Following the largest single-day increase in coronavirus-related deaths in Florida, the number of fatalities ticked up at a slower pace, Wednesday. The Florida Department of Health reported 43 new deaths in their latest update for a total of 614 deaths. Statewide 22,519 people have tested positive for the virus.
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state has increased to 3,249 patients, although that number also includes people who have recovered and been released. Nearly a quarter of hospitalizations have involved people in the 65-74 age demographic.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System reported its first COVID-19 infection stemming from workplace exposure, Wednesday. The Naples Daily News reports the positive case was found in one of the 66 NCH employees who were exposed in a single incident over the weekend.
Comparatively, 31 Lee Health employees have tested positive for the coronavirus following workplace exposure. Lee Health has 179 employees quarantining at home.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, on Wednesday, shook up oversight of the state’s troubled unemployment system that has struggled with the surge in applications due to the novel coronavirus. Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Ken Lawson was removed from handling Florida’s troubled CONNECT reemployment system that continues to draw complaints, as a record number of unemployment applications have come in over the past month.
Department of Management Services Secretary Jonathan Satter was put in charge of the coronavirus response at the unemployment agency. Satter has already been instrumental in getting more than 100 computers servers to increase the unemployment system’s capacity, which has been forced to offer paper applications and to bring in more than 1,000 additional workers to handle calls from those filing claims.
Speaking to reporters in Tallahassee, Wednesday, DeSantis said that he hopes Satter will “rattle the cage” of the agency that has been unable to provide daily updates on state and federal claims. “I ask for the numbers every morning and that was one of the reasons we want Jon in there,” said DeSantis.
“I think that we need to know exactly how many claims are paid, not just on a daily basis, but on an hourly basis. So, that’s just a change that needs to be done.”
Satter had worked in the private sector prior to being appointed by DeSantis to run DMS, an agency that oversees the state’s information technology. Lawson remains with the DEO. DeSantis said his new role will be quote “non-COVID-related.”
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is raising concerns that the federal Paycheck Protection Program could soon run out of money.
The program seeks to give small business owners money so they can pay their employees instead of laying them off. However, in Florida, not many businesses have gotten the dollars they need from the program.
When the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched its Paycheck Protection Program, there were hiccups along the way. Not all banks were SBA approved to accept applications, and some that were, couldn't access an online portal to submit customer applications. However, the SBA has since resolved those issues.
"They've done a good job—the SBA has relatively speaking in flying an airplane they're building in midair," Alex Sanchez says. He's CEO and President of the Florida Bankers Association.
In Florida, banks have been slow to process customer applications. That's in part due to the high volume of requests coming in. Sanchez comments that banks are doing their best.
"Our banks have been able to work around the clock for the last two weekends uploading loans to help our small business owners," Sanchez says.
Another threat is looming on the horizon: The NFIB is raising concerns federal dollars for the program could soon run out. The organization is urging Congress to give an additional $251 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program. Florida congresswomen Lois Frankel is supporting that initiative.
"Right now, what we're pushing for is more money for the SBA—for the Pay[check] Protection Program because that money has been pretty much eaten up," Frankel says.
Bill Herrle is the executive director of the NFIB in Florida. He says Florida business owners are struggling.
"Those checks promised by Congress have not quite been delivered yet. There are scant few in Florida that have received PPP checks," Herrle says.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced yesterday that more than 50,000 of these loans have recently been approved in Florida.
"Point is it can't come soon enough," Herrle says.
The NFIB is also pushing for more money for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Gov. DeSantis showed reluctance Wednesday, on whether he agreed with Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, M.D., that Floridians would need to continue social distancing until a coronavirus vaccine is approved. DeSantis said he didn’t hear Rivkees’ comment and would talk with him privately. He then went on to say a vaccine is not a guarantee.
“There is no vaccine for SARS or MERS. I hope there’s a vaccine tomorrow, but I don’t think it’s a 100 percent guarantee that there is going to be a vaccine,” said DeSantis.
“So that’s just something to think about as we figure out – I’m hoping that we’ll get some effective anti-virals soon because that’ll make a big, big difference and of course I’m hopeful that we get a vaccine, but at the same time there have been attempts at vaccines for a lot of things. It’s not as easy as it sounds where you just do it.”
During a Tuesday news conference, Rivkees said the public should get used to avoiding crowds and wearing masks until a vaccine can be approved, which he said could take about a year. Shortly after he made the comment, a DeSantis staffer escorted Rivkees from the ongoing news conference. A spokesperson said Rivkees had to leave to attend another meeting.
Florida has spent about $500 million on emergency supplies and support for the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz. His comments came after Gov. DeSantis announced the White House had “earmarked” one million N95 face masks for Florida.
States across the country have been competing against each other and the federal government as they scramble to obtain critical medical supplies in the fight against the novel coronavirus.
Speaking to reporters at the capitol, Moskowitz said price gouging “obviously” is occurring as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to soar.
“What’s the value of saving a life? The answer is, it’s unlimited,” said Moskowitz. “So if we have to make decisions to get life-saving PPE regardless of whatever the cost is, buy it from whoever has it, we’re going to do that.”
800,000 of the masks have already arrived in Florida and will be distributed quickly to front-line hospitals and health-care workers. The Division of Emergency Management will also be distributing 1.2 million surgical masks, 100,000 face shields, 500,000 gloves, 60,000 containers of hand sanitizer and 35,000 gowns to hospitals and health-care workers.
Stimulus payments from the federal government are now showing up in the bank accounts of people across the country. A person who earns up to $75,000 a year is eligible for $1,200 dollars from the government. But U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) said anyone waiting for a paper check, might have to wait awhile.
“If the IRS does not have your bank information, you’re not going to get a check for quite a while. And here’s how to remedy that,” said Frankel.
“If you have a bank account, you can go to the IRS website irs.gov/coronavirus, put in our banking information and you can get your relief check immediately.”
Frankel spoke about the issue during a Wednesday call via Zoom.
State and federal officials have started discussing how and when to restart the economy. U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R_FL) said even if the state puts out the “open for business” sign, that doesn’t mean there will be customers ready to walk through the door. Business will need to consider how to make sure employees and consumers feel safe.
“The simplest thing is we’re going to be taking temperatures,” said Scott.
“The next thing might be, we’re going to have these serology tests out and say, ‘Look, if you’ve had it and you have the antibodies, I’m going to make sure you’re the one that’s going to be out there talking to customers.’”
Scott discussed the reopening of the economy during a Wednesday webinar hosted by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. Those sectors have been ravaged by the COVID-19 shutdowns.
To help people deal with stress and other feelings brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, graduate students in Florida Gulf Coast University’s Counseling Department will be offering virtual one-on-one support meetings to the public starting in May.
The department’s clinical and accreditation coordinator Dr. Yaro Garcia is overseeing the initiative.
"These support meetings are meant to provide that support and get the community to have someone to connect to," Garcia said.
Participants can schedule up to 10 individual support meetings at no cost.
Second-year mental health counseling graduate student Gracie Tipton said participating students will not advise or treat people during the sessions.
"It's basically having somebody to talk to," Tipton said. "They’re trying to help individuals alleviate stress at home, we’re all locked up so this is helping individuals relay some of that stress they may be feeling."
Individual support meetings will be available through July.
Several deadlines put in place by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles have been extended because of the “State of Emergency” declared by Gov. DeSantis. Drivers’ licenses and state I.D. cards that expired between March 16, 2020, and April 15, 2020 have been extended an additional 60 days. Licenses and I.D.s set to expire through the end of April 2020 are granted an additional 30 days. The deadline for commercial drivers’ licenses and permits is extended through June 30, 2020. Delinquent renewal fees for the extension period will be waived.
