Florida throws open its doors -- and holds its breath

[babylonsister]

Florida throws open its doors — and holds its breath
The “Full Phase 1” reopening is an experiment with life-and-death consequences.
By MARC CAPUTO and BRUCE RITCHIE
05/18/2020 10:02 PM EDT


MIAMI — Over the past week, Florida reported nearly 5,460 new coronavirus cases — and 262 deaths.

On Monday, the state threw open its doors to residents and tourists itching to get back to a semblance of normal.

The urban centers of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which have remained largely closed, joined the rest of the state in slowly reopening businesses as Florida became one of the largest states in the nation to test how to reopen commerce amid a pandemic.

Gyms can open back up and restaurants can double capacity, to 50 percent, across nearly all of Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing theme parks — a lifeblood of the state — to open, and professional sports leagues to set up shop.

The “Full Phase 1” reopening is an experiment with life-and-death consequences for people, the health of the Florida economy and, potentially, President Donald Trump’s chances of winning the nation’s biggest swing state and therefore his reelection.

more...

https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2020/05/18/florida-throws-open-its-doors-and-holds-its-breath-1284537

[jimfields33]

1. It seems all states are. No use pointing out one.

[babylonsister]

6. I'm sort of holding my breath.

The fact that numbers are most likely being suppressed and data changed doesn't help.


https://cbs12.com/news/local/woman-who-designed-floridas-covid-19-dashboard-has-been-removed-from-her-position


Woman who designed Florida's COVID-19 dashboard has been removed from her position
by Sabrina Lolo
Monday, May 18th 2020


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — As Florida starts to reopen, the architect and manager of Florida's COVID-19 dashboard, announced she'd been removed from her position, Florida Today reported.

Rebekah Jones said in an email to CBS12 News that her removal was "not voluntary" and that she was removed from her position because she was ordered to censor some data, but refused to "manually change data to drum up support for the plan to reopen."

[Baitball Blogger]

8. It's possible that my county finally posted data that they may have been holding back,

because it's the largest amount of data in one day that I've seen.

[Omen78]

2. My family and I are heading down to Florida

In three weeks to enjoy some time at the beach along the gulf. We will follow all the necessary safety protocols.

[CaptainTruth]

3. Come to Florida & surf the second wave of Coronavirus.

[jimfields33]

4. Still waiting on the first

I know 3 counties down in southern Florida got it but everyone else did pretty well.

[tanyev]

5. If they can hold their breath for several months they might be OK.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. I don't know if there is a delay in posting numbers, but today Seminole County had

over 2123 tests and 7 positives.

High on the number, and high in the positives.

This is the level of testing we expected.