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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Majority doesn’t want lockdown lifted in Florida unless health officials say it’s safe
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found that 72% of Floridians don’t want to “loosen social distancing rules” at the end of April, when the governor’s lockdown order prohibiting residents from leaving home except for essential services and activities is set to expire. Additionally, 76% of Floridians believe the economy only should reopen when public health officials say it is safe, according to the poll. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Inside Jabil’s pandemic response from St. Petersburg to China
Jabil makes everything from iPhone components to Internet-connected kitchen appliances and GoPro cameras, but until January, it never thought much about needing huge quantities of hand sanitizer at its factories. In St. Petersburg, where the company has its headquarters, it sourced the ingredients to 3 Daughters Brewing so that it could make hand sanitizer for local paramedics and emergency responders. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida ice cream business isn’t so sweet with coronavirus pandemic
As restaurants struggle with closed dining rooms, Central Florida’s ice cream shops are hurting as well. Local parlors have seen sales drop and been forced to adjust how they do business, even as people may be turning to comfort food to deal with the stress and boredom of the pandemic. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Miami small businesses worry latest federal money won’t reach them
The $349 billion program Congress created in late March to help small businesses stay afloat saw funds evaporate in 13 days, partly because large, publicly traded companies drained the loans. The second round of PPP funding, reached as part of a nearly $500 billion bipartisan deal to also send money to state governments and hospital systems, cleared the Senate Tuesday night and is expected to move through the House of Representatives and to President Trump’s desk later this week. More from the Miami Herald.
Lab technicians work long and hard to provide test results, vital information
Lab technicians worldwide, such as the 17-member staff at UF Health Jacksonville, are working behind the scenes to test COVID-19 samples and provide data for doctors and elected officials to make informed decisions. “I’ve always felt my job was important, but now it feels a little more important,” said Stephanie Mertz, one of the 17 technicians at the UF Health Jacksonville’s Microbiology Lab. “It’s always important in terms of patient care but now this affects other people.” More from the Florida Times-Union.
Out of the Box
A new act for unemployed performers: Spreading joy with Quarantine Desserts
Performers Michelle Knight and Kristen Sheola might be out of work, but they are behind the hottest — and sweetest — ticket in town. In response to the COVID-19 shutdown, the two actors formed Quarantine Dessert Company, an online delivery service for homemade cookies and cupcakes.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Profile
Steve Griggs
The CEO of the Tampa Bay Lightning discusses the challenges of working from home and his, and the teams' expectations for the future. He says the most important lesson he's learned is to lead with positivity.
» Read more from the Business Observer.
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