ORLANDO, Fla. — See our nightly in-depth coverage below:
Read live updates below:
BLOG EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 15 abril
Florida ER doc loses custody temporarily of daughter, 4, over coronavirus fears
A divorced emergency room physician in Miami has lost custody of her 4-year-old daughter while she continues to treat novel coronavirus patients, multiple media outlets reported.
New COVID-19 cases
6:55 p.m. update
The Florida Department of Health reported 23 coronavirus-related deaths and 438 new cases statewide since Wednesday morning.
Officials said the total number of cases in Florida has reached 22,519.
They said the death toll stands at 614.
Read: Coronavirus: How to safely clean face coverings
Of the cases, 21,865 involve Florida residents and 654 involve nonresidents.
So far, 3,249 people have been hospitalized in the state. Click here to read more about hospitalizations.
Read: Stimulus checks: When will you get the payment and how much will it be?
Officials said one death was reported in Orange County, bringing the death toll to 19.
Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida, and see a county-by-county breakdown of Central Florida cases below.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
• Orange: 1,072 (1,051 Wednesday morning)
• Osceola: 361 (353 Wednesday morning)
• Polk: 287 (282 Wednesday morning)
• Seminole: 284 (281 Wednesday morning)
• Volusia: 243 (231 Wednesday morning)
• Lake: 180 (170 Wednesday morning)
• Brevard: 173 (164 Wednesday morning)
• Marion: 106 (104 Wednesday morning)
• Sumter: 114 (No change since Wednesday morning)
• Flagler: 46 (45 Wednesday morning)
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.
Orange County COVID-19 update
4:45 p.m. update
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer are giving a live update on the state of the virus in the community. Click here to watch their live news conference.
Demings said there have been 1,051 cases of COVID-19 in the county with 18 deaths. He said almost 12,800 people have been tested so far.
He said a plan for reopening the county’s businesses will be revealed Friday.
Dyer announced a new program that the city has launched in collaboration with the Orlando Economic Partnership called BRACE, which stands for Business Recovery Assistance and Collaborative Engagement.
The initiative is aimed at helping local businesses navigate state and federal assistance programs.
The county also released new information about free mobile testing sites. Scroll below for those details.
👋 New mobile testing sites from the @HealthyFla are now available across the County. Know before you go:
— Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) April 15, 2020
- - - -
👋 Nuevos sitios de pruebas móviles del @HealthyFla ahora están disponibles en todo el condado. Lo que debe saber antes de ir: pic.twitter.com/uXDPPvOeC2
"Beginning April 20, 2020, the OCPS Grab-and-Go Meal distribution program will move to a three day/week distribution schedule. The new schedule will be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at all 52 sites." -Scott Howat, Communications Director, @OCPSnews pic.twitter.com/7Mp9TPzVXq
— Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) April 15, 2020
Free mobile testing sites coming to Orange County
3:20 p.m. update
To better serve residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County announced it is partnering with Orange County Government and the city of Orlando to offer free, mobile testing sites throughout the county.
Starting Monday, April 20, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County will offer free COVID-19 testing to Orange County residents.
The sites are open weekdays only.
No symptom criteria is required for testing, but you must have an appointments and be 18 years and older. Testing activities will sustain as long as supplies last.
Residents can secure an appointment for testing by calling the DOH-Orange's COVID-19 Call Center at 407-723-5004. The Call Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.
Individuals can walk to the drive-through testing sites; however, they must have an official appointment provided by the Call Center. Individuals with an appointment are asked to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before their scheduled time.
Read: Coronavirus: Where COVID-19 testing is available in Central Florida
Mobile testing dates and locations:
Monday, April 20 - Jay Blanchard Park, 2451 N. Dean Road, Orlando, FL 32817
Tuesday, April 21 - South Econ Community Park, 3800 S. Econlockhatchee Trial, Orlando, FL 32829
Wednesday, April 22 - Camping World Stadium, 1 Citrus Bowl Place, Orlando, FL 32805
Thursday, April 23 - Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808
Friday, April 24 - West Orange Park, 150 Windermere Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787
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.
BLOG EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 15 abril
FDOH reports 430 new coronavirus cases, 5 more deaths as of Wednesday afternoon
3:05 p.m. update
The Florida Department of Health released new coronavirus cases numbers Wednesday afternoon, reporting that 430 more cases of the virus were confirmed between Wednesday morning and Wednesday at 3 p.m. as well as five additional deaths.
The state’s total number of cases is now 22,511 with 596 deaths.
Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida, and see a county-by-county breakdown of Central Florida cases below.
NEW CASES:
Orange: 1,073 (1,051 this morning)
Seminole: 283 (281 this morning)
Volusia: 242 (231 this morning)
Brevard: 173 (164 this morning)
Osceola: 361 (353 this morning)
Lake: 179 (170 this morning)
Marion: 107 (104 this morning)
Flagler: 46 (45 this morning)
Polk: 286 (282 this morning)
NO CHANGE:
Sumter: 114
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.
Salute to medical professionals
2:50 p.m. update
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will join Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón, Orlando Fire Chief Ben Barksdale, and members of both departments, in conducting a "Salute to Medical Professionals” on the front lines of COVID-19 throughout the Orlando Health system Wednesday night.
Live updates from Orange County, White House
1:40 p.m. update
Local and federal officials have live news conferences planned for Wednesday afternoon to provide the public updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read: Coronavirus in Central Florida: Here is how to stay informed
• Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will give a live update at 4:30 p.m.
• President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force are scheduled to speak live at 5 p.m.
Read: Orange County COVID-19 testing site to now test 750 people daily instead of 400
Click here to watch them live.
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.
Workers laid off from Trump’s Florida resort
1:30 p.m. update
The Trump golf resort in South Florida where President Donald Trump initially wanted to host this year’s Group of Seven summit has temporarily laid off 560 workers.
A notice that the Trump National Doral Miami filed with the State of Florida at the end of last month said it had been forced to halt its business because of the spreading new coronavirus.
Read: Stimulus checks: When will you get the payment and how much will it be?
The resort in metro Miami has been closed since mid-March and it’s unknown when it will resume regular operations.
The laid off workers are mostly food and beverage workers, golf attendants, housekeepers and bell hops.
None of the workers are unionized.
3 new deaths in Central Florida
11:35 a.m. update
The Florida Department of Health reported 20 coronavirus-related deaths and 453 new cases statewide since Tuesday evening.
Officials said the total number of cases in Florida has reached 22,081.
Read: Stimulus checks: Payments are being deposited today; what to do if you don’t see yours
They said the death toll stands at 591.
Of the cases, 21,435 involve Florida residents and 646 involve nonresidents.
Read: Coronavirus: Florida man released early from jail arrested the next day on murder charges
So far, 3,099 people have been hospitalized in the state. Click here to read more about hospitalizations.
Officials said one death was reported in Volusia County and two deaths were reported in Sumter County since Tuesday evening, bringing the death toll in each county to eight and 11 respectively.
Flagler County has not report any additional cases since Monday. Marion County reported no additional cases since Tuesday.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida, and see a county-by-county breakdown of Central Florida cases below.
• Orange: 1,051 (1,038 Tuesday evening)
• Osceola: 353 (349 Tuesday evening)
• Seminole: 281 (275 Tuesday evening)
• Polk: 282 (279 Tuesday evening)
• Volusia: 231 (226 Tuesday evening)
• Lake: 170 (169 Tuesday evening)
• Brevard: 164 (163 Tuesday evening)
• Sumter: 114 (113 Tuesday evening)
• Marion: 104 (no change since Tuesday)
• Flagler: 45 (no change since Monday)
Click here to watch live, in-depth coverage of how the pandemic is affecting Central Florida on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon.
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.
Orange County Convention Center testing site
10:40 a.m. update
The COVID-19 testing site at the Orange County Convention Center has increased the number of people who can be tested for the coronavirus daily from 400 to 750.
Read: Coronavirus: Where COVID-19 testing is available in Central Florida
Watch the full news conference below, and click here to find a testing site near you.
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.
10:06 a.m. update
Florida’s teachers union called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to keep campuses closed through the end of the school year, according to the Associated Press. Teachers believe the coronavirus presents a threat that cannot be controlled.
DeSantis said last week he might reopen schools in May because children don’t seem to die from the disease, but backed off that stance Tuesday, saying a reopening won’t happen until it is safe.
9:13 a.m. update
The Rotary Club will be providing free toilet paper from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for all DeBary residents.
The toilet paper will be given out at VFW Auxiliary Post 8093 which is located at 351 South Charles Richard Beall Boulevard.
Proof of address will be required.
BLOG EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 15 abril
7:52 a.m. update
The City of DeLand will be ringing bells of thanks to health professionals and first responders for their efforts battling those affected by COVID-19.
The city will join several Central Florida communities including the city of Eustis, Leesburg, Tavares and Lake County by ringing the bell atop “The Sutherland” antique fire engine outside City Hall at 4:15 p.m.
Read: Coronavirus: WWE deemed essential business by Florida’s governor
7:22 a.m. update
Palm Coast will hold a virtual town hall with residents and health officials regarding COVID-19.
Residents can submit their questions here.
6:38 a.m. update
Publix has announced it will designate special store hours for first responders and hospital staff for their efforts in treating those affected by the coronavirus.
Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday mornings from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. will be for first responders only.
Read: Publix to offer extended hours for hospital staff, first responders
4:26 a.m update
Health officials said the total number of COVID-19 cases in Florida has reached 21,628.
The Florida Department of Health reported 47 coronavirus-related deaths and 261 new cases statewide since Tuesday morning. They said the death toll stands at 571.
Of the cases, 20,984 involve Florida residents and 644 involve nonresidents.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
Orange County has the highest amount of cases in Central Florida, with 1,038 confirmed.
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.
BLOG EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 15 abril
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