ORLANDO, Fla. — Read live updates below:
OMNI health care to test more than 800 patients Monday, plans to begin performing immunity testing
9:46 p.m. update
OMNI health care plans to test more than 800 patients for COVID-19 on Monday, officials said.
The majority of the patients have already scheduled an appointment.
OMNI said it plans to begin performing immunity testing this week. It is in the process of validating the results being advertised by test manufacturers.
To find out more about OMNI, click here.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues emergency use authorization to decontaminate millions of N95 respirators
9:32 p.m. update
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization that has the potential to decontaminate approximately 4 million N95 respirators per day for reuse by health care workers in hospital settings.
“Our nation’s health care workers are among the many heroes of this pandemic and we need to do everything we can to increase the availability of the critical medical devices they need, like N95 respirators,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “FDA staff continue to work around the clock, across government and with the private sector to find solutions. This authorization will help provide access to millions of respirators so our health care workers on the front lines can be better protected and provide the best care to patients with COVID-19.”
Orlando Police Department headquarters and substations lobby remains closed
8:48 p.m. update
The Orlando Police Department said its headquarters and substations lobby will remain closed until further notice.
Marion County officials give update on recent coronavirus-related death in county
7:23 p.m. update
Marion County officials said a 49-year-old woman who lived in Ocala passed away this weekend after contracting COVID-19.
Officials said she did not have any underlying health conditions.
This is the third death related to COVID-19 in Marion County.
“We are saddened to report the passing of a member of our community,” said Florida Department of Health in Marion County Administrator Mark Lander. “Our deepest condolences go out to her family and loved ones.”
Brevard County’s director of emergency management gives update
6:32 p.m. update
Brevard County’s director of emergency management, Kimberly Prosser, gave an update on the county’s COVID-19 response fund and other resources.
Watch the update below:
Florida health officials update COVID-19 cases
6:12 p.m. update
The Florida Department of Health reported 551 additional cases of COVID-19 since Sunday morning, with the total number of cases now at 19,895.
Of the cases, 19,337 involve Florida residents and 558 involve nonresidents. So far, 2,672 people have been hospitalized.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
Officials also reported nine deaths since Sunday morning, with three deaths in Central Florida.
Officials reported one death in Brevard County, one death in Marion County and one death in Flagler County.
The death toll in Florida now stands at 461.
Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida.
NEW CASES:
Orange: 949 (942 earlier)
Osceola: 323 (321 earlier)
Seminole: 255 (251 earlier)
Polk: 254 (248 earlier)
Volusia: 201 (199 earlier)
Lake: 150 (148 earlier)
Brevard: 133 (125 earlier)
Marion: 93 (92 earlier)
Flagler: 45 (46 earlier)
NO CHANGE:
Sumter: 110
Osceola County leaders reminding residents to wear face coverings in public
3:20 p.m. update
Starting tomorrow, Osceola County officials said every person living, working, visiting or doing business in the county will be required to wear a cloth facial covering consistent with CDC guidelines.
2:40 p.m. update
Brevard County firefighters help celebrate boy’s birthday
The Brevard County Fire Rescue said it helped celebrate a boy’s birthday with a drive by on Berkely Street.
Firefighters said Lennox wasn’t able to celebrate due Florida’s stay-at-home order. Instead, they drove by his house and celebrated together.
Florida police chief placed on leave
1:45 p.m. update
A Florida town has placed its police chief on leave after officers alleged he said a deputy died of the coronavirus because he was a “homosexual who attended homosexual” events.
The Fraternal Order of Police said Davie police Chief Dale Engle made the comments after officers expressed concerns about their safety following the death of Broward County Deputy Shannon Bennett.
The union said Engle responded by saying Bennett got the disease because he attended gay sexual events.
Engle later said in an email to his staff that his statements were not meant to be derogatory.
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.
New coronavirus cases
11:45 a.m. update
The Florida Department of Health reported 361 additional cases of COVID-19 since Saturday evening, with the total number of cases now at 19,347.
Of the cases, 18,794 involve Florida residents and 553 involve nonresidents. So far, 2,633 people have been hospitalized.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
Officials also reported six deaths since Saturday evening. The death toll in Florida now stands at 452.
Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida.
Read: Coronavirus live updates: Fauci has ‘cautious optimism’ over decreased numbers
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said Sunday he has “cautious optimism” the United States may be seeing a decrease in the rate of hospital admissions and patients in intensive care, resulting in the curve of cases decreasing. Click here to read more about his comments.
Watch live, in-depth coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon.
Drive-in church service
11:10 a.m. update
Carter Tabernacle CME Church in Orlando is holding a special drive-in Easter Sunday service because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parishioners filled the parking lot of the church, near West Church Street and South John Young Parkway, and listened to the service from the safety of their vehicles.
Read: Coronavirus: These Central Florida churches are streaming their Easter services online
Church members will share about what it was like to participate in the unique service on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon. Click here to watch the newscast live once it begins.
See a map of the church below:
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.
Easter Sunday church service
10:30 a.m. update
First Baptist Orlando is livestreaming its Easter Sunday service right now. Click here or download the free WFTV news app to watch it.
Channel 9 will also broadcast St. James Cathedral’s Easter Sunday Mass at 12:30 p.m.
WATCH: First Baptist Orlando’s Easter Sunday church service
Churches across Central Florida are livestreaming their Easter Sunday services so parishioners can stay home. Click here for a full list.
Read: Coronavirus: These Central Florida churches are streaming their Easter services online
UK prime minister released from hospital
8:55 a.m. update
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been discharged from a London hospital where he was treated in intensive care for the coronavirus.
Johnson’s office said he left St. Thomas’ Hospital and will continue his recovery at Chequers, the prime minister’s country house. He will not immediately return to work.
Read: UK PM Johnson out of the hospital, says staff saved his life
Johnson has been in the hospital for a week and spent three nights in the ICU.
“I can’t thank them enough," Johnson said. “I owe them my life.”
Click here to read more.
Churches stream Easter Sunday services
8:05 a.m. update
Churches across Central Florida are streaming live or recorded Easter Sunday services on their websites, on Facebook Live and on YouTube. Click here for a full directory.
Read: Coronavirus: These Central Florida churches are streaming their Easter services online
Channel 9 will stream First Baptist Orlando’s Easter service at 10 a.m. Click here or download the free WFTV news app to watch it once it begins.
Channel 9 will also broadcast St. James Cathedral’s Easter Sunday Mass at 12:30 p.m.
Read: Easter 2020: Which restaurants are offering Easter takeout meals?
Spot-testing nursing homes
7:05 a.m. update
Members of the Florida National Guard have started on-the-spot testing of residents at nursing homes for the coronavirus as long-term care facilities in the state have reported scores of cases.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that guardsmen have conducted tests of residents and staff at nursing homes in South Florida.
UF Health Shands has done other spot-testing at facilities.
Read: Coronavirus: These Central Florida churches are streaming their Easter services online
In Clay County, 49 cases have been reported at long-term care facilities, and 51 cases among residents and staff have been reported at a nursing home in Suwannee County.
Last month, DeSantis ordered a suspension of all visits to nursing homes.
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.
Unemployment application woes
5:50 a.m. update
Claims from hundreds of thousands of people out of work because of the coronvirus have overwhelmed Florida’s unemployment department.
Furloughed and laid-off workers have reported hourslong waits on the phone and entire days stuck in loops on a clogged website.
Read: DeSantis orders FDOT to speed up construction on I-4 Ultimate Project amid COVID-19 pandemic
Gov. Ron DeSantis said he has hired 2,000 additional workers to sort through claims and that the Department of Economic Opportunity is working to increase its website’s capacity.
Even before the virus pandemic, it could take three weeks for people to receive their first checks.
Read: TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Saturday, April 11
Critics said changes to the system implemented by former Gov. Rick Scott made it harder for people to apply for unemployment. Scott has dismissed the notion.
Click here to read a full recap of Saturday’s developments, and click here to watch live, in-depth coverage of the pandemic on Channel 9 Eyewitness News.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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