As coronavirus cases and deaths rise in Miami-Dade, officials plan for ‘new normal’

The number of reported COVID-19 deaths in Florida spiked by 72 on Tuesday, marking the largest single-day increase in the death toll since the coronavirus crisis took hold. The total number of cases surpassed 21,500.

The Florida Department of Health reported an additional 34 deaths in Miami-Dade County, bringing the county’s total to 143 — the highest in the state. The total could be larger, as local tallies kept by county administrators have typically exceeded the state’s reported totals.

Miami-Dade officials have indicated that as overall hospitalizations reach a plateau, stay-at-home orders meant to curb the spread of the virus will remain in place for now, and restrictions will be slowly lifted in consultation with public health experts.

State officials reported 609 more confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide, bringing the state total to 21,628.

Florida also saw a jump in the number of employees and residents with the virus at long-term care facilities. Since Monday night, 217 more cases in those facilities were reported, raising the total to 1,179. More than 300 of those cases are at facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward, where the first deaths were announced in March at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale.

Authorities on Tuesday announced the deaths of two residents of the Court at Palm Aire, a Pompano Beach senior living community and skilled nursing center.

It is unclear if the state’s totals include the death of Danielle Dicenso, 33, an ICU nurse at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah. She died last week from possible COVID-19 complications. He husband said she became ill last month with symptoms associated with COVID-19. At the time, her test results were “inconclusive.” Her family is waiting for a final determination from the medical examiner’s office.

As COVID-19’s impact grows, Florida political leaders are balancing a still active COVID-19 crisis with a cautious crawl toward a “new normal” when the state’s economy can reignite.

Meanwhile, the White House trumpets shifting messages on the nation’s next steps in the coronavirus pandemic.

In a reversal from earlier statements assigning responsibility for the country’s response to the pandemic to U.S. governors, President Donald Trump on Monday stated he alone “calls the shots,” particularly when it comes to reopening the country for business. The statement rankled governors, and Trump on Tuesday backed off, saying he’d cooperate with state leaders on when to reopen states.

On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wouldn’t say where he stood on the issue of the president’s authority. He only pointed out that states would likely follow each other in reopening the commerce and recreation that have halted the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Yes, he could get rid of the guidelines ... if he decides to lift that or do more liberal guidelines, then I think you’re going to see the states inevitably follow,” he told reporters at an afternoon press conference. “Because once one or two states does it, the other states are going to kind of be at a disadvantage.”

The governor also announced large shipments of personal protective equipment are arriving. Of one million N95 masks being provided by the federal government, Florida’s government has 800,000 in hand. Large batches of face shields, gloves, containers of hand sanitizer and medical gowns are also being distributed by the state’s emergency management division.

DeSantis has ordered “strike teams” of Florida’s National Guard personnel to test samples of residents and staffers in senior living facilities, a measure the governor said will help detect asymptomatic carriers who could spread the virus in vulnerable populations.

“Doing this spot testing is a way to be able to reduce that and then prevent a major outbreak,” he said.

In his daily address on social media, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the county’s numbers indicate a massive surge of hospitalizations might not reach predicted levels, but that’s not a reason to let down one’s guard.

“That’s good news, but it’s not definitive,” he said. “We must always prepare for the worst, even as we start planning for better days and moving to a new normal.”

Gimenez urged caution when considering when to reopen commercial activity in the county, saying he is convening experts and courting public input on how to ease restrictions on parks first. Restarting business will happen, he said, when it makes sense, with advice from public health experts.

“Not today, not next week, not all in one big sweep,” he said. “But we will move slowly and methodically to ease some restrictions when the right time comes.”

Salvation Army launches emotional support hotline

Help from pastors and emotional care workers is now available through a support hotline launched by the Salvation Army USA.

The hotline number is 1-844-458-HOPE (4673). Workers will be on duty from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Counselors are available for callers who speak English and Spanish. People can leave a message after hours.

You can visit www.SalvationArmyFlorida.org/pray and request a pastor to call.

Online groceries available for food stamp users — from two sellers

Florida residents who use food stamps can use EBT cards to buy groceries online. The program begins Thursday.

The service, available to participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, will allow groceries to be purchased from two sellers: Walmart and Amazon. The EBT card cannot be used for Amazon delivery charges.

The pilot program could lessen the number of people who are physically shopping at grocery stores, which would aid efforts to promote social distancing.

The Florida Department of Children and Families says the program will start in Tallahassee at Walmart stores, where curbside pickup can be used. SNAP participants around the state can use both Walmart and Amazon starting next Tuesday.

Over the weekend, the USDA approved Florida and Idaho joining the SNAP online pilot program that already includes California, Arizona, New York, Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska and Washington. In addition to Walmart and Amazon, ShopRite is working with the state of New York and Wrights Market is working with Alabama.

Herald staff writers Devoun Cetoute, Michelle Marchante, Carli Teproff and David J. Neal contributed to this report.