Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on June 29
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.
DeSantis vetoes $1 billion from state budget as COVID crisis hurts tax revenue
6 p.m.: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $1 billion in vetoes to the state budget on Monday in an effort to blunt the state’s economic fallout from the coronavirus.
The cuts bring the state budget to $92.2 billion while setting aside more than $6.3 billion in reserves to withstand expected shortfalls over the next fiscal year, which starts Wednesday.
“Everyone understands the circumstances have changed,” DeSantis said during a news conference in the Capitol on Monday. “I think we all have to recognize that none of us are going to get everything that we want.”
Read the full story here.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office will donate to Feeding South Florida
5:15 p.m.: On Tuesday, the Broward Sheriff’s Officer will donate $100,000 of Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) money to help Feeding South Florida provide meals for those in need.
BSO recently received approval from the county to use the funds — which comes from the seizure and forfeiture of contraband that has been used in the commission of a felony — for to help the organization.
According to BSO, the money will go toward paying for transportation needs, workers and warehouse space that will assist with the distribution of more than 700,000 meals.
“The Broward Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Tony have been valuable partners throughout the pandemic,” Francisco ‘Paco’ Velez, Feeding South Florida president and CEO said in a news release. “They understand the food insecurity that COVID-19 has brought to our community and have been with us from the beginning working to assure no one goes hungry in Broward County.”
Two players test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Orlando for MLS tournament
4:15 p.m.: Major League Soccer is officially back, with five teams already in Orlando and sequestered in the league bubble at the Swan and Dolphin Resort and Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
The rest of the teams – including Inter Miami – will arrive this week in advance of the MLS is Back Tournament, which kicks off July 8 with Inter Miami vs. Orlando City (8 p.m., ESPN).
After a three-month stoppage, the league resumes under a COVID cloud, intensified by the recent surge in cases in Florida. As of Sunday night, 329 players and staff were tested on site, and two were positive, both of whom were players who had just arrived.
Read the full story here.
Beaches in the Keys will close this week in advance of July 4 due to COVID-19 spread
3:15 p.m.: Florida Keys leaders Monday said they would uniformly close county and Key West beaches for the long July 4 holiday, starting at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The news came as the Keys Monday reported a daily record high of positive cases of the novel coronavirus, 17, - to make a new total of 236.
That’s more than double what the Keys had before it officially reopened to tourists on June 1 by taking down two checkpoints at the entrances to the island chain meant to keep out visitors.
Key West leaders have also canceled the annual Fourth of July fireworks display because of concerns over the spreading novel coronavirus.
Jacksonville will require masks indoors. That likely includes the RNC convention
3:10 p.m.: Starting Monday at 5 p.m., the City of Jacksonville will mandate that masks be worn indoors in places where physical distancing is difficult, according to a social media post from city officials.
If the mandate is still in place in late August, it would likely apply to the Republican National Convention set to be held in the city Aug. 24-27. The decision by Jacksonville and Gov. Ron DeSantis to host the convention, expected to bring thousands of people together, has drawn more scrutiny as coronavirus infections have surged across the state in the last week.
Miami Seaquarium says it’s closing again because of Florida’s coronavirus increase
12:10 p.m.: After a week of being open, the Miami Seaquarium is closing again Monday because of the increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Florida, according to the attraction’s management.
The Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway on Virginia Key, reopened at limited capacity on June 20 after being closed for more than three months because of the COVID-pandemic. But its reopening was short lived.
Miami-Dade coronavirus total surpasses 35,000. Florida reports 5,266 additional cases
12:05 p.m.: Florida’s Department of Health on Monday confirmed 5,266 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 146,341. Of those new cases, 1,508 were in Miami-Dade County, pushing the county to hit and surpass 35,000 for a total of 35,222 confirmed cases.
There were also 28 new deaths announced statewide, raising the death toll to 3,447.
COVID-19 Cases in Florida
Miami-based boutique distillery switched from vodka to hand sanitizer
11:40 a.m.:
Toast Distillers’ signature product was premium vodka. But when unemployment increased and medical supplies became scarce nationwide, Toast switched formulas to solve both problems.
The company hired 15 new employees as it shifted production from spirits to hand sanitizer, said founder and CEO Dieuveny “DJ” Jean Louis. The “EZ Hand Sanitizer” is created in a partnership with the Cosmetic Corporation of America, Inc. and Veritas Farms, Inc.., which sells its products in Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid.
“When the whole pandemic happened, we saw a window of opportunity,” he said.
The company is now creating regular, liquid, lotion and spray hand sanitizer.
Leaders shut off the Florida Keys to visitors for weeks. Now, COVID-19 cases are rising
11:20 a.m.: Three weeks ago, the Florida Keys had an empty feeling.
Shops were shut. Restaurants had a few locals. And two checkpoints blocked tourists from entering the island chain.
The COVID-19 rate also was low. With visitors shut out, Keys leaders hoped the virus would be, too.
Fast-forward to now, and many tourists are back. They’re spreading out on the beaches, filling the restaurants — at least to the new limited capacity — and strolling Duval Street.
The coronavirus numbers are up, too.
Two weeks ago, the Keys started seeing a spike in coronavirus cases, after months of a new case here and there. The region wasn’t spared deaths, with four since the pandemic started, but the impact was nothing like the rest of South Florida.
Are the visitors causing the uptick in COVID-19 cases?
Public health experts say it’s possible but it’s not the only reason.
Zoo Miami employees in quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus
11:10 a.m.: Four Zoo Miami employees are in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 this past week, zoo officials announced Sunday.
The zoo, which reopened on June 1, says only one of the four employees had direct contact with guests and that all of them wore face masks and followed social distancing procedures. One of the employees also interacted with some of the animals.
FREE FOOD GIVEAWAYS IN MIAMI-DADE
10:45 a.m.: There are more than a dozen drive-thru food giveaways happening in Miami-Dade County Monday to help those in need during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Everyone is required to wear a mask or face covering (a fabric that covers your mouth and nose) and must stay in their car at all times. Make sure you have room in your trunk, that’s where the volunteers will be putting your meals to promote social-distancing.
Here are some of the places you can visit Monday:
▪ Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St. — 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
▪ North Shore Park & Youth center, 501 72nd St. in Miami Beach — By appointment only. Register online at www.miamibeachfl.gov/food/
▪ El Futuro de America Community, 830 E 1st Avenue in Hialeah — 9 a.m. to noon
▪ Buccaneer Park, 3100 NW 207th St. in Miami Gardens — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The drive is open to families with children.
To see the full list, visit https://www.miamidade.gov/information/library/2020-06-27-food-distribution.pdf
CATCH UP TO START THE DAY
10:40 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Monday begins.
Broward County joins Miami-Dade in closing beaches for Fourth of July holiday weekend
Florida adds another 8,530 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Miami-Dade hits single-day high
Fort Lauderdale shuts down restaurants for violating COVID-19 re-opening regulations
Socializing by younger Floridians is fueling increase in coronavirus cases, DeSantis says
