Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on August 12

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.

The best and worst social distancing states. How did Florida do in new survey?

4 p.m.: Top Data researchers conducted a survey to find which U.S. states were best and worst at practicing social distancing during coronavirus pandemic. California ranked No. 1. South Dakota was at the bottom. As for Florida? ...

Read the story here.

Food distribution, youth financial literacy events

3:50 p.m.: King Jesus International Ministry/El Rey Jesus is hosting a “mega food give-away” at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. There will be 750 food baskets distributed. King Jesus International Ministry is partnered with Feeding South Florida and State Rep. Anthony Rodriguez.

▪ The event will be at 14100 SW 144th Ave., Miami, and will run until the 750 baskets are handed out. Cars must line up in the north parking lot to receive food baskets on a first come, first serve basis. Volunteers will place the baskets in the car or trunk.

For other community resources, including the weekly Food Pantry, which provides 400 food packages from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday or until supplies run out, visit www.kingjesusmiami.org/blog/news/community-resources.

Food literacy event

▪ Junior Achievement of South Florida plans to host its Financial Literacy Program to help children and families across Broward.

The group will distribute backpacks filled with age appropriate financial education materials, books, healthcare information, snacks and other relevant items “to bring youth financial literacy education into the homes of children and families who need it most,” Junior Achievement says.

The backpacks for ages 3-11 are part of the Books, Bucks and Backpack initiative launched by Junior Achievement of South Florida, which has partnered with the Early Learning Coalition and other nonprofits who serve families in need. Farm Share will also be on site to provide fresh fruit to families registered to pick up backpacks.

The distribution will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Aug. 15 at World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, 1130 Coconut Creek Pkwy. in Coconut Creek on the Broward College North Campus.

Says Laurie Sallarulo, president and CEO of JASF: “The goal of this powerful movement is to bring financial literacy education to every child. We must come together as a community and invest in closing the financial literacy gap and helping our young people achieve economic and social equality. It’s vital that they have access to financial education to achieve greater economic self-sufficiency.”

For information on how to support the campaign, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org/GivingToLiteracy. Or contact Robyn Harper at 954-979-7124 or email Robyn@JASouthFlorida.org.

Help for arts groups

3:15 p.m.: According to the Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a $73.8 million financial impact on the Miami-Dade County cultural and arts community with 12,429 arts and cultural jobs affected through June 2020.

On Wednesday, the office announced that Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners and Mayor Carlos Gimenez approved $10 million COVID-19 relief package to help support the arts and cultural business sector.

Managed by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the new Miami-Dade Arts Support Program is wholly funded by the federal CARES Act and aims to provide financial assistance to arts and cultural organizations and artist-entrepreneurs to help them survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting on Friday, the Cultural Affairs department plans to host a series of webinars for cultural organizations to learn the application and submission process. Visit the Miami-Dade Arts Support Action Center to see the workshop schedule and to apply. Guidelines and applications are available on that website.

The Department of Cultural Affairs is also activating round two of the Miami-Dade Artists Support! Program, specifically for artists. The program will provide up to a maximum of $500 per artist, available to artists of all disciplines, artist-entrepreneurs and cultural “gig” workers who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

“The arts and culture are important for our local economy and are essential to the vitality of our community. The ability of these mostly small businesses to meet expenses and make payroll has been deeply impacted by the pandemic,” Michael Spring, senior advisor to the mayor and Cultural Affairs department. “It is the goal of this program to help cultural organizations and working artists survive these unprecedented hardships so that they can be an active force in helping us restart our economy and our lives.”

Cultural organizations must apply by the deadline on Monday, Aug. 31. Artists must apply by Wednesday, Aug. 26 via the Miami-Dade Arts Support Action Center.

For questions or information regarding the grant programs, visit the Department of Cultural Affairs at www.miamidadearts.org or contact culture@miamidade.gov.

Florida adds 8,109 coronavirus cases as death toll passes 8,700

1:20 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed 8,109 additional cases of COVID-19, pushing the state’s known total to 550,901. An additional 212 Florida resident deaths brings the statewide resident death toll to 8,765.

Read the story here.

Pay promises, threats of jail. How Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line made crew work without wages

10:10 a.m.: As crew members started to make it safely off of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Celebration ship in mid-April, stories about life on board surfaced on social media.

Facebook and Instagram comments described how the company stopped paying working crew on board after it canceled passenger cruises on March 14 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 18, below an Instagram image of the company’s ship with a sunset in the background, came this plea for help: “Through this message we want to ask for help on behalf of 8 Salvadorans stranded on the Grand Celebration cruise...We want to let you know and make it public that we are being forced to work without any remuneration, we have to buy our personal supplies...Help us.”

The retaliation was swift.

Read the full story here.

Do kids still need vaccinations if they are learning online during the COVID-19 pandemic?

9:30 a.m.: The 2020-2021 school year will soon begin the way it ended in South Florida: online.

And while your child may be temporarily learning through a computer screen instead of in a classroom, that doesn’t mean you should delay a trip to the doctor.

All public and private schoolchildren from kindergarten through 12th grade in Florida still need to get the necessary vaccines required to attend school — even if they are learning online, according to the Florida Department of Health.

And yes, this includes students who plan to remain in virtual school once kids can return to campus masked up for socially distanced learning.

Read the full story here.

CATCH UP TO START THE DAY

9:20 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Wednesday begins.

▪ Florida breaks fatality record with 276 resident deaths, and adds more than 5,000 new cases

▪ Miami Beach issues $14,400 in fines for COVID-19 mask violations. Most haven’t paid.

▪ Trump’s new unemployment plan ‘not an option,’ DeSantis says, as he looks for others