Brevard Sees Rise In COVID-19 Cases
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Brevard County is dealing with more cases of the coronavirus. The Florida Department of Health yesterday confirmed the county now has 37 COVID-19 cases, which is five more than the day before. No deaths have been reported, but seven patients are currently hospitalized. Seven more people are awaiting test results.
Orange County Closing Rental Assistance Hotline Today
(Orlando, FL) -- A popular resource for renters is shutting down in Orange County. Today is the last day the county's rental assistance hotline will be in operation, and it's set to close at 5:00 tonight. The county says the program was meant to be a stopgap measure until federal and state funding was available, and the county is closing the program due to what it calls an overwhelming response. In less than two weeks since it became active, over 20-thousand people have applied to get up to 12-hundred dollars for one month's rent.
More Hospital Workers Infected With Coronavirus
(Sarasota, FL) -- The coronavirus continues to affect those on the frontlines of the pandemic. Sarasota Memorial Hospital announced yesterday that two more employees have come down with the virus. This makes eight employees who have tested positive for COVID-19, including one who had to be hospitalized but has recovered. The hospital says several employees have been asked to self-isolate at home for two weeks.
Citrus County Couple Stuck On Cruise Ship Looking For Port
(Undated) -- A Citrus County couple is issuing a plea to return home. Frank and Toni Kenney are passengers on Holland America's Rotterdam, which is off the coast of Cuba and hoping to dock in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis doesn't want the ship, though, because some passengers, like the Kenneys, were originally on another ship with hundreds with flu-like symptoms. The Kenneys say they're fine, and they tell News Channel 8 they hope the governor will do everything in his power to bring them home.
Tampa Man Arrested For Violating Hawaii Stay-At-Home Order
(Honolulu, HI) -- A Hillsborough County man's Hawaiian vacation is off to a bad start. Tampa's Dwight Tucker arrived in Hawaii Monday, but yesterday he was arrested for violating the state's quarantine laws. Hawaii requires travelers to self-isolate for 14 days, and the 62-year-old allegedly didn't do that. He has a court date in late May, and if convicted, he could get a year in jail.
Deal In Works For Florida Dock Of Cruise Ship With Sick Passengers
(Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- A deal is in the works for a cruise ship with four dead, and dozens of sick passengers on board to dock in Florida. The U.S. Coast Guard says it's working with Holland America to make it happen. The plan would require two ships to handle all medical issues without impacting South Florida's already-stressed hospitals. Hundreds of the passengers and crew members have not stepped on dry land in over two weeks.
FHSAA Considers June Sports Playoffs
(Undated) -- All may not be lost for Florida high school athletes this year. The Florida High School Athletic Association says it's considering a plan to extend its playoff calendar until June 30th. The FHSAA statement came today, after Governor Ron DeSantis announced a new order that schools stay closed through May first.
Texas Is Ranked As The Most Bored State
(Austin, TX) -- There's no doubt millions are bored during the coronavirus lockdown and they're taking to Twitter to share. The site 'fit-bug-dot-com' has been tracking all the tweets and hashtags since the first of the month. It found Texas is the state complaining the most followed by Oklahoma, Hawaii, California and Georgia.
Americans Drinking Heavily During Global Pandemic
(Undated) -- Americans are using lots of alcohol to cope with the global coronavirus pandemic. Nielsen data shows that U.S sales of alcoholic beverages has risen 55-percent in the week ending March 21st. Spirits, wines, and beers have all seen nearly or over 50-percent increases in their sales compared to the same period last year. Online purchases also far outpaced in-store buying. Experts say most of the rises occurred in conjunction with various states' stay at home orders. However, those at the World Health Organization are cautioning against using extreme amounts of alcohol during this time, especially amid a similar increase in drug and alcohol-related relapses.
Turkmenistan Outlaws The Word 'Coronavirus'
(Turkmenistan) -- Turkmenistan is working to wipe out the coronavirus, but maybe in name only. The Independent reports that the Central Asian country has outlawed the use of the word. Police are being empowered to detain anyone who speaks about coronavirus in public, while special agents might even listen in on conservations to stop the spread of the word. Government safety measures reportedly only refer to protection against "illness" and "acute respiratory diseases." Turkmenistan has not listed any confirmed cases of COVID-19, though it borders the heavily infected Iran. The nation is often considered one of the world's most closed countries.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1996, an outbreak of "mad cow" disease forced Britain to plan the mass-slaughter of cows.
1985, the album "We Are The World" was released.