Florida

9 things to know about Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Orlando today

By Christopher Heath, WFTV.com
By Christopher Heath, WFTV.com

ORLANDO, Fla. — Vice President Mike Pence will be making a stop in Orlando to meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis about Florida’s phased economic reopening.

Here are nine things to know about his visit:

1. Delivery

Vice President Mike Pence will deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) to a nursing home as part of the federal initiative to deliver PPE to more than 15,000 nursing homes across the country.

Read: Vice President Pence to visit Orlando to discuss phased reopening, deliver PPE

2. 80%

More than 80% of the COVID-19 deaths in Florida have been from people over the age 65. More than 400 of the 2,052 deaths in Florida due to COVID-19 have come at nursing homes.

3. Situation

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Florida stands at 46,944 as of May 19 with 2,052 deaths.

4. PPE

Across the county, healthcare workers and business owners have expressed concerns with shortages of PPE and wildly fluctuating prices.

5. Tourism

The vice president will also participate in a roundtable discussion with hospitality and tourism industry leaders to discuss plans for reopening.

Read: As thousands wait to get unemployment payments, some Disney workers say they were overpaid

6. Slow

Beaches have already reopened, but other places have still not said when they will open. The Florida Keys have slated June 1 for a reopen, however, Orlando’s largest theme parks have yet to say when they will open.

7. Rooms

A report issued by Visit Orlando showed hotel occupancy below the levels seen in the days following 9/11.

8. Governor

Gov. Ron DeSantis will make his second trip to Orlando in three days to take part in the visit by the VP.

9. Space?

The VP is also the chairman of the National Space Council. The council advises the president on space policy and strategy and reviews the nation’s long-range goals for space activities. In just a few days, SpaceX will launch the first U.S. astronauts into space from Florida in almost a decade.

Read: 9 things to know about NASA’s 1st manned rocket launch in 9 years

Watch Air Force Two land at Orlando International Airport below:

Pence speaks with astronauts scheduled to liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast Pence speaks with astronauts scheduled to liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast

© 2020 Cox Media Group

Most Read