Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on September 28
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.
Florida fully reopens bars, restaurants. That’s ‘very concerning,’ Dr. Fauci says
3:40 p.m.: Florida’s decision to reopen bars and restaurants at full capacity has the United States top infectious disease expert concerned that it will lead to another COVID-19 outbreak.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, shared his concerns on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Monday.
“Well that is very concerning to me, I mean, we have always said that, myself and Dr. Deborah Birx, who is the coordinator of the task force, that that is something we really need to be careful about,” Fauci said, “because when you’re dealing with community spread, and you have the kind of congregate setting where people get together, particularly without masks, you’re really asking for trouble. Now’s the time actually to double down a bit, and I don’t mean close.”
Fauci shared his concerns just days after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that all 67 counties would be transitioning into Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan, including Miami-Dade and Broward, the two hardest hit areas in the state.
You can learn more here.
Florida confirms 738 new COVID-19 cases, lowest single-day count since early June
2:11 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Monday confirmed 738 additional cases of COVID-19, the lowest single-day count seen since early June. Also, five new Florida resident deaths were announced, bringing the resident toll to 14,037.
The state has now confirmed a total of 701,302 COVID-19 cases. There were also no new non-resident deaths, leaving the cumulative non-resident toll at 170.
Read the full story here.
Are Hispanic and Black children more at risk of COVID? ‘It’s a trickle down’ effect
10:30 a.m.: Children and teens don’t usually get the worst COVID-19 symptoms. They might cough a lot, have a runny nose, maybe get a fever. Most recover.
But some wind up in the hospital. Some die.
And many of those who have died from COVID-19 related complications are Hispanic or Black, according to a new report published this month by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report looked at 121 COVID-associated deaths under age 21 that were reported to the CDC from Feb. 12 to July 31. Of those deaths, 45% of the young people were Hispanic, 29% Black, 14% white non-Hispanic and 4% American Indian or Alaska Native.
Most had at least one pre-existing medical condition, which, like with adults, increased their risk of seriously falling ill with the disease. Fifteen of them were also diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, a rare and serious sometimes deadly inflammatory disorder believed to be linked to COVID-19.
The findings, published by the CDC in “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,” matched what health officials were already seeing in the adult population for several months — Blacks, Hispanics and other people of color have a higher risk of getting sick, being hospitalized and dying from COVID-19.
Experts say the reason why minorities have a higher risk of becoming ill with COVID-19 likely involves social and economic factors.
Read the full story here.
Miami-Dade enters Phase 3. Here’s how it affects you
9:30 a.m.: Gov. Ron DeSantis allowed all Florida counties to enter Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan on Friday. This allowed restaurants to immediately reopen at full capacity and for bars, nightclubs and strip clubs to reopen, including in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
As in all other orders issued by DeSantis, counties are allowed to modify the new changes put in place.
Some of the new changes you can expect to see in South Florida include people dancing with masks in Miami-Dade clubs and alcohol not being served at the bar counter in Broward County.
Learn more here.
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
9:30 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Monday begins.
▪ Miami-Dade bars and clubs allowed to reopen under DeSantis order, mask fines suspended
▪ Florida’s total COVID-19 case count passes 700,000. South Florida reports no deaths
▪ Banquet halls and football games allowed in Broward, with some restrictions
