ORLANDO, Fla. — Read live updates below:
Gov. DeSantis to hold press conference in Daytona Beach Sunday
8:30 p.m. update
Gov. Ron DeSantis will be holding a press conference in Daytona Beach Sunday.
He will be meeting with officials at Halifax Health Medical Center.
Businesses should flush water lines before reopening, OUC says
7:10 p.m. update
Orlando Utilities Commission said it recommends flushing water lines before reopening any business that has been closed long-term during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s important to flush the lines of stagnant water inside a building’s plumbing system,” said Brad Jewell, OUC’s Director of Water Production. “Sediment, which occurs naturally, may have settled inside pipes and can discolor water. While the color is unsettling, it only requires a few minutes of flushing, or letting the water run, to remove it.”
DeSantis gives update on COVID-19 pandemic
1:55 p.m. update
After meeting with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and people in the personal services industry, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference to give an update on the coronavirus pandemic.
DeSantis said 356 patients statewide are on ventilators.
He said the state has thousands of ventilators still available.
DeSantis said nine Walgreens stores statewide will soon offer COVID-19 testing, including the stores on Narcoossee Road and Winter Garden-Vineland Road.
He said Walmart and CVS will also provide testing, but they have not said which locations.
Watch the full news conference below:
Per the protective and sanitation equipment I mentioned earlier... Demings has specified they are expecting a shipment of one million masks and 200,000 bottles of hand sanitizer this week for business owners who have a harder time accessing those items to reopen safely. pic.twitter.com/xOcd5P2imk
— Deanna Allbrittin (@deannaTVnews) May 2, 2020
The governor just said we’ve tested about 420,000 people. But at Sunday’s press conference, he said the number DOESN’T represent “people”, but tests... because some people are tested multiple times, especially those who test positive. Many can’t return to work w/o two neg tests. pic.twitter.com/PduC9ziLvZ
— Deanna Allbrittin (@deannaTVnews) May 2, 2020
DeSantis, Demings meet at Orlando hair salon
1:10 p.m. update
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings are meeting at OhSoooJazzy Hair Salon in the Orlovista neighborhood to discuss the reopening of the state’s economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read: Mayor urges governor to allow Orange County to reopen salons, barbershops
DeSantis and Demings are having a discussion with people who work at barber shops and hair salons in the county. Click here to watch the meeting live.
>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE <<<
RIGHT NOW: @GovRonDeSantis has just arrived and started talking with @JerryDemings, other Orange County health officials and salon/professional services staff about the mayor’s request to allow them to reopen. pic.twitter.com/uOH8tgyZyC
— Deanna Allbrittin (@deannaTVnews) May 2, 2020
Now Mayor @JerryDemings is explaining how he came to the decision that professional services staff were prepared to reopen safely, based on conversations in his county task force meetings. In the next tweet I’ll list off some of those things. pic.twitter.com/8NHK2Z1tTh
— Deanna Allbrittin (@deannaTVnews) May 2, 2020
10 new local COVID-19 deaths
12:20 p.m. update
Florida health officials reported 735 new cases of COVID-19 and 50 additional deaths statewide since Friday.
Ten of those deaths were in Central Florida -- four in Volusia County, two in Polk County and one each in Orange, Osceola, Marion and Flagler counties.
Read: Damage reported after 5.5 earthquake strikes near Puerto Rico
The number of coronavirus cases in the state is now at 35,463, with 1,364 deaths.
See a county-by-county breakdown of local cases below:
• Orange: 1,422 (1,413 Friday)
• Polk: 514 (500 Friday)
• Volusia: 509 (500 Friday)
• Osceola: 494 (486 Friday)
• Seminole: 395 (385 Friday)
• Brevard: 297 (289 Friday)
• Lake: 234 (233 Friday)
• Sumter: 221 (217 Friday)
• Marion: 182 (178 Friday)
• Flagler: 138 (134 Friday)
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.
Access restricted to unemployment system
11:40 a.m. update
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said Saturday that it is restricting access to its CONNECT system so that the system can "dedicate 100% of its processing power to processing applications and making payments."
Read: Coronavirus: Denied unemployment benefits in Florida? Here’s what you need to do
The agency said applicants may call 1-833-352-7759 to ask questions about their claims.
This weekend, we're restricting access to CONNECT so that the system can dedicate 100% of its processing power to processing applications & making payments. Today, the call center team is available for both general & claim specific questions at 1-833-FL-APPLY. pic.twitter.com/N8ECUb2KrD
— Florida DEO (@FLDEO) May 2, 2020
Palm Coast food drive
10:45 a.m. update
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland said the city has partnered with Parkview Church to feed 5,000 families a week's worth of food Saturday.
The food will be distributed at Palm Coast City Hall and the church from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
See maps of the two pickup sites below:
Palm Coast City Hall
Parkview Church
Immigrants to be released from detention centers
8:40 a.m. update
A federal judge has ordered authorities to release hundreds of immigrants from three Florida detention centers to prevent a wider spread of the coronavirus.
U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Cooke said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must submit a report Sunday with steps to bring down the centers population from 1,400 to about 350.
Read: Stimulus checks: Here are key dates for the next set of payments being sent by the IRS
The judge issued the order late Thursday.
It is the latest issued by a federal judge instructing the release of immigrants.
ICE said seven detainees at the Krome Detention Center in Miami have tested positive for the virus. At least eight staff members have also been infected.
Read: Thousands of students across Central Florida not attending distance learning
DeSantis, Demings to speak in Orlando
7 a.m. update
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will speak publicly about the COVID-19 pandemic Saturday afternoon.
DeSantis and Demings will speak at 1 p.m. at the OhSoooJazzy Hair Salon in the Orlovista neighborhood to address the concerns of those who are forbidden from reopening their businesses Monday.
Read: Mayor urges governor to allow Orange County to reopen salons, barbershops
Click here to watch the meeting live once it begins.
See a map of the salon 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.
UCF graduation day
6:15 a.m. update
The University of Central Florida said it will host a virtual graduation ceremony Saturday for more than 8,500 students.
Ceremonies will be held for 12 colleges, with the first one beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the last one starting at 7 p.m.
Watch: With virtual UCF graduation looming, employers still looking to fill jobs while closed
NFL stars and UCF alumni Shaquill Griffin and Shaquem Griffin will serve as the commencement speakers.
The ceremonies will be streamed on UCF’s Facebook and YouTube accounts.
Although there is no stage for graduates to walk across, their names will be read aloud.
Your time here at UCF ended differently than we all thought it would. But right now we celebrate you, the Class of 2020, in the best way we can. Congratulations, #UCFGrad 💛🎓
— UCF (@UCF) May 1, 2020
Stay strong. Stay curious. And as always ... #ChargeOn! pic.twitter.com/C9ThMi7GfT
State parks reopening
5:40 a.m. update
Florida is about to reopen state parks.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that parks will reopen on Monday.
Read: 'I’m thrilled, I’m cautious’: Central Florida businesses prepare to reopen
He said there is a low risk of transmitting the coronavirus during outdoor activity if people practice social distancing. He also said the exercise will be good for Floridians’ health.
DeSantis made his announcement in Jacksonville and lashed out at critics who mocked the state when Mayor Lenny Curry reopened beaches in the area two weeks ago.
Read: TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Friday, May 1
Florida has had almost 35,000 confirmed cases of the virus, resulting in more than 1,300 deaths.
Click here to read a full recap of Friday’s coronavirus coverage.
Cox Media Group
