Huge lines form at Miami food bank just one week from Thanksgiving as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increase across Florida
Huge lines have been forming at a Florida food bank ahead of Thanksgiving and as the coronavirus pandemic worsened across the United States.
Hundreds of cars were spotted queuing for food boxes at Miami's Gwen Cherry Park on Wednesday.
The boxes were being distributed by the Miami Marlins Foundation amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has forced thousands of Floridians out of work.
The foundation handed out enough food for 500 people just one week before Thanksgiving.
Dozens of volunteers were spotted helping to load the food boxes into the cars.
The food line comes as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increased across the state.
Hundreds of cars were spotted queuing for food boxes at Miami's Gwen Cherry Park on Wednesday
The boxes were being distributed by the Miami Marlins Foundation amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
Volunteers place food in the trunks of cars at the food distribution center on Wednesday
Despite a recent rise in cases and hospitalizations, Florida is currently among the states seeing the lowest COVID-19 cases per capita across the country
Despite a third wave of the virus currently ravaging the country, Florida is among the few states that has no restrictions in place to slow the spread of the virus.
Bars, restaurants, theaters and theme parks are all operating at full capacity.
There is also no statewide mask mandate. Instead, it is up to local governments to decide if mask wearing is necessary.
Florida health officials have reported a steady increase in the number of new cases each day over the past month and a half but the numbers are nowhere near the peak in July.
The state is currently seeing a seven-day average of nearly 6,300 new COVID-19 cases a day.
The cars lined up at Gwen Cherry Park as they waited for volunteers to load boxes of food into their cars
The food boxes were filled with fresh produce, meat and dairy products
A lane of traffic was blocked off just for those trying to access the food distribution area on Wednesday
The foundation handed out enough food for 500 people just one week before Thanksgiving
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown thousands of Floridians out of work. Pictured are volunteers loading boxes into residents' cars
That's up from early October, when the seven-day average for new cases was about 2,200.
In mid July, the state reported a seven-day average of nearly 11,700 new cases.
The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in Florida hospitals has also risen in recent weeks.
The state's online census of hospitals showed numbers hovering between 2,000 and 2,200 for most of last month, but as of yesterday, there were 3,369 coronavirus patients in hospitals.
Florida is currently among the states seeing the lowest COVID-19 cases per capita across the country.
The state's daily cases per 100,000 in the last week has been at 27.5. In comparison, North Dakota's case rate per capita is 180.
Masked volunteers spent hours loading boxes of food into waiting cars just one week out from Thanksgiving
Volunteers helped distribute the food as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increased across the state
Despite a recent rise in cases and hospitalizations, Florida is currently among the states seeing the lowest COVID-19 cases per capita across the country
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