SHARE:
Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida and the COVID-19 recession: Looking ahead
Along with taking a toll in human lives, the COVID-19 virus — or more precisely, the attempt to contain it — has shredded the state and national economies. Some perspective: Since the end of World War II, there have been 12 recessions (including this one). The shortest, at the beginning of 1980, lasted about six months; the longest — about 30 months — was the Great Recession from December 2007 to June 2009. So, six months — or much longer? [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida prepares for unique hurricane season
If Florida experiences the misfortune of a hurricane on top of an epidemic this year, the encounter will be unlike any previous confrontation with the powerful storms. If you lose power, it may take longer to get it back. If your house is damaged, the in-person insurance adjuster could be replaced by a phone app that will allow you to send your insurance company photos of the damage. At shelters, workers will conduct health screenings and temperature checks. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Why didn’t tourist capital Orlando have more coronavirus cases?
Orlando had all the makings to become a coronavirus hot spot. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando attract millions of people from across the globe to make the city the nation’s most visited. The city’s international airport is among the nation’s busiest. Today, more than nine weeks since the first show canceled at the Orange County Convention Center because of the then-building pandemic, Orange County is better off than every other major population center in Florida. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
How Florida slowed coronavirus: Everyone stayed home before they were told to
Why didn’t Florida see an explosion of cases? While Florida’s politicians debated beach closings and stay-at-home orders, residents took matters into their own hands. By the time each county shut down, there had been large reductions in activity, the cell phone data shows. People in the worst-hit counties were overwhelmingly staying home weeks before DeSantis’ order went out — and even before the much-earlier orders issued by local governments. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida farmers hoping second round of federal disaster loans save small agriculture businesses
Florida’s farmers and ranchers say their business disappeared almost overnight as COVID-19 restrictions shuttered bulk buyers like restaurants. Researchers are now trying to discover how big a bite the virus took as the industry aims to rebound. No one is certain how extensive the damage is just yet. Initial numbers show decreased demand already cost Florida’s second-largest industry more than half a billion dollars. [Source: WPTV]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Here are the barbershop, salon rules for reopening in Florida on Monday
Barbershops and salons must operate by appointment only and allow 15 minutes between appointments to sanitize their work stations, according to rules released by state officials. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday added salons and barbershops to those that could reopen under his plan to restart the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. But he waited until Saturday morning to release the executive order and guidance to shop owners in the form of a Q&A.
› UFC 249′s opening bout revives Jacksonville sports scene
At 7:09 p.m., Ryan Spann swung a punch into the body of Sam Alvey, striking the first blow inside the octagon of UFC 249 and reopening the sports calendar on the First Coast. Jacksonville sports are back in session. Inside a near-empty VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, shut off from would-be spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC event ended a virus-enforced drought that had halted major sports for nearly two months.
› Panama City Port Authority seeks $3 million grant
The Panama City Port Authority got support from Bay County Commission Tuesday for a $3 million grant application to the Triumph Gulf Coast board. If the application is approved, it will be combined with another $1.5 million in port authority funds to complete site work and other infrastructure improvements at the Port Panama City’s Intermodal Distribution Center.
› As Orlando tech firms adapt to remote working, Electronic Arts is still hiring
As coronavirus and work-from-home orders swept across Florida and the rest of the U.S., companies had to quickly determine how to continue their work with as little disruption as possible. For some, it meant creating support systems that would build a more remote working culture. But for others, like the video game company Electronic Arts, it meant understanding that the more that people stay home, the more they will play their company’s games.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
