Florida News that impacts you – May 8th
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida’s Department of Health launched a new app, available on Apple & Droid devices, called Stronger Than C19. The app acts as a real-time survey and uses your input to track potential exposure to the coronavirus. The software identifies symptoms which may be consistent with COVID-19 and will direct officials deploy resources to treat and contain new cases. The app provides data in real-time to both users and the state.
- Florida saw the smallest increase in new unemployment claims since the lockdowns from the pandemic began with 173,000 Floridians having filed over the past week. That’s fewer than half the weekly average and might indicate a bottoming is occurring in Florida as the state begins to reopen.
- A federal audit of 20 Florida nursing homes conducted in March by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found 16 had incomplete emergency plans and 19 had issues which were identified as “safety concerns”. The timing of the audit was coincidental with the rise of the pandemic but highlights what’s likely still a much bigger issue with nursing home preparedness throughout the state.
- Governor DeSantis announced the Florida Housing Finance Corporation will distribute $5 million to local governments to provide housing assistance to those impacted by COVID-19. These distributions generally provide housing for families who lose homes during natural disasters. Local governments will be able to issue the relief through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership to identify eligible families.