Florida News that impacts you – June 23rd
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida’s Surgeon General Scott Rivkes issued a public health advisory regarding the wearing of masks in public saying: All individuals in Florida should wear face coverings in any setting where social distancing is not possible. All individuals should refrain from participation in social or recreational gatherings of more than 50 people. Practice social distancing by maintaining a distance of at least six feet from each other and wear a face covering. The guidance is a recommendation, not a mandate but comes on the heels of Florida’s highest daily case counts to date over the weekend and Governor DeSantis saying the recent spike is “cause for concern”.
- The Florida Department of Agriculture and the Florida Forest Service announced the reopening of Florida State Forest recreation areas to groups of fewer than 50. The state is no longer accepting payment onsite. Reservations for campgrounds can be made at Floridastateforests.reseramerican.com
- According to background check reporting from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, background checks for the purpose of purchasing a firearm continue to set records in 2020. After March background checks ran six times higher than the previous record set in March of 2013, background checks since the protests began in the wake of the George Floyd killing are running nearly four times higher for June than the prior record set in 2016.
- South Florida will serve as host to a Presidential Debate after all. Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center will host a Presidential debate originally scheduled for October 15th in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Without reassurances from Michigan’s governor regarding the ability to host the debate in the original venue, organizers have turned to South Florida instead.