WUSF will be providing the latest news and information on coronavirus in Tampa Bay and across the state. Here are the latest developments:
Here are the latest figures as of Monday, July 6, according to the Florida Department of Health:
206,447 — Positive Tests | 3,778 — Deaths
CORONAVIRUS: Complete Coverage From WUSF And Health News Florida
NEWSLETTER: Sign Up For Coronavirus Updates From Health News Florida
Another 6,300 Statewide Cases
According to the Florida Department of Health's Monday report, 206,447 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the state, an increase of 6,336 positive tests since Sunday.
In the Tampa Bay area, the state reported 1,052 more people tested positive in the 24-hour period since the Sunday report.
There are now 16,045 people hospitalized due to COVID-19, 150 more than Sunday’s report.
Of the 44,627 tests reported Sunday, 17.25% came back positive.
-- Lisa Peakes
Florida Should Reverse Course On Reopening, Health Expert Says
When Gov. Ron DeSantis was making the case to reopen Florida at the end of April, he pointed to data about the coronavirus that was trending in the right direction.
Cases were decreasing, as were hospitalizations and the percentage of people who were testing positive for the virus.
Today, as much of that data is moving in the opposite direction, some public health officials are calling on the governor to reverse course. [Read more]
-- Julio Ochoa
Miami-Dade Closing Restaurants
Miami-Dade is again closing its restaurants to sit-down dining, gyms and other indoor venues just weeks after they reopened because a spike in coronavirus cases.
Carlos Gimenez, mayor of Florida’s largest county, said Monday the closures will take effect Wednesday.
Restaurants can still sell takeout and delivery. Bars are already closed statewide and restaurants were limited to 50% capacity indoors.
Like much of the state, Miami-Dade’s restaurants had reopened in mid-May, while gyms had reopened about a month ago. During that time, the daily rate for confirmed cases in the county has gone from about 300 a day to more than 2,000.
-- Associated Press
After Coronavirus Delay, St. Pete Pier Grand Opening Today
It’s taken two years and held up by the coronavirus pandemic, but St. Petersburg residents will finally get their first official glimpse of the revitalized Pier District on the city’s waterfront.
The unveiling takes place Monday afternoon in a reservation-required event starting at 5 p.m., and continues throughout this week. [Read more]
-- Carl Lisciandrello
What Will School Reopening Look Like?
In June, Governor Ron DeSantis called for K-12 schools to reopen in full this fall, but left it up to individual school boards to figure out how to do that.
In the space of a month, the landscape has changed dramatically. Coronavirus cases in Florida are surging to new heights. But that hasn’t yet stopped local school districts from rolling out draft guidance for reopening, offering a blend of in-person instruction and virtual learning options.
Many public school districts started by sending surveys to parents. And most parents across the Tampa Bay area elected for their children to return to physical school, rather than online learning. [Read more]
-- Kerry Sheridan
Hillsborough Tax Relief Proposed
Hillsborough County’s property appraiser is proposing tax relief options in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bob Henriquez has come up with a few approaches, including extending property tax payment deadlines, waiving fees for late filers and reducing tax impact to reflect to the number of days a business was closed due to emergency orders. [Read more]
-- Lisa Peakes
Professional Sports Across Florida Continue Experiencing Effects Of COVID-19
As professional sports like Major League Baseball, the NBA, and Major League Soccer prepare to return to action in Florida, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to reverberate.
The Miami Marlins say four players have tested positive for the coronavirus, including one during this week’s screening that preceded the start of summer camp.
The other positive tests occurred earlier. The players are self-quarantining, and the team didn’t disclose their identities. [Read more]
-- Associated Press
WUSF 89.7 depends on donors for the funding it takes to provide you the most trusted source of news and information here in town, across our state, and around the world. Support WUSF now by giving monthly, or make a one-time donation online at WUSF.org/give
