Florida News That Impacts You – May 18th, 2021
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Fewer than 2,000 new coronavirus cases were reported by the Florida Department of Health on Monday. With 1,976 new cases reported, just the second day below 2,000 cases this year – Florida's weekly trend for new cases has dropped to the lowest level since October 21st (a six-month low).
- Over 9.6 million Floridians (about 55% of adults) have been vaccinated with at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with 7.6 million who’ve completed a vaccine series. The rate new of vaccinations has continued to slow due to vaccine hesitancy over the past week. Florida’s peak week for vaccinations was the week of April 11th.
- The first gaming casualty of Florida’s Special Session is bingo. Three of the nine gaming bills under consideration during this week’s session were related to the expansion of Bingo at gaming establishments statewide. The bills failed to advance in committee on Monday and aren’t scheduled again this week. However...
- The renegotiated Seminole Compact quickly passed out of committee in the Senate on an 18-1 vote and now advances to the full Senate for a vote. Notably there was a tweak in committee...the timing of sports betting in Florida, should the Compact pass the full legislature. Under an amendment sports betting would commence on October 15th – well into football season. The amendment also removed online casino gambling – while allowing for the possibility of other online betting activities, a la a Draft Kings or like service.
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