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Surfside has hired the preeminent structural engineering expert in the country to investigate the cause of the Champlain Towers South collapse. Allyn Kilsheimer has investigated the Pentagon after 9/11, the FIU pedestrian bridge collapse, and the partial collapse at Charles de Gaulle Airport among other high-profile failures. As of this morning, 152 people remain unaccounted for with 9 confirmed dead.
In other news, Florida’s weekly COVID-19 report showed new cases held steady over the past week. We averaged 1,579 new daily cases. That’s about 100 daily cases higher than the prior week. Also, 10.8 million Floridians have now been vaccinated with at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. All South Florida counties maintain vaccination rates above the state average. However, nearly 10% of Floridians who’ve accepted the first dose of a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine are now late for their scheduled second doses.
Lastly, SeaWorld is among the companies offering bonuses to new employees as they look to add 600 employees this summer. Positions start at a minimum of $14.75 per hour and hiring bonuses are $1,000.