Florida

TIMELINE: Coronavirus updates March 24

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.

See our in-depth coverage:

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.

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.

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.

>>> EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA COVID-19: Florida amanece el martes con 1,467 casos y 20 muertes <<<


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.”

Read: Holland America ship with 42 people with flu-like symptoms to dock in Florida amid coronavirus pandemic

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.


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


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.

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:


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

>>> 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.


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.

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.

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.

Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

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

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.

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