Florida

TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Tuesday, May 19

ORLANDO, Fla. — Watch our in-depth coverage below:

Read live updates below:

Blog en español: ÚLTIMA HORA, 19 mayo: Disney World emite advertencia justo antes de que abran partcialmente Disney Springs

Some deemed eligible for unemployment but haven’t received money

10:30 p.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that staff noticed a lot of user error while trying to process people’s claims. But what about those who were deemed eligible and haven’t received a dime?

Watch our interview with one woman who said that describes her situation.


Red Hot and Boom 4th of July fireworks canceled in Altamonte Springs

9 p.m. update

The Red Hot and Boom 4th of July fireworks show in Altamonte Springs will not be happening this year, city officials announced Tuesday.

The show is billed as the largest fireworks celebration in central Florida, and one of the largest in the southeast United States.

Officials said entertainment will be offered on social media platforms instead.

Read the city manager’s full statement below:

“Red Hot and Boom is the largest fireworks celebration in central Florida, and one of the largest in the southeast United States. It is held on July 3rd. We have more than 165,000 people just around Cranes Roost, and a total of 250,000 people right around the Uptown Altamonte area. We cannot ensure the safety of our visitors with that many people coming into central Florida from other parts of Florida and other states. So we are not going to have Red Hot and Boom this year; we will move our entertainment to our social media platforms. We will be back with Red Hot and Boom next year. It was a really hard decision, but it is important for leaders to make the harder right decision than the easier wrong decision. We must lead by example.”

Walt Disney World’s warning

5:45 p.m. update

As Walt Disney World prepares to allow some third-party shops and restaurants to open at its entertainment complex later this week, it’s posting a warning.

The warning posted Monday on the website for Disney Springs said while enhanced safety measures are being taken, there’s “an inherent risk” of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present.

Read: Disney Springs partial reopening begins Wednesday: Here’s what we know so far

The opening of some shops and restaurants at Disney Springs on Wednesday marks the latest baby steps Orlando’s theme park resorts are taking toward reopening.

They have been shuttered since mid-March when the spread of the new coronavirus forced them to close their gates.

Download the WFTV news app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on this developing story, or click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox.


DeSantis gives update on unemployment system

5 p.m update

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is giving a live update on the state’s troubled unemployment system.

Read: Coronavirus: Treasury Department to send some stimulus payments on debit cards

Click here to watch the news conference live on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 5.


Blog en español: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 19 mayo: Reportan 500 casos nuevos de COVID-19 en Florida; más de 2,000 muertes


502 new cases, 55 more deaths statewide

3 p.m update

Florida health officials reported that 55 people have died of COVID-19 since Monday and that there were 502 new cases of the virus.

Data shows there have been 46,944 cases of the virus in the state and 2,052 deaths.

Read: Is a second $1,200 stimulus check likely; when would it come; what happened to the $2,000 proposal?

Polk County reported two new deaths since Monday. Central Florida reported 72 new cases of the virus in that time.

See the latest case numbers by county below, and click here to see a statewide map of cases:

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

• Orange: 1,699 (1,679 Monday)

• Polk: 766 (746 Monday)

• Osceola: 629 (627 Monday)

• Volusia: 612 (605 Monday)

• Seminole: 442 (435 Monday)

• Brevard: 371 (367 Monday)

• Lake: 257 (254 Monday)

• Sumter: 253 (252 Monday)

• Marion: 224 (223 Monday)

• Flagler: 167 (160 Monday)

Download the WFTV news app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on this developing story, or click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox.


Miami-Dade, Broward counties join the rest of the state in reopening

2:30 p.m. update

Florida’s two biggest counties have joined the rest of the state in reopening nonessential businesses and restaurants after wide coronavirus closures.

Areas popular among visitors maintained restrictions put in place because of the pandemic.

Read: Coronavirus: Treasury Department to send some stimulus payments on debit cards

Miami Beach and the city of Miami were delaying opening retail, hair salons and barbershops until later this week and restaurants, later this month.

In the rest of the state, Florida allowed restaurants and shops to expand capacity from 25% to 50% capacity.

The state also allowed gyms, libraries and museums to reopen at limited capacity.


Brevard County parents found remote learning to be a challenge, survey says

12:25 p.m. update

Brevard Public Schools said a survey of students' parents indicated that more than two-thirds of them say one or two adults are working from their homes while overseeing their children’s remote instruction.

The survey found that almost one-third of the parents reported that adults in their household have lost jobs or significant income during Florida’s economic shutdown because of COVID-19.

Read: Brevard County government facilities reopen, public asked to follow CDC guidelines

The school district said it sent a survey link to more than 70,000 households by text message and email, and more than 11,300 parents completed the survey.

Those who responded said the sudden switch to online learning has been difficult.

WATCH: Pence speaks with astronauts as countdown to launch from Space Coast nears

More than 80 percent of survey respondents said their children communicate by phone or email with their teachers at least once per week.

Click here to see the full results.


ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 19 mayo: Pruebas de COVID-19 en el Cdo. Osceola


Additional COVID-19 testing site opens in Osceola County

8:03 a.m. update

Additional coronavirus testing will be offered in Kissimmee, courtesy of the Florida Department of Health.

The site will be located at the Robert Guevara Community Center.

Appointments can be made by calling 407-343-2000.


Orlando mayor to visit testing site

6:22 a.m. update

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is set to visit one of the city’s mobile drive-thru and pedestrian-accessible testing site at the Northwest Community Center on Tuesday morning.

The site will be open for testing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This site is one of several new free mobile testing sites the city is opening to expand testing to neighborhoods throughout the city. The sites will operate two days per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the above times, switching to a new location around Orlando on the operating days.

The next testing site location will open on Thursday at the Northlake Park Community School.

TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Monday, May 18


Free PPE offered at Orange County coronavirus testing sites

4:29 a.m. update

Beginning today, a different COVID-19 testing site in Orange County will offer free personal protective equipment for residents that get tested.

The testing is at Riverside Elementary, just off Maitland Boulevard.

Free PPE will also be offered at a testing site at Mid Florida Tech, officials said.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

People who show up will receive a box of face masks and hand sanitizer.

Appointments are required, and testing will go until Thursday.

Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

Jason Kelly joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2014. He serves as the station's Digital Executive Producer.

Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.

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