This post will be updated today, Wednesday, May 20, with the latest information on COVID-19 in South Florida.
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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.
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QUICK UPDATES
Palm Beach Transportation Agency Studying Impact of COVID-19 Travel Habits
Updated Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency is studying the long-term impact after a 40 percent reduction in vehicular travel due to COVID-19.
The agency is seeing a significant decrease in transit ridership and an increase in walking and bicycling and hroughout the month of May, the agency is conducting a public survey to see how locals will adjust to travel once restrictions are lifted.
Head here to complete the survey.
— Wilkine Brutus
Statewide Coronavirus Cases Surpass 47,000
Updated Wednesday at noon
Florida surpassed 47,000 positive cases of COVID-19 as Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 527 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday morning. Florida has a total of 47,471 confirmed cases.
Wednesday's update also included the announcement of 44 new deaths, increasing the statewide number to 2,096. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 1,165 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported three deaths due to COVID-19.
-WLRN News
2 Children Hospitalized In South Florida For Syndrome Linked To COVID-19
Updated Wednesday at 7 a.m.
There are now at least two cases in Florida of a syndrome that attacks children associated with COVID-19.
That syndrome is multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Symptoms include fever, rash, swelling of hands and feet, and inflammation of the mouth and throat. They mirror the condition known as Kawasaki syndrome.
The Holtz Children’s Hospital, part of Miami’s Jackson Health System, has two cases that they confirmed Tuesday morning.
“Both patients are receiving appropriate treatment in the pediatric intensive care unit, and are showing signs of improvement. We have no additional information to release at this time,” Jackson Health System told the Miami Herald via email.
Florida’s Surgeon General Scott Rivkees wants hospitals to properly track and report these cases to the state.
“We are beginning to see cases nationally and a few cases in Florida of this inflammatory disorder that is infecting children,” Rivkees said Monday in a call with hospital representatives from all around the state. “If you see cases like that, make us aware at the Department of Health.”
Last week, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention sent out a health advisory to doctors across the country about the emergence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Potential patients are listed as those who are younger than 21 and have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19.
The syndrome has been seen in children across Europe and at least 18 states, and Washington D.C., as reported by CNN.
-WLRN
