Hospitalizations on the rise in Florida as COVID-19 cases continue to be reported

The Florida Department of Health released new data on Florida’s fight against COVID-19. As of Wednesday’s report, over 858,000 people have contracted the disease since March. The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in Florida hospitals shows continued signs of an upswing in the past couple of weeks. [Source: Click Orlando]

Expect short-term rentals in Florida to rise during the winter months

While this year has undoubtedly been the least traveled year since the inception of commercial flight (probably), there has been a boom in the real estate market in the Sunshine State, one that many never expected. Along with the spike in homeownership in the state due to the demand for work from home, rental properties have also seen a record spike, especially in the slower months like September. [Source: Florida Insider]

Report: Florida’s coral reefs among most damaged in U.S.

A new report sounds an alarm on challenges with the nation’s ecosystem including a major decline in coral reefs around Florida. According to a study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and The University of Maryland, the reefs off heavily populated Florida are among the most damaged, with as little as 2% of the coral reefs remaining. [Source: CBS Miami]

Future of business travel unclear as virus upends work life

Partner account executive Brian Contreras was used to traveling frequently for his company. But nine months into the pandemic, he and thousands of others are working from home and dialing into video conferences instead of boarding planes. That trend could spell big trouble for hotels, airlines, convention centers and other industries that rely so heavily on business travelers like Contreras. [Source: Florida Politics]

Higher Ed goes ACT/SAT-optional due to COVID-19 – but not in Florida

As the pandemic has made it difficult for students to take SAT or ACT tests, colleges and universities across the country have waived the requirement for admissions. However, the state of Florida has resisted relaxing the rules. The effects on its school system are clear. Fall applications to all 12 campuses within the Florida state university system are way down, up to 50 percent of last year. [Source: The College Post]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Brevard County commissioners narrowly approve 40 arts, cultural grants [Florida Today]
Forty local arts and cultural organizations will be splitting up $175,000 in grants, after the plan was narrowly approved by the Brevard County Commission.

› Florida health experts urge caution to prevent 'Twindemic' of flu and COVID-19 [WUSF]
Some health experts are warning of a "twindemic" as winter approaches with the flu spreading at the same time as the coronavirus.

› Coronavirus keeping Canadian tourists away this winter [Palm Beach Post]
Canadian tourists will not be coming down to Palm Beach County this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and that spells bad news for businesses that rely on the dollars these winter visitors spend on everything from restaurants to real estate.

› UCF hospitality students worry for careers as tourism world is ‘turned upside down’ by COVID-19 [Orlando Sentinel]
Corey Clancy seemed to be doing all the right things: Taking classes at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management in the I-4 tourism corridor and working part-time at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort on the side. Then the coronavirus pandemic struck.

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› Florida reports human case of West Nile virus [Fox News]
A human case of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus has been reported in a Florida county, according to health officials there.

› Reports: Former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown considered as Biden's HUD pick [Jacksonville.com]
Former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown is a potential top pick to lead President-elect Joe Biden's Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a Politico report. Brown made history in 2011 as the city's first Black mayor, serving one term as the top executive for Florida's largest city.

› Smaller, brighter Winn-Dixie opens west of Boynton Beach, part of chain's effort to revive brand [Palm Beach Post]
A new-look Winn-Dixie supermarket opened its doors Wednesday morning at the Cobblestone Shopping Center west of Boynton Beach at Lyons Road and Boynton Beach Boulevard.

› Florida author publishes book about being trapped on cruise ship during pandemic [Source]
A bestselling novelist from Florida had quite the story to tell after surviving a coronavirus outbreak on a cruise ship overseas early in the pandemic. “It was like we landed in a disaster movie,” Gay Courter, of Tampa Bay, said in an interview before Tuesday’s release of her new book, “Quarantine! How I Survived the Diamond Princes Coronavirus Crisis.”

"It’s hard to get people excited about banking these days, but they seem to get excited about artisan gin."

Rothman has sampled gins all over the world. The Tampa private equity investor, a minority owner of the Washington Football Team, got into the spirit during his extensive world travels and was amazed at the variety of small-batch gins across Europe. Rothman, Susie Martinez and Daniel Martinez are hoping to ride a global gin wave with U.K. import 6 O’Clock Gin. The three have partnered up to be the U.S. importer for Bristol, U.K. distiller 6 O’Clock Gin, which has already found a home behind bars at Tampa restaurants like Bern’s Steak House, Meat Market and 717 South.

Read more at the Tampa Bay Times