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| A Message from the Florida Chamber |
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AS FLORIDA HITS ITS LARGEST SINGLE DAY OF NEW CASES, NOT ALL COUNTIES ARE SEEING THE SAME SPREAD:
As Saturday’s numbers were revealed yesterday, Florida set two records on the same day – we had BOTH the highest number of new tests in a single day, at 99,033, and also the highest number of new cases in a single day, at 15,300. I was hearing the same news reports you were, so we dug into the data to understand the facts and make sense of the new numbers.
Saturday’s growth in cases of people testing positive for the COVID-19 virus in Florida marked the largest single-day increase to date, not just in Florida but in the nation. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) recorded 15,300 new confirmed cases compared to a day earlier. More than 13,000 (85%) of these new cases were identified in just 14 of our 67 counties, with Miami-Dade and Broward continuing to top the list. As a reference point, Leon County, where I live and where the Florida Chamber is headquartered, had 102 new cases, our hospitalization number stayed even at 65, and our deaths since COVID-19 began remained at 8. As I dug further, I noticed that 30 of our 67 counties had fewer than 25 new cases and Lafayette County had zero new cases. In other words, we clearly have community spread in parts of Florida but the vast majority of counties are holding steady, at least for now. If you haven’t bookmarked www.thefloridascorecard.org as your daily “county level” COVID-19 tracker, I strongly suggest you check it out. As we keep looking at the facts, let’s remember that despite over 40 mask requirements in Florida, the average age of new cases remains approximately 21 years old and approximately half our Florida deaths are NOT happening in the community but, rather, are happening in nursing homes or assisted living facilities which remain closed to the public. This is a serious issue and I continue to urge chamber members to set examples for others by following CDC and Florida DOH guidelines for safely operating your business – for your employees, customers, vendors and all Floridians. Here are the top 14 counties accounting for over 85% of Florida’s NEW cases reported from Saturday. My team and I will continue to monitor this for you and continue to bring you our perspective. |
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Overall, Florida’s Department of Health has confirmed 269,811 positive cases of COVID-19 in Florida and 4,346 infected persons have died. While the number of new cases continues to increase, the number of new deaths reported from Saturday was 45. While new cases are growing in some of Florida’s counties among our younger population, who health experts say are at a reduced risk, Florida’s “vulnerable” population appears, for now anyway, to be the focus of Florida’s efforts and it appears to be largely working.
Unfortunately, politics plays a role in the perception of Florida’s approach to COVID – more on this later this week. Please find the latest COVID-19 numbers on Day 133 below; and please continue to read and share this update with your executive team, family and friends, and remind them to sign-up to receive their personal copy. If you have suggestions or would like to see specific information, please email me directly at mwilson@flchamber.com. |
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COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS AT DAY 133 IN FLORIDA:
While much of what we know about the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncertain, at the Florida Chamber of Commerce we follow the facts, not fear. Saturday, the single day record of new cases in Florida coincided with the largest number of people tested in a single day at 99.033. Now, at Day 133 we continue to see the death rates drop; however, there is no guarantee our percentage of deaths will stay this low and, in fact, the national trends would suggest many numbers will climb before they plateau and ultimately trend down. This is a serious virus and we need to stay vigilant with social distancing, masks and related safety protocols.
Chamber Foundation Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish and our research team continue to analyze COVID-19 data and report on it daily on www.TheFloridaScorecard.org.
- Florida Cases: 269,811
- Increase in Cases: 15,300 (single day record)
- Avg. Daily New Cases: 9,195.4
- Hospitalized: 18,271
- Total People Tested: 2,576,813
- One Day Increase in Tests: 99,033 (single day record)
- Percent Positive: 10.5%
- Florida Deaths: 4,242
- Increase in Deaths: 45
Know how your county is trending! Our COVID-19 County Level Tracker is free and available 24-7, and is based on the latest data available. |
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OUR ANONYMOUS WORKFORCE SURVEY ENDS FRIDAY – PLEASE COMPLETE TODAY:
Together, we are building a diverse workforce that aims to provide opportunity for all Floridians. The Able Trust, one of the Florida Chamber Foundation Community Development Partners, is our key partner in providing opportunities for successful employment for Floridians with disabilities – especially as we relaunch through the changing COVID-19 workforce environment. Please take a few minutes to complete this important anonymous survey now as it closes this Friday, July 17. Please forward the survey to other business leaders so they can participate in securing Florida’s future as well. |
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| STRONGER TOGETHER – CHAMBER MEMBER MCKINSEY & COMPANY PROVIDES COVID RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESS: |
Florida Chamber member and global consulting firm, McKinsey & Company reached out to me recently to offer the Florida Chamber’s Small Business Council members some of their COVID response resources which includes a growing collection of dedicated resources for US small-business owners to help address some of their most urgent questions. These include how to find financial support, manage expenses, support employees, and prepare and/or remain open.
Included are national resources and state and city-specific resources for 29 US cities. All content is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese, and they continue to publish new research on the impact of COVID-19 on US small businesses. Recent publications include: COVID-19’s effect on minority-owned small businesses in the US; COVID-19’s effect on jobs at small businesses in the US , and you can also explore the data through this interactive portal with customizable views by state, MSA, and business size.
Thank you to Chamber member McKinsey & Company for sharing these useful resources with their fellow Chamber members. In the Chamber’s efforts to unite business in Florida for good, we are always grateful and supportive of the sharing of research and resources that help small business and promote our values. |
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REGISTER TODAY FOR PART 1 OF OUR 5 PART WEBINAR SERIES ON CREATING EQUITY OF OPPORTUNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY AND PROSPERITY – ONE ZIP CODE AT A TIME–
July 22 kicks off our 5-part series hosted by our Florida Chamber Foundation Prosperity Initiative to unite business leaders behind our effort in Florida to create equity of opportunity and end generational poverty one zip code at a time. COVID-19 is hitting our nation's poorest neighborhoods the hardest, and in Florida, children who live in poverty live in only 15% of our zip codes. Business leaders in Florida are increasingly playing a vital role in ending the inequality of opportunity in Florida and I hope you will encourage your entire management team to learn more about tools you can use and ways we can all work together to create equity of opportunity in every neighborhood in Florida. Don’t miss out on learning about our equity gaps and adding your voice to the conversation.
Register here for any or all parts of the series.
Please let our Executive Director, Michael Williams (mwilliams@flfoundation.org) know if you are interested in sponsoring and partnering with our efforts. |
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UNDERSTANDING FLORIDA’S VARIOUS MASK ORDINANCES:
Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has advised Floridians to wear masks in public and to socially distance. The Florida Chamber of Commerce has been in constant communication with government leaders and has been using the data given by the Florida Department of Health to set policies for our employees. Many local governments have instituted a variety of ordinances concerning the wearing of masks for both individuals and businesses, and our online Chamber Mask Ordinance Resource Center is helping chamber members statewide to remain compliant with their local governments. The Florida Chamber’s Litigation and Regulatory Reform Center has created the online Chamber Mask Ordinance Resource Center to educate and empower local chambers and members on this changing regulatory environment. If you would like to report that your county is possibly considering a mask ordinance, please send your updates to Andrew Wiggins at awiggins@flchamber.com. |
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The Florida Chamber continues to work to unite Florida business for good, and I welcome your ideas on how we can do better. Please email me directly at mwilson@flchamber.com. Thank you for putting your support and confidence behind your Chamber and the great team that is here to serve you.
My best,
Mark Wilson
President & CEO |
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Federal Lending & Relief Options Still Available for Business Community
The long-awaited Main Street Lending Program is finally operational this week and the Federal Reserve has released information on which banks have already qualified as lenders for the program. The Main Street Lending Program has a lending term of 5 years with a minimum loan size of $250,000 and maximum loan size of $300 million. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has more information on the three lending facilities, loan terms and conditions, and other frequently asked questions. In addition, lenders for the Paycheck Protection Program are still accepting applications through August 8, which could include loan forgiveness for maintaining the same number of employees and payroll, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program is still operational through the Small Business Administration. The EIDL Program still includes up to a $10,000 advance grant that is not repayable even if the company does not qualify for the loan. |
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| Economic Relief Resources |
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Florida set a new national record for the largest daily increase in coronavirus cases in the United States on Sunday, while infections continue to spike around the world.
The state added at least 15,299 positive COVID-19 cases, for a total of 269,811, and recorded 45 more deaths, according to state Department of Health statistics.
More here.
Governor DeSantis said he has no plans to issue a statewide mask requirement at this time, but also won’t preempt local regulations.
To see a list of mask mandates in Florida, view more here. |
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Dow Jones
Industrial Average ended trading 369.21 points higher, or 1.44 % at 26,075.30. The S&P 500 finished 1.05% higher and the Nasdaq Composite closed 0.66% higher.
American Apparel & Footwear Association
The Association sent a letter to President Trump requesting that the administration institute federal face mask guidelines to assist retail stores as the country continues efforts to safely reopen.
Ford
Ford may need to shut down factories in the U.S. as soon as next week if the company doesn't receive its engines built at the Chihuahua Engine Plant in Mexico. |
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Colombia
Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, will go back under a strict lockdown on Monday.
Hong Kong
Announced closing all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools on Monday and there will be a review to decide if school can resume as schedule din August or September.
China
Announced that it has suspended imports from 23 overseas meat companies in countries that include the United States, Brazil, Germany, and the United Kingdom due to coronavirus outbreaks at production facilities. |
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National and global updates brought to you by the Florida Chamber in partnership with Hill+Knowlton Strategies. |
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| Florida Chamber of Commerce www.FloridaChamber.com/Coronavirus |
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