ORLANDO, Fla. — State health officials have reported 1,467 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 20 deaths. Orange County on Tuesday issued a stay-at-home order beginning for two weeks beginning Thursday night.
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Read live updates below:
9:30 p.m. update
Orange County Public Schools announced Tuesday that all proms within the district have been canceled.
The district said the cancellations come from the recommendations of the CDC and the Florida Department of Health about social gatherings, in addition to some venues canceling.
The district has also canceled all Grad Bash events.
Tickets will be refunded for prom and Grad Bash events, the district said.
No decision has been made regarding graduation, but the district tweeted it still hopes to host the ceremony. A decision will be made on graduation in the upcoming weeks.
OCPS families, we have disappointing news to share. Following the recommendations of the CDC and the Florida Department of Health about social gatherings, along with cancellations by some venues, the district made the difficult decision to cancel all proms & Grad Bash events. /1
— OCPS News (@OCPSnews) March 25, 2020
7:20 p.m. update
Orange County said it will issue a stay-at-home order from 11 p.m. Thursday until 11 p.m. April 9. Essential businesses will be allowed to remain open.
What’s the difference between an essential business and a non-essential business? The county said the following:
Essential
Health care providers, pharmacists, veterinarians, therapists, restaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets, produce stands, banks, news organizations, hardware stores, gas stations, licensed contractors, mail and shipping services, waste management, laundromats, airlines, assisted living facilities, landscapers, day care facilities and more. Click here to see a full list.
Non-essential
Amusement rides, carnivals, water parks, pools, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, bowling alleys, pool halls, movie and other theaters, concert and music halls, country clubs, social clubs and fraternal organizations.
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>>> EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA COVID-19: Florida amanece el martes con 1,467 casos y 20 muertes <<<
A universal message about how #COVID19 spreads... and many other viruses for that matter)
— Irene Sans (@IreneSans) March 25, 2020
Video by @Stanford & @StanfordMed https://t.co/DywmDn6XIb
Here's the link to the Orange Co. #StayAtHomeOrder, but I know the big question for most people is essential vs non-essential workers so I added the pics of those four pages to this tweet. @WFTV #Coronavirushttps://t.co/LFBWjBHuF0 pic.twitter.com/EDuV3Rj0Cm
— Deanna Allbrittin (@deannaTVnews) March 24, 2020
#COVID19 Updates | March 24, 2020
— Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) March 24, 2020
✅ @OrangeCoFL has 50 confirmed #COVID19 cases
✅ Stay At Home Order will go into effect 3/26/20 at 11PM, for 2 weeks
✅ Stay At Home Order applies to ALL RESIDENTS of Orange County
More info: https://t.co/Wfmbe3zEhn on Executive Order. pic.twitter.com/4AmQi6PoCu
6:45 p.m. update
The Florida Department of Health reported two more deaths and 55 more cases of coronavirus in the state.
Health officials said there are now 1,467 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and 20 deaths.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
Of the cases, 1,379 involved Florida residents and 88 are nonresidents.
Read: COVID-19 panic will destroy your immunity and health
6:15 p.m. update
President Donald Trump is giving a live update on the coronavirus pandemic. CLICK HERE to watch him speak live.
5:25 p.m. update
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he has issued a stay-at-home order for all of Orange County and the cities within it, lasting from 11 p.m. Thursday until 11 p.m. April 9.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said people will still be allowed to leave their home to buy groceries, to order takeout, to buy supplies to work from home, to get exercise and to visit the pharmacist or doctor’s office, so long as they practice social distancing.
Read: Coronavirus: Here’s how to apply for unemployment in Florida
Officials said that those who cannot work from home will still be able to go to work.
They said businesses that do not sell “essential items” must close once the order goes into effect.
“The order prohibits things like visiting other people’s homes (except to provide care or supplies), gatherings of more than 10 people and closes all non-essential establishments, including most retail, recreation and entertainment businesses,” the city of Orlando said in a statement. “Residents will be allowed to conduct essential activities like going to the grocery store, receiving medical care or taking their pet for a walk.”
Click here to read the full executive order.
Sheriff John Mina said he and his deputies are not interested in arresting people who violate the stay-at-home order. Instead, he said he wants the public to be in the “right frame of mind.”
He said he learned Monday evening that an Orange County deputy tested positive for the coronavirus after traveling internationally. Mina said the deputy has not been at work for three weeks.
Universal Orlando Resort said it is extending its closure through April 19.
Click here to watch live updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News.
Mayor Demings: says he will sign an executive order for a STAY AT HOME mandate starting 11pm on Thursday and continue for two weeks. #COVID19 #coronavirus #wftv
— Daralene Jones (@DJonesWFTV) March 24, 2020
5:06 p.m. update
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is expected to give a live update on the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to watch live
Your #FLNG is now assisting @HealthyFla administer health screening questionnaires at five major airports in the state. Passengers at @FLLFlyer, @iflymia, @MCO, @JAXairport, and @FlyTPA coming from high-risk #COVID19 areas should be prepared to complete short questionnaires. pic.twitter.com/aeyZYoHphu
— FloridaNationalGuard (@FLGuard) March 24, 2020
4:20 p.m. update
The Dow surged 2,000 points on Tuesday afternoon -- its biggest-ever point gain -- as Congress moved closer to passing a coronavirus aid package.
Click here to watch live, in-depth coverage of the coronavirus pandemic on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 4.
4 p.m. update
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said health officials will issue a health advisory that states that all people 65 or older need to stay home to minimize their chance of exposure to the coronavirus.
He said he is also expanding an executive order restricting gatherings of more than 10 people at private residences and public places, such as town squares.
DeSantis said he will sign an additional executive order stating that anyone who has traveling from the greater New York City area within the last three weeks needs to self-quarantine for 14 days and notify people with whom they have had contact.
He blamed people flying in from New York and New Jersey for potentially spreading the coronavirus.
DeSantis said people fleeing from those states have mostly gone to South Florida and some to Orlando.
JUST IN: @GovRonDeSantis to sign an additional executive order to say that anyone who’s traveled from the greater NYC area to Florida must self-isolate for two weeks. #WFTV @WFTV #COVID19 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/uxuDscOu1O
— Megan Cruz (@MeganWFTV) March 24, 2020
He has resisted calling for a statewide shutdown and stay-at-home orders as several other governors have done.
Instead, DeSantis has shifted the onus to residents from elsewhere.
On Monday, he issued an executive order requiring anyone arriving on a flight from the New York City area to self-quarantine for 14 days.
DeSantis has said he wants to avoid imposing a statewide shelter-in-place order. He called such an action a “blunt instrument” that could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs.
He said the state received 39,000 unemployment claims Sunday and Monday.
Watch the governor’s latest news conference below:
Gov. DeSantis says health officials will Issue health advisory that states all persons 65 or older need to stay home to minimize exposure. #COVID19 #coronavirus #wftv
— Daralene Jones (@DJonesWFTV) March 24, 2020
No stay at home order still from the governor. He has been criticized for not doing it, but standing his ground on his decision. but warns no block parties and no more than 10 people in your homes! #wftv
— Shannon Butler (@SButlerWFTV) March 24, 2020
Gov Desantis signing additional order anyone traveling from NYC to Fl need to report all contacts that they have had in the state of Fl @WFTV
— Martha Sugalski (@MarthaSugalski) March 24, 2020
2:28 p.m. update
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be giving a live update on the coronavirus at 3 p.m.
Click here to watch him speak live once the news conference begins.
1:50 p.m. update
President Donald Trump said he is considering loosening coronavirus restrictions and hopes that the county will be reopened by Easter.
He said he is weighing how to refine nationwide social-distancing guidelines to put some workers back on the job amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As many public health officials call for stricter, not looser restrictions on public interactions, Trump said he was already looking toward easing the advisories that have sidelined workers, shuttered schools and led to a widespread economic slowdown.
He said that he would “love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter.”
1:20 p.m. update
With school out, do you know of a student in need of a free lunch? Click here to learn when and where meals are being distributed in your county.
11:05 a.m update
The Florida Department of Health announced Tuesday morning that there are now 1,412 cases of COVID-19 in the state and 18 deaths. That is up from 1,227 cases and 17 deaths Monday night.
COUNTIES WITH NEW CASES:
Orange: 50 (up from 48 last night)
Osceola: 26 (up from 25 last night)
Seminole: 23 (up from 22 last night)
Volusia: 18 (up from 16 last night)
Lake: 14 (up from 9 last night)
Sumter: 10 (up from 8 last night)
Brevard: 9 (up from 7 last night)
Flagler: 4 (up from 3 last night)
NO CHANGE:
Marion: 4
#COVID19 UPDATE 🚨
— Megan Cruz (@MeganWFTV) March 24, 2020
TOTAL #FL CASES: 1,412
-1,330 residents
-82 non-residents
-18 deaths
Orange: 50 (48 last night)
Osceola: 26 (25 last night)
Seminole: 23 (22 last night)
Volusia: 18 (16 last night)
Lake: 14 (9 last night)
Brevard: 9 (7 last night)
Marion: 4 (No change) pic.twitter.com/GuZ4g3xM91
>>> EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA COVID-19: Florida amanece el martes con 1,412 casos y 18 muertes <<<
11 a.m. update
Officials said an employee at Marion Correctional Institution Work Camp (MCIWC) was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.
Breaking: @FL_Corrections
— Christopher Heath (@CHeathWFTV) March 24, 2020
“Correctional Institution Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19”
On Sunday, March 22, an employee at Marion Correctional Institution Work Camp (MCIWC) was confirmed positive for COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/UDPmK5C93i
10:30 a.m. update
A Flagler Beach police officer has tested positive for COVID-19, Police Chief Matt Doughney said in a statement Tuesday.
“Our Officer has been at home since exhibiting symptoms last week and the Health Department is actively monitoring the Officers condition,” Doughney said.
As a precautionary measure, Doughney said a second Flagler Beach officer has been isolated at home since last week as well due to that officer having direct contact with the officer who tested positive.
#breaking .@FBPD tests positive for #coronavirus. He’s been home since showing symptoms pic.twitter.com/pIzgMvbe4E
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) March 24, 2020
EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA COVID-19: Florida amanece el martes con 1,412 casos y 18 muertes
9:22 a.m. update:
Seminole County Emergency Management Chief Administrator Alan Harris will answer questions for locals on Facebook Live regarding the county’s response to the coronavirus at 10:30 a.m.
Seminole County Emergency Management Chief Administrator Alan Harris will host a Facebook Live Chat this morning to answer questions related to Seminole County’s COVID-19 response. The Live Chat will be hosted https://t.co/hL0wHKHGEG on Tuesday, March 24, at 10:30am. pic.twitter.com/plmnOfCk4Y
— Seminole County, FL (@seminolecounty) March 24, 2020
Read: Wedding bliss in Central Florida on hold amid coronavirus outbreak
8:52 a.m. update:
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will hold a press conference at 5 p.m. with health officials to provide an update on the coronavirus within the county.
You can watch the conference LIVE here.
4:43 a.m. update:
More than 130,000 people have signed a change.org petition asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to enact a measure that would close non-essential businesses amid the coronavirus outbreak.
People would only be able to leave home for things like grocery shopping, visiting a doctor, or picking up takeout, but Gov. DeSantis said he needs to consider the economic impact on the parts of the state that doesn’t have any cases.
Watch our in-depth team coverage below:
Read: Looking for work? Here’s a list of businesses hiring during the coronavirus pandemic
Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking President Donald Trump to declare a Major Disaster for Florida as the state responds to COVID-19.
In his letter to the president, DeSantis requests disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling, community disaster loans and the disaster supplemental nutrition program.
Read the full letter by clicking here.
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