Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wilton Manors as of Monday rose 30% to 110 since a week ago. Last week that number stood at 85. In Oakland Park confirmed cases rose to 87 from 77 last week.
“We are concerned about the increasing numbers in Wilton Manors and are working closely with Broward County officials and other local Mayors regarding health, safety and a coordinated reopening effort,” said Wilton Manors City Commissioner Paul Rolli. “It is the responsibility of every person to take personal responsibility to protect ourselves and others in all circumstances.”
Many of those new cases might be from the Manor Pines Convalescent Center, an assisted living facility in the city, which now has 49 current cases among residents and 29 cases among staff. Last week those combined numbers stood at 59. These numbers though, according to the state’s report, are not cumulative and were last updated May 8. Sixteen residents from the facility have died of COVID-19, the most of any nursing facility in South Florida.
“This situation involving Manor Pines is heartbreaking and we express our sympathies to the families of those who have passed,” Rolli said.
According to the Florida Department of Health as of Monday, 5,858 people have tested positive in Broward County, up from 5,312 a week ago. A week ago Florida entered phase 1 of its reopening, but that did not include Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties. On Monday Palm Beach County entered Phase 1 as well, while on Friday Governor Ron DeSantis said he’d like to move Broward and Miami-Dade into Phase 1 on May 18.
“Even if the governor and county allow businesses to re-open, the bottom line is residents should do what they think is necessary to not catch the virus or spread it to others,” Wilton Manors City Commissioner Gary Resnick said. “Particularly elderly persons and persons with any health issues should be staying home, and avoiding contact as much as possible. Just because the state and county open businesses do not mean going there is safe. And if the state or county makes a bad decision, there’s no do-over for those that get sick or die. Governments cannot protect you.”
Resnick noted that DeSantis extended the Emergency Order another 60 days, allowing Wilton Manors and other local governments to continue to hold virtual meetings.
Wilton Manors City Commissioner Julie Carson said there is an item on the agenda for Tuesday’s virtual commission meeting to purchase $20,000 worth of cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer in preparation for the city’s reopening. She believes these supplies will last four to six months.
“Business owners should make similar investments for the future,” Carson said.
Some parks in the city reopened a week ago including Hagen Park, Mickel Park and all boat ramps, which are now open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Guidelines for visiting the parks are as follows:
– All visitors must practice six-feet social distancing and wear a face covering when social distancing is not possible
– Tennis courts may be used for singles play only
– Limited restroom facilities and water fountains will be open
“The measured opening of some parks in the City [...] is an appropriate response, given that Florida, Broward County, and Wilton Manors continue to see cases climb and more people are dying from this virus,” Resnick previously said.
Carson is encouraging those that have the ability to donate money to give to this GoFundMe page, set up to assist the employees of Wilton Manors businesses. So far it has raised $7,001.
“The COVID 19 pandemic puts us all in challenging circumstances and to get through it we are all going to have to work together like never before,” Rolli said.
In Fort Lauderdale there have been 1,364 (1,240) cases. (The numbers in parenthesis are from last week.)
Meanwhile there are 40,596 (36,078) confirmed cases in Florida, more than 1.37 million (1.2 million) in the U.S., and globally more than 4.21 million (3.5 million). So far there have been 1,721 (1,379) deaths in Florida, 80,000 (69,000) in the U.S. and globally more than 284,000 (250,000).
Looking at the four individual zip codes that include some portion of Wilton Manors 33305 has 91(69) cases; 33306 has 8; 33334 has 90 (84), and 33311, which includes a large part of Fort Lauderdale has 336 (319). All of the zip codes include portions of neighboring cities.
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