Florida health officials reported 941 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, Tuesday, for a statewide total of 41,923 cases, marking the largest single-day increase since May 1.
The Florida Department of Health also reported 44 new COVID-19 related deaths, Tuesday, for a total of 1,779 fatalities. Comparatively, that’s a significant increase from the six new deaths reported Sunday and the 14 new deaths reported Monday.
The total number of hospitalizations in Florida now stands at 7,418, including all people who have been hospitalized, not just those currently in the hospital.
Of the 580,316 tests that have been performed so far, 7.2% have come back positive for the virus.
In the Southwest region including Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota Counties the number of new confirmed cases increased by 169, Tuesday, and state health officials reported 7 new deaths.
Lee County continues to have the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the Southwest Florida region with 1,341 cases and 69 deaths. Manatee County continues to have the highest number of deaths in the region with 74 fatalities out of a total of 795 cases.
The rate of visits to emergency rooms across Florida has fallen by nearly 50 percent since the coronavirus pandemic began. Hospital officials are warning that patients suffering from acute life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and strokes are delaying or refusing care because they're warry of going to hospitals.
The AP reports that in Broward County, twice as many people were already dead by the time first responders arrived in April, compared to April of 2019.
UF Health Jacksonville has launched a public information campaign to assure residents it's safe to seek treatment in hospital emergency rooms.
Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci had that same message for Southwest Florida residents, Monday, during a media briefing with Governor Ron DeSantis.
Lee County Commissioners are moving forward with phase one of the county's coronavirus recovery efforts with an allocation of $134.5 million through the federal CARES Act passed in late March in response to the pandemic.
During a special meeting Tuesday, Lee Commissioners approved a $50 million program to help businesses hurt by the shutdown as well as helping residents struggling with mortgage or rent payments, utility bills and childcare.
The News-Press reports the program allocates $25 million for struggling local businesses and $20 million for assistance with rent, mortgage or utility payments. The funding is expected to be able to help some 10,000 households on top of the more than 1,600 households currently getting help through an existing program that still has $3.3 million in its coffers.
Lee County commissioners are setting aside $3.5 million from the federal CARES Act funding for a voucher program in partnership with the United Way to help residents with the cost of childcare services. Childcare has become especially difficult for those looking to return to work, but whose children are still at home as schools remain closed.
Lee County is also allocating $1.5 million to help provide personal protection equipment for businesses and child care agencies.
County officials still have about $85 million remaining from the federal grant to spend on recovery efforts.
South Florida is beginning to reopen and that could mean navigating some risky behaviors.
Consumer behavior expert and Dean of the University of Miami’s School of Business, John Quelch, said there are people prone to risk who aren’t worried about wearing masks during a pandemic.
“The notion that I just don’t just like wearing a mask; it’s uncomfortable, It’s unsightly. I’m a good-looking guy. I need to be seen and know that I’m being seen,” said Quelch.
He said risk perception depends on the situation. People might perceive a visit to a park as safer than eating indoors at a restaurant.
Broward and Miami-Dade counties are discussing their reopening plans with a target date of Monday. Palm Beach County reopened this week.
New numbers show Floridians have now received nearly half a million dollars in refunds from businesses, related to products that had seen their prices inflated because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida’s price gouging hotline has been contacted approximately 4,400 times and more than $497,000 has been returned to Floridians since a state of emergency was declared two months ago, due to the coronavirus.
Attorney General Ashley Moody's office has contacted over 6,300 businesses about price gouging allegations. Moody said her office will continue to go after those looking to take advantage of the current situation, so Floridians can continue to protect themselves.
“We want to make sure these essential commodities like cleaning supplies and protective gear are available to them at a fair price,” said Moody.
“So, as long as this COVID-10 emergency is in place, we will keep fighting.”
Those who violate Florida’s price gouging law face penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to $25,000 per day.
