State reports 83 new deaths

Most reported victims in one day; 708 new cases also confirmed

State data released Tuesday shows the new coronavirus outbreak continues to add infections and victims.

The state Department of Health reported 32,846 people have had COVID-19 since the outbreak began. That figure includes an increase of 708 diagnoses from a day earlier.

The total number of Florida deaths, 1,171, is up by 83 from Monday. That’s the most on any day during the public health emergency. Broward County alone had a one-day increase of 22 deaths.

But it does not mean everyone died on Monday — it’s likely fatalities spread out over several days were reported at once.

Previously, April 14 had the most reported deaths with 72, but that too was likely due to a lag in reporting. State data shows the actual single deadliest day was 48 victims on April 17.

Now that Florida coronavirus deaths are approaching 1,200, one model projects state fatalities will climb to just over 1,900 by summer.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation out of the University of Washington, whose ever-changing models have been used by the Trump administration to help steer its pandemic response, updated its projections showing the state will reach 1,914 deaths by June 25. Its projections fall between an uncertainty of 1,165 and 4,697.

Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties account for 676 deaths, which is an increase of 44 deaths over Monday, the state data shows.

The three South Florida counties have had a total of 19,555 people diagnosed with the disease, making it the hardest hit region in the state. In Miami-Dade County, the 324 people who have died account for about 28% of the

state’s total. As of Tuesday, the state reported 11,831 infections in Miami-Dade County.

The coronavirus death toll in the United States is 58,365, including 17,682 victims in the national hot spot of New York City. The country’s total number of cases exceeded 1 million on Tuesday evening.

The Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center reported the there have been 3.1 million cases worldwide and 216,160 people have died.

The United States has 4.3% of the world’s population and more than 32% of the world’s cases. DeSantis to reveal reopening plan on Wednesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, appearing Tuesday in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump, said he would present his plan for reopening Florida on Wednesday. His monthlong stay home order runs through Thursday. Mental health meltdown looms for South Florida, and coronavirus is the trigger.

South Florida mental health counselors and law enforcement leaders are preparing for an unprecedented level of mental health emergencies because of COVID-19. What to do if you were deemed ineligible for Florida unemployment benefits.

The more than 200,000 Floridians who were deemed ineligible for state unemployment benefits over the weekend can now begin applying for federal relief.

COVID-19: Price gouging, robocalls, census scams prompt statewide warnings, crackdown. Criminal schemes aiming to capitalize on pandemic fears are spreading almost as fast as the COVID-19 virus itself. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office has issued another Consumer Alert about price gouging. JetBlue to require passengers to wear face masks. Other airlines weigh similar moves.

JetBlue Airways plans to require all passengers to wear face masks aboard its planes and in airport terminal areas starting May 4 as the commercial aviation industry ramps up efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on the ground and during flights. FPL customers to get one-time discount in May.

State utility regulators have approved Florida Power & Light’s bid to give customers a nearly 25% discount off electricity consumed in May, the utility announced Tuesday. South Florida counties opening recreational facilities, with limits.

Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties are reopening recreational facilities — with limits — starting Wednesday. Golf courses, boat ramps, marinas, and pools in multifamily developments will be allowed to open, following social distancing guidelines. Beaches remain closed. Florida releases more details on coronavirus infections in senior-care homes.

South Florida nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are reporting more than 500 residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to new state data released Monday. The updated state report shows several longterm care facilities across Florida are reporting dozens of cases of the virus, but it doesn’t break down which facilities have recorded deaths. South Florida hospitals start planning to resume elective services.

Florida hospitals, outpatient centers and doctors’ offices are putting plans in place to reopen for elective surgeries and other procedures when the governor’s executive order banning those procedures expires on May 8. LGBTQ Pride in SoFlo goes virtual for MiamiDade, Broward and Palm Beach counties

.The “South Florida Pride Collective

Presents a Virtual Pride Event” is an online livestream version of the festival taking place May 9 and 10 on Facebook Live at Facebook.com/pridecollectives. It’s a collaborative effort between all the regional organizations that have, in previous years, staged Pride events, including Pride Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach Pride, Gay 8 Festival, Wilton Manors (Stonewall) Pride and Miami Beach Pride. Visual essay: Making peace with the emptiness.

We are a people who understand hurricanes. A storm ravages us. Then it passes. Then we creep out of our hiding places, assess the damage, and move on. This is different.

All around us, everything feels empty.