ORLANDO, Fla. — Read live updates below:
Phase one of reopening Florida plan begins Monday
11:44 p.m. update
Gov. Ron DeSantis said most of Florida will be able to enter phase one of a three-phase reopening plan on Monday, except for the three counties with the most COVID-19 cases in South Florida.
Read: Reopening Florida: What is reopening on Monday?
Some Orange County testing locations have appointments available for Monday
7:02 p.m. update
Orange County officials said there are appointments available for the South Orange Youth Park testing site location.
The Venture Elementary School location has space, but it is quickly reaching the daily capacity, officials said.
No insurance is required and testing is free.
New COVID-19 testing site opening at Orlando Walmart parking lot
3:44 p.m. update
Officials said a new appointment-only COVID-19 testing site is opening at the parking lot of the Walmart at 5991 Goldenrod Road.
The site will operate from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Health care providers, first responders and those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will be able to be tested at this site.
Gov. DeSantis says mobile lab will travel to different long-term facilities to test residents for COVID-19
2:30 p.m. update
Gov. Ron DeSantis said a mobile lab inside a RV will be traveling to different long-term facilities this week to test residents for COVID-19.
He said officials will be using a test that gives results in 45 minutes.
DeSantis said private sector testing is set to start statewide by CVS, Walgreens and Walmart.
The governor also talked about the restart of elective surgeries as phase one of the reopening begins Monday.
A doctor at the press conference said patients will be screened at checkpoints several days before surgery.
He said visitation will be limited for reduced volume of surgeries, which include aneurysm surgeries, limb salvage, symptomatic gallbladder and hernia surgeries and even cancer-related surgeries.
RIGHT NOW: @GovRonDeSantis kicking off today’s press conference at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach talking about the restart of elective surgeries/procedures tomorrow as Phase 1 of the reopening begins. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/nSGMU2lx6Z
— Deanna Allbrittin (@deannaTVnews) May 3, 2020
Watch the press conference below:
DeSantis gives COVID-19 update at Daytona Beach hospital
1:40 p.m. update
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a live news conference about the status of COVID-19 in the state at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE <<<
The announcement comes on the eve of the first phase of the reopening of the state’s economy.
Read: Reopening Florida: What is reopening on Monday?
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are excluded from that phase of the plan because of their high number of coronavirus cases.
Click here to watch DeSantis speak live.
1 new death in Volusia County
11:50 a.m. update
Florida health officials reported 615 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 additional deaths statewide since Saturday.
One of the deaths was reported in Volusia County, where 26 people have died of the virus.
Read: 423 people have died of COVID-19 at Florida’s nursing homes, state says
The number of coronavirus cases in the state is now at 36,078, with 1,379 deaths.
See a county-by-county breakdown of local cases below:
Read: Reopening Florida: What is reopening on Monday?
• Orange: 1,434 (1,422 Saturday)
• Polk: 523 (514 Saturday)
• Volusia: 513 (509 Saturday)
• Osceola: 509 (494 Saturday)
• Seminole: 394 (395 Saturday)
• Brevard: 308 (297 Saturday)
• Lake: 234 (No new cases since Saturday)
• Sumter: 226 (221 Saturday)
• Marion: 184 (182 Saturday)
• Flagler: 140 (138 Saturday)
Download the WFTV news app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon for live updates on this developing story, or click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox.
ICU nurse sues condo company
11:40 a.m. update
A Florida nurse is filing an equal opportunity complaint alleging her condo rental application was denied because her ICU job brings her in contact with novel coronavirus patients.
Jennifer Piraino says she was told her to pick up her application and the $100 money order for a background check.
When she asked why, she was told she was rejected “just with everything going on."
Read: Coronavirus live updates: Birx says vaccine by January possible 'on paper’
She said the management company won’t return her calls or emails.
Greta Tremmel owns the Boca Raton unit. She organized a picket line outside the apartments Friday.
Pointe Management Group and condo association president did not respond to requests for comment.
List of nursing home deaths
9:50 a.m. update
The Florida Department of Health has released a list of nursing homes that have reported deaths.
Click here to see the full list.
Read: 423 people have died of COVID-19 at Florida’s nursing homes, state says
Reopening Florida’s restaurants
7:40 a.m. update
Officials in some Florida counties say a patchwork of state regulations makes it difficult to implement the new pandemic rules set by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Republican governor said restaurants in all but three counties can reopen their dining rooms Monday at just 25% capacity.
Outside dining areas are limited only by social distancing guidelines.
Read: Special outdoor dining at Orange County restaurants requires permit when reopening, mayor says
In some areas, businesses are asking local officials for expansion of outdoor seating.
It’s all an attempt to drag Florida’s dismal economy back to what it was before the pandemic.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are excluded from the new rules because coronavirus cases are still surging there.
DeSantis to speak in Daytona Beach
6:45 a.m. update
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference about COVID-19 on Sunday afternoon at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
The news conference is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Click here to watch it live once it begins.
Read: Reopening Florida: What is reopening on Monday?
DeSantis met with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings on Saturday at an Orlando-area hair salon.
The two officials met with people who work in the industry to get their input on how to safely reopen hair salons and barber shops.
On Monday, much of Florida will begin the first phase of a three-phase reopening plan. Click here to read more about that.
Read: TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Saturday, May 2
The first phase does not apply to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties because they have been at the epicenter of the pandemic in Florida.
Click here to watch live, in-depth coverage of how Central Florida is preparing for the economy’s reopening.
Click here to read a full recap of Saturday’s coronavirus coverage.
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.
Cox Media Group
