operating between 25 to 30 percent capacity, maintaining 6 feet of distance, except for those already living together.
Parishioners are required to wear face coverings except when receiving Communion and are advised not to hold hands or gather after mass. Priests will only wear masks when distributing Communion.
Wenski's letter says churches removed prayer books, holy water stations and offertory baskets. He also urged those who are immunocompromised or are experiencing flu-like symptoms to attend mass from home.
Many churches will continue to livestream mass for those who aren't comfortable or able to attend in-person.
-Leslie Ovalle / WLRN News