Florida State Sets New Daily Record for COVID-19 Deaths

Miami – Florida accounted for 173 deaths from COVID-19 in the last twenty-four hours, a new record in the state, while daily infections rose to 10,249 after three consecutive days in which the psychological barrier of 10,000 was not exceeded.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in the southeast accounted for 48.78% of new infections.

In Miami-Dade there were 2,723 new cases and with them the accumulated figure since March 1 reaches 95,068 cases, with a total of 1,354 resulting in death.

However, local authorities remain optimistic and begin to see the curve “flattened,” as Miami Mayor Francis Suárez said Thursday at a press conference.

Suarez said they are seeing that the number of new infected daily in the city, the most populous in Miami-Dade, has gone from 125 at the peak of the pandemic to 20 today.

The mayor said that the rule of wearing a mask in public places “is working” and if this trend continues, the number of positive infections will be below 10% within thirty days, thus ruling out a possible quarantine.

Since the mask standard came into effect in Miami, a total of 115 fines ranging from $ 50 to $ 500 have been imposed and a total of 15 businesses have been temporarily closed after conducting 431 inspections.

The mask for clients is not mandatory at the state level

However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the use of the mask in retail stores will not be a statewide requirement at this time.

During a press conference at Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne (Brevard County, east coast), DeSantis also stated that he will not implement other restrictions on business.

“We will continue advising, but we will not impose criminal penalties, I do not think that is effective,” said DeSantis.

Other politicians, such as Democratic Congresswoman Donna Shalala, caution that the population should not be trusted as “public health experts have made it clear that the COVID-19 crisis could worsen even further in the fall.”

A million masks for gastronomic

This Thursday, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams inaugurated in Miami the first of five federal government-funded coronavirus testing sites for vehicle drivers.

“It is as easy as it can be, as fast as it can be. These sites are here for you,” Adams said at the opening of the first, at the Miami-Dade Auditorium.

Accompanied by the mayor of this county, Carlos Giménez, and the deputy state governor, Jeanette Núñez, Adams then visited one of the Sergio’s chain restaurants in Doral, where he delivered a million masks for Florida gastronomy workers and implored to all citizens who cover their airways.

Unemployment, another concern

The increase in unemployment is another of the effects of COVID-19 that most worries Florida. Last week 105,410 Floridians applied for unemployment benefits, which means about 27,000 fewer people than the week before.

In the last four months 1.7 million Floridians, out of a total of 21.8 million, have benefited from the funds of the economic stimulus package of the law called CARES, which provides $ 600 a week to those unemployed by the pandemic.

However, the Coronavirus Economic Aid, Relief and Security Act (CARES) will expire this Saturday.

The Senate plans to negotiate this week the details of a new aid package called the Heroes Act, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the Miami Mayor’s Office announced more funds to mitigate the looming housing crisis as a consequence of the impact of COVID-19 and the lack of employment.

Hospitals maintain capacity

Health centers continue to work without brake to avoid collapse, after 51 new admissions occurred and today there are 9,581 hospitalized by the virus.

Currently, 84.3% of the beds in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) throughout the state are occupied, making a total of 974 free beds available.

According to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health, a 9-year-old girl died of the virus. It is the fifth child fatality of the coronavirus in the state.

This death increases controversy over the face-to-face reopening of schools in Florida, a position that the governor is betting on, although he reiterates that parents must have both options and decide the one they think is most appropriate.

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