BY ALEX GALBRAITH, MAX STEELE & NSF
COVID still trending up, Orlando gets drone drops, DeSantis cracks down on pop-ups and other news you may have missed last week. »
COVID-19 hospital numbers jump
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Two Floridians make this year’s Time 100 list
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New law targets ‘pop-up’ events
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NOAA predicts above-average hurricane season with as many as six major hurricanes
Continuing an upward trend, the number of Florida hospital inpatients with COVID-19 has increased nearly 17 percent, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The data showed 2,352 inpatients with COVID-19, up from 2,018 in the previous count. Also, the data showed 212 COVID-19 patients in intensivecare units, up from 158 on the previous Monday. Numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have steadily increased in recent weeks, as variants of the coronavirus have developed and spread. The numbers, however, remain significantly lower than early in the year, when the highly contagious Omicron variant swept across the state. Time magazine’s new 100 “most influential people” list touches both ends of the political spectrum in Florida, including both Gov. Ron DeSantis and Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith. Author Kristen Arnett wrote that “in the fight for equality in Florida, there has perhaps been no greater advocate for LGBTQ people” than Smith. “Smith comes from a family with a strong civil rights background and has consistently chosen to defend those who are the most vulnerable in our state and across the country,” Arnett, an Orlando native, wrote. “She is a Black, queer woman who has regularly spoken out about discrimination and biases against LGBTQ people when others have stayed silent.” Regarding DeSantis, former Gov. Jeb Bush wrote that while the “Beltway crowd may not like his style,” the current governor’s “approach works.” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a measure that seeks to crack down on unsanctioned “pop-up” events put together through social media. Lawmakers passed the bill (HB 1435) in March, after incidents in places such as Volusia County. As lawmakers considered the bill, House sponsor Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, described it as a way to control events that have become “invasions,” shutting down coastal communities. The bill, which drew opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, will allow authorities to declare areas as “special event zones” because of unpermitted events anticipated to attract 50 or more people and disrupt traffic. The zones could blanket entire cities. The bill will double fines for noncriminal traffic infractions in the event zones and allow police to impound vehicles for up to 72 hours for criminal and noncriminal traffic violations. The measure also will allow local governments to impose more stringent regulations than what’s in state law about vehicle radios or other soundmaking devices.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts an active hurricane season in 2022. The government agency’s Climate Prediction Center predicts a 65 percent chance of an above-average season, citing La Niña, decreased winds that would interrupt the formation of hurricanes and a strong monsoon season in Western Africa that will lead to stronger tropical waves. Overall, NOAA predicts between 14-21 named storms. Of these storms, they expect six to 10 to become hurricanes. Of these 10 hurricanes, they predict that three to six might become major hurricanes, defined as storms with winds of 111 mph or higher. As recent storms in the Gulf have shown, it can take many years to recover from Category 3 or higher hurricanes and the damage they cause. NOAA urged preparedness in all areas where hurricanes are likely, noting that large storms can span multiple states.
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Orlando and Tampa get first crack at Walmart’s plan for drone delivery in Florida Walmart announced that a partnership with DroneUp, a drone service company, will allow qualifying stores to deliver orders by drone in as little as 30 minutes. For a delivery fee of $3.99, over 100,000 Walmart items can be delivered via drone. The company expects to make over 1 million deliveries via drone in a year, according to a press release. Walmart says Florida is among one of six states where this service will be available by the end of the year, with Tampa and Orlando to see first action, according to a report from Axios. Drone orders must be placed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and weigh under 10 pounds. After an order is placed, the item(s) will be packaged, loaded into a drone and delivered to the yard of the address that placed the order. Participating stores will host a team of certified pilots to fly the drones. orlandoweekly.com
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JUNE 1-7, 2022 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY
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