ORLANDO, Fla. — Read live updates below:
BLOG EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 17 abril
Brevard County administering COVID-19 immunity tests
9:30 p.m. update
Brevard County is now administering COVID-19 immunity tests. Read about them here.
White House gives coronavirus update
6:29 p.m. update
The White House is giving a coronavirus update.
Dozens gather in downtown Orlando to rally for the state to reopen
5:53 p.m. update
Dozens are gathering in downtown Orlando to rally for the state to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protesters gathering do not appear to be abiding by social distancing orders and staying six feet apart.
Mayor Jerry Demings responded to the rally, calling it a circus.
Read the full story here.
Florida health officials update COVID-19 case numbers
5:35 p.m. update
The Florida Department of Health reported 634 additional cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the total number of cases to 24,753.
Of the cases, 24,066 are Florida residents and 687 are non-residents, health officials said.
Florida officials reported 40 deaths since Friday morning, including two in Orange County, one in Seminole County and one in Polk County.
The death toll has reached 726 in the state.
NEW CASES:
Orange: 1,158 (1,135 this morning)
Seminole: 313 (310 this morning)
Volusia: 270 (263 this morning)
Brevard: 205 (202 this morning)
Osceola: 392 (388 this morning)
Lake: 197 (187 this morning)
Sumter: 120 (117 this morning)
Marion: 116 (115 this morning)
Flagler: 55 (52 this morning)
Polk: 316 (311 this morning)
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announces Economic Recovery Task Force
4:24 p.m. update
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced the Economic Recovery Task Force.
Demings said it is a group of nearly 50 individuals representing small business, hospitals, theme parks, financial institutions, hotels and representatives from Lake, Osceola and Seminole counties.
"I am announcing the @OrangeCoFL Economic Recovery Task Force ... a group of nearly 50 individuals representing small businesses, hospitals, theme parks, financial institutions, hotels, and representatives from Lake, Osceola and Seminole Counties." -@OCFLMayor pic.twitter.com/BHgc4EclwX
— Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) April 17, 2020
Orlando leaders introduce COVID-19 data tracker
4:14 p.m. update
Orlando leaders have introduced a COVID-19 data tracker.
The tool tracks cases in the city as well as in Orange County.
Mayor Buddy Dyer said the tool will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
To view the tracker, click here.
New heat map for City of Orlando Covid-19 cases. They’re launching a data tracker on the city’s website today. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/r2L8ZXOgDE
— Lauren Seabrook (@LSeabrookWFTV) April 17, 2020
Orange County leaders to give update
3:52 p.m. update
Orange County leaders are giving an update at 4 p.m. on the coronavirus pandemic.
>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE<<
Osceola County leaders introduce dashboard
3:11 p.m. update
Osceola County leaders have introduced a dashboard similar to the dashboard created by the Florida Department of Health.
The dashboard shows information like health care capacity, cases by ZIP code and Osceola business damage.
To view the dashboard, click here.
Central Florida food banks giving out food this weekend
3:00 p.m. update
Several Central Florida food banks are giving out food to those in need this weekend.
For a list of food banks, click here.
Read: Coronavirus: These Central Florida food banks are giving out food this weekend
Osceola County leaders give coronavirus update
2:47 p.m. update
Osceola County leaders will be giving an update on the coronavirus pandemic at 3 p.m. The update will be livestreamed on WFTV’s Facebook page.
>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE<<
12:00 p.m. update
We are live on WFTV Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon.
>>Click here to tune in<<
11:18 a.m. update
The Florida Department of Health reported 779 additional cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the total number of cases to 24,119.
Of the cases, 23,443 are Florida residents and 676 are non-residents, health officials said.
Florida officials reported 18 deaths since Thursday night, including one in Brevard County.
The death toll has reached 686 in the state.
NEW CASES:
Orange: 1,135 (1,114 last night)
Seminole: 310 (306 last night)
Volusia: 263 (255 last night)
Brevard: 202 (192 last night)
Osceola: 388 (384 last night)
Lake: 187 (186 last night)
Marion: 115 (112 last night)
Flagler: 52 (50 last night)
Polk: 311 (304 last night)
NO CHANGE:
Sumter: 117
11:00 a.m. update
Florida’s unemployment rate jumps by highest percentage since Great Recession
Preliminary number from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Florida’s unemployment rate jumping by the highest percentage since the great recession.
The state’s unemployment rate for March shot up to 4.3% from 2.8% in February.
The preliminary numbers from BLS show 443,000 people now unemployed. That number had been 290,000 at the end of February.
To read more, click here.
Read: Florida’s unemployment rate jumps by highest percentage since Great Recession
2 Orlando Publix workers test positive for COVID-19
10:45 a.m. update
Two Orlando Publix workers have tested positive for COVID-19, the company said.
Officials said one associate works at the store at 2873 S. Orange Ave. and the other associate works at 16825 E. Colonial Drive.
Publix did not say when the associates last worked.
We Are Change Orlando holding rally to reopen Florida
10:20 a.m. update
We Are Change Orlando said it is hosting an event Friday to reopen Florida.
According to an event post on Facebook, organizers said they will be rallying outside the Orange County administration building in downtown Orlando while local officials give a news briefing inside.
Organizers said it will be a peaceful demonstration.
They will be rallying from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
To read more, click here.
10:03 a.m. update
Gov. DeSantis gives COVID-19 update
Gov. Ron DeSantis is giving an update on the coronavirus pandemic in Florida.
9:28 a.m. update:
St. Cloud food pantry to receive a $15,000 donation
St. Cloud city officials will present their local food pantry with a $15,000 donation Friday.
St. Cloud Community Food Pantry will receive the donation during a 1 p.m. presentation.
8:25 a.m. update:
Protesters gather outside Governor’s Mansion
A group of protesters gathered outside the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, asking to protect prisoners from the coronavirus.
The group wants prisoners who are close to their release dates and most vulnerable to the virus to be released. They also want better sanitation in prisons and free medical care for prisoners.
7:50 a.m. update:
Gov. DeSantis to provide coronavirus update
Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. to provide an update on COVID-19 in Florida.
>>>You can watch his remarks LIVE here<<<
6:17 a.m. update:
Sen. Bracy to hold press conference
Sen. Randolph Bracy is slated to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. regarding the continued claims of Florida residents’ issues with filing for unemployment.
Bracy will discuss why he called for a special session in the Florida Legislature.
Read: Coronavirus: Where COVID-19 testing is available in Central Florida
4:24 a.m. update:
Updated COVID-19 cases in Central Florida
Officials confirmed Florida hit 23,340 cases of coronavirus Thursday evening, up from the 22,897 reported Thursday morning, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Of the cases in Florida, 22,674 are Florida residents.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
There have been 668 coronavirus-related deaths in Florida as of Thursday.
Orange County has the most confirmed cases in Central Florida, with 1,114 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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