Beaches are shutting down across Florida

Thousands ignored guidelines calling for social distancing and continued to flock to Florida's beaches — but now, cities have had enough. Several Florida cities have begun closing beach access in an effort to slow down the spread of coronavirus, which has infected nearly 400 Florida residents and visitors. Clearwater City Council voted to close Clearwater Beach for two weeks, effective March 23 at 6 a.m. More from CBS News.

Payment due date for 2019 Tax payments delayed for 90 days

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin announced the April 15, 2020 income tax payment deadline for 2019 taxes has been pushed back by 90 days for taxpayers — but with a limit on the benefit. Now, the IRS has provided the full details in Notice 2020-17. The notice provides that individuals may defer up to $1 million of Federal income tax payments ($10 million for corporations) until July 15, 2020. Read more from Dean Mead and the IRS.

Florida residents at 19 long-term care facilities across have or are suspected of having coronavirus

The Agency for Health Care Administration did not disclose the names of the 19 facilities, citing privacy concerns for the residents, but AHCA secretary Mary Mayhew said the agency would provide a list of counties where the facilities are located. The state banned visitation at long-term care facilities in Broward County last week. As the highly contagious virus continued to spread, the ban was extended statewide. By restricting visitation, Florida hoped to avoid what happened outside Seattle, where the outbreak killed 25 people in a nursing home. More from Creative Loafing.

Top hotel CEOs seek urgent assistance to keep hotels from shuttering

Leading hotel CEOs met today with the White House to discuss urgent economic recovery solutions needed to protect millions of U.S. hotel employees and 33,000 small businesses as travel grinds to a virtual halt across the country. From Main Street to major cities across the country, hotels everywhere are on the verge of shutting their doors in the coming days – many by the end of this week. More from AHLA.

See also:
» COVID-19 impact on Florida's hotel industry

Layoffs inbound as South Florida restaurant closings accelerate

Michael Palou was getting ready for work as a high-end restaurant chef when his phone pinged with the news that he had been laid off. His roommate, a waiter at a different restaurant, announced that he, too, had been furloughed on the same day. Overnight the pair 28-year-olds found themselves unemployed and desperate over how they will survive — much less pay the rent at their $1,500 a month apartment. More from the Miami Herald.