Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on August 7
We’re keeping track of the latest news regarding the coronavirus in South Florida and around the state. Check back for updates throughout the day.
They guard the airport and Metrorail, but their sick leave isn’t paid. Even with COVID
4 p.m.: At a press call Thursday, Miami-Dade workers employed by county contractors along with the union that represents them once again called on county commissioners and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to pass emergency paid sick leave legislation for county subcontractors.
As county subcontractors, they don’t have paid time off — a measure that could help curb spread of the virus, workers say. An effort to ensure paid leave proposed by Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava was shot down in May by several county commissioners, including Commissioner Esteban “Steve” Bovo, who compared the request to the economic mandates that exist under communism. Both commissioners are running for Miami-Dade mayor.
Read the story here.
A coronavirus vaccine by November? Severe outbreaks may speed up research, Fauci says
3:45 p.m.: Surging coronavirus cases across the United States may offer one upside, increasing the chances of a vaccine breakthrough before November, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force, told McClatchy in an interview on Friday, McClatchy’s White House correspondent Michael Wilner reported.
That could be a silver lining for President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for the discovery of a COVID-19 vaccine before the November 3 election amid sinking poll numbers over his handling of the pandemic.
The sheer scope of the current outbreak could speed up clinical trials currently underway for potential vaccines, Fauci said, by generating data on their effectiveness more quickly from volunteers located in coronavirus hotspots.
Read the story here.
COVID patient volume changes
3:15 p.m.: COVID-19 patient volume has dropped by more than 400 in the last two weeks. Intensive Care Unit admissions are slowly ticking down a bit, as well.
Miami-Dade: COVID patient volume has dropped by more than 400 in the last two weeks. ICUs slowly ticking down too, though might take a while. Currently at 463 out of 1,785 patients.
Five-day avg for Fire Rescue calls: 120
14-day avg for positivity: 16%https://t.co/1tmatNHZct pic.twitter.com/PTwriaZOHf— Ben Conarck (@conarck) August 7, 2020
Plantation gym owner arrested a third time for violating Broward’s mask mandate
1:30 p.m.: Mike Carnevale, who owns Fitness 1440, a 24-hour gym in west Broward, was arrested for a second time on Thursday after police said he did not make his customers wear masks during workouts at the fitness facility he owns with his wife, Miami Herald news partner CBS4 reported. Wearing masks inside gyms is required by Broward County’s executive order. And in Miami-Dade, too.
When he got out of jail, Carnevale returned to the gym on Friday and was promptly busted again for the same violation.
Read the story here.
COVID-19 numbers rise as Florida adds 7,686 cases and 180 deaths. Total now over 8,000
12:15 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Friday confirmed 7,686 additional cases of COVID-19, pushing the state’s known total to 518,075. There were also 180 Florida resident deaths announced, bringing the statewide resident death toll to 7,927.
There were no new non-resident deaths announced, leaving the non-resident death toll at 124. As such, Florida’s total death toll now rises to 8,051.
Florida has seen a slight decrease in newly confirmed cases in the past two weeks.
Read the story here.
Broward adds COVID test site
9:45 a.m.: Broward County Mayor Dale V.C. Holness announced the addition on Monday, Aug. 10, of a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Central Broward Park and Broward County Stadium at 3711 NW 11th Pl. in Lauderhill. The site is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. No appointments are necessary.
Symptom checks and COVID screenings: Here’s what DeSantis’ order means for restaurants
9:15 a.m.: Before Wednesday, if a Florida restaurant employee got sick with COVID-19, the state required that they produce two negative tests before returning to work. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its guidelines regarding restaurant employees three weeks ago. Now, Florida has changed its tune.
Per a new executive order signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, restaurant employees who get sick with the highly contagious disease will no longer have to produce negative tests to return to work. Instead they will need to pass a screening for symptoms such as fever, loss of smell, loss of taste or shortness of breath.
Read the story here.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
9 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Friday begins.
▪ ICE detainee dies at Miami hospital — Florida’s second migrant death since pandemic outbreak.
▪ Florida COVID cases now past 510,000 as the state sees 7,650 new infections.
▪ In COVID crisis, Outback Steakhouse is Florida’s favorite casual dining restaurant, survey says.
▪ As legal battle over school reopening proceeds, DeSantis stresses importance of sports.
