HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – The recent diagnosis of an assisted living facility worker in Hollywood threatened the safety of yet more seniors in Broward County. Minutes away from Lincoln Manor, a cluster of 13 COVID-19 cases plagued Atria Willow Wood, a much larger assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale. (Curren family, WPLG)Richard Curren was the first of three Atria Willow Wood residents to die. He blamed their deaths on Atria Senior Living, the operator of the assisted living facility. Seven Atria Willow Wood residents remain hospitalized and two test results are pending as of Tuesday afternoon.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – As the sun sets over Lincoln Road on Thursday in South Beach, there was an eerie sight. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has been gradually shutting down the local economy to help stop the spread of COVID-19, a deadly respiratory illness that has killed nine people in Florida. The austere new measure is devastating to Tony Lockhart, who owns to beauty salons in Miami-Dade County. She doesn’t know if she will be able to open the businesses again after the pandemic is under control. On Thursday night, the Florida Department of Health reported the Centers for Disease Control and Protection confirmed 101 cases in Miami-Dade County and 96 cases in Broward County.

South Floridians who are struggling financially over the public health restrictions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic moved closer toward receiving federal aid. The Senate cleared a new relief package with a 90-8 vote on Wednesday. President Donald Trump said he is ready to sign the new bill, which had bipartisan support. The $1 trillion plan is meant to cover the cost of testing for COVID-19, extend paid sick and family leave and strengthen unemployment insurance. The Treasury Department expects to be able to send direct payments to workers who are facing a financial loss because of COVID-19 by early next month.