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As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic grips the globe, it can be difficult to find reliably factual information about what's going on here in Florida.
This blog is a resource to address that crucial need. 10News reporters and producers will use it to share the latest headlines, while actively focusing on facts not fear.
Key Facts
- The Florida Department of Health is reporting 26,314 cases of COVID-19 in the state. The health department is also reporting 774 deaths.
- Gov. Ron Desantis said K-12 students statewide will continue distance learning for the remainder of the school year.
- Florida has named nursing homes and assisted living facilities dealing with coronavirus cases.
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10:46 p.m. (April 19)
Jobless Floridians are angry after turning to the state’s unemployment benefits system -- only to find a broken process.
Weeks of frustration has inspired some to create the Tallahassee Stand for Your Unemployment Benefits rally that will take place at the state capitol in Tallahassee at 2 p.m. Monday.
People are asked to respect social distancing and stand at least 6-feet apart should they show up.
8:03 p.m. (April 19)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday will hold an organizational and informational meeting regarding the reopening of the state's economy, according to a news release.
It is scheduled for 2 p.m.
5:30 p.m. (April 19)
The Florida Department of Health reports 774 people have died from COVID-19 coronavirus; it is an increase of 10 deaths since the morning update.
There are 318 more positive cases of coronavirus the agency is tracking, bringing the total to 26,314.
4:22 p.m. (April 19)
Two of the five residents evacuated from Freedom Square Rehabilitation on Saturday who were tested for COVID-19 coronavirus received a negative result.
Three of them tested positive and already were reported as such, the facility said Sunday.
Staff began removing people from the Freedom Square of Seminole facility on Friday after three people died from coronavirus. Several people were transported to area hospitals earlier in the week when they became symptomatic or tested positive for the virus.
10:53 a.m. (April 19)
The number of confirmed and reported COVID-19 cases in Florida has increased by 504 this morning. The state now has 25,996 confirmed cases, per the health department.
Sadly, 16 more families are grieving the loss of relatives who have died since the last update. A total of 764 people have died of COVID-19 in Florida.
5:40 p.m. (April 18)
The Florida Department of Health reports eight more people have died from COVID-19 coronavirus since the morning update, bringing the total to 748 deaths.
There also has been an increase of 223 positive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus. The statewide total now is 25,492 cases.
4:30 p.m. (April 18)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave an update on the state's response to limit the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.
DeSantis announced distance learning for K-12 students will continue through the remainder of the school year and, for the first time, nursing homes and assisted living facilities statewide will be publicly named if they have coronavirus cases.
Florida also will create its own task force meant to reopen the state to business, DeSantis said. More information will be coming Monday, but the governor teased Republican State Rep. Chris Sprowls will serve on the task force.
2:30 p.m. (April 18)
Three more residents have tested positive for coronavirus at a Seminole nursing home that began evacuations on Friday.
Yesterday, Freedom Square Nursing Home confirmed a total of three residents had died, and 36 were positive for COVID-19 after the outbreak at the facility worsened in the past 10 days. On Saturday, the nursing home confirmed the three additional positive cases. Another two more people are awaiting test results.
The facility said it has identified and called 237 employees and made COVID-19 testing available to them. So far, 91 workers have been tested. Thirteen of them were positive for COVID-10.
In all, 95 patients have been relocated from the site. They have all been tested. The majority, 53 of them, were negative.
RELATED: 3 more residents test positive for COVID-19 at nursing home evacuated after outbreak, deaths
1:37 p.m. (April 18)
The Florida Department of Health Sarasota is slated to host three COVID-19 coronavirus testing sites throughout the county next week. It is by appointment only.
People must also work in a health care setting or currently be experiencing symptoms of coronavirus.
Call 941-861-2883 to make an appointment.
The sites are the following:
- North Sarasota: Tuesday, 4/21, 8 a.m. to Noon - R L Taylor Community Center, 1845 34th Street, Sarasota
- Mid-County: Thursday, 4/23, 8 a.m. to Noon - Laurel Civic Association, 509 Collins Road, Laurel
- South County: Friday, 4/24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price Blvd, North Port
1 p.m. (April 18)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the U.S. and Canada have agreed to keep the border closed to nonessential travel for another 30 days.
Trudeau says it will keep people on both sides of the border safe amid the pandemic. U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S.-Canada border will be among the first borders to open. Nearly 200,000 people normally cross the border daily.
The U.S. has more confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 than any country in the world. The U.S. and Canada agreed last month to limit border crossings to essential travel amid the pandemic. The agreement was due to expire this week.
11:30 a.m. (April 18)
Florida Department of Health is reporting 25,269 cases of COVID-19 in the state. The health department is also reporting 740 deaths.
10:30 a.m (April 18)
Duval and St. Johns counties reopened their beaches Friday afternoon. Beachgoers will be able to use the beaches from 6 a.m. until noon for physical activity.
However, leaders in Pinellas County had a different perspective on Thursday. They decided to keep the beaches closed, saying the area will not even hit its peak for COVID-19 cases until April 26, and it’s too soon to talk about reopening.
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9:10 p.m. (April 17)
There are now 1,609 cases of coronavirus in long-term facilities in Florida, and 157 people have died in a long-term facility from the virus.
That’s 21 percent of the deaths in the state coming from long term facilities.
Pinellas County now has 4th more cases in the state. Manatee County has 8th most.
Cases Deaths
Pinellas. 93 3
Manatee 58 11
POLK. 35 5
Sarasota 33 5
Hillsbor. 15 0
Pasco. 7 0
Hernando 2 0
Citrus. 1 0
7:10 p.m. (April 17)
Ninety-five residents of Freedom Square Nursing Home have been transferred to other facilities. Thirty-six patients have tested positive for coronavirus. The results of six other patients are pending.
6:51 p.m. (April 17)
The Hillsborough County Department of Health is reporting one new death. This brings the total deaths in the county to 19.
"The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County expresses our condolences to their loved ones," the department wrote in a release.
6:01 p.m. (April 17)
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is reporting new cases of COVID-19 in employees and youth in their facilities.
A total of 10 employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, up from the two previously reported cases before Friday morning, according to the DJJ.
The department is reporting the first instances of youth in their facilities, with four testing positive.
The majority of cases come from facilities in South Florida, though there is one case reported in the Tampa Bay area, at Pinellas Regional Juvenile Detention Center.