ORLANDO, Fla. — Officials are discussing what theme parks will look like after they reopen. See our in-depth coverage below:
Doctors are asking that they be able to resume elective surgeries. See the full story below:
Read live updates below:
Coronavirus en Florida Central: Blog en español - 22 de abril
COVID-19-related deaths in Florida surpass 900
7 p.m. update
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Florida hit 28,576 this afternoon, up from the 28,309 reported Wednesday morning, according to the Department of Health.
Of those cases, 27,792 are Florida residents; as of Wednesday morning, there were 27,543.
The reported death toll is up to 927, up from the 893 reporting Wednesday morning.
Orange County leads Central Florida with 1,258 cases. Here is a breakdown of counties in Central Florida:
- Orange: 1,258 (1,251 this morning)
- Seminole: 333 (332 this morning)
- Volusia: 376 (375 this morning)
- Brevard: 226 (225 this morning)
- Osceola: 427 (423 this morning)
- Lake: 214 (213 this morning)
- Marion: 132 (130 this morning)
- Polk: 364 (361 this morning)
- Sumter: 164 (no change)
- Flagler: 78 (no change)
Deaths:
- Polk: +1 (16 total)
- Seminole: +1 (7 total)
- Sumter: +1 (12 total)
Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida.
Reopening theme parks
6:25 p.m. update
Reopening Florida's theme parks is expected to be a long process fraught with logistical and public health considerations amid the coronavirus outbreak.
That's according to a key industry executive who is telling a state task force charged with reopening the state for business that parks will likely reopen with small, limited crowds.
Read: Coronavirus live updates: At least 26 U.S. Navy ships with confirmed cases
Around 85 million people visited theme parks in Orlando and Tampa in 2018, and the industry is an important economic engine for Florida's economy.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking the task force to come up with recommendations on getting the state ready to reopen for business amid closures prompted by the outbreak.
President Donald Trump is holding a live news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to watch it live.
Orange County curfew arrest
5:20 p.m. update
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said deputies arrested someone this week for violating curfew.
The nightly curfew in the county is from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“Please continue to stay home,” Mina said. “We must stay vigilant.”
Read: Coronavirus: What are ‘COVID toes,’ and what does it mean if you have it?
He said three of the six deputies who tested positive for COVID-19 have already returned to work. None of them had to be hospitalized.
Mina said there has been a countywide reduction in calls for service, which has reduced the chance of deputies being exposed to the virus while on the job.
Read: Coronavirus: Wednesday deadline looms for $500-per-child stimulus check
He said residents who spot potential violations should call 407-836-4357, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s non-emergency phone number, so deputies can issues warnings.
So far, there have been 1,261 confirmed cases of the virus countywide, Demings said.
He said 9,000 tests have been conducted in the county so far.
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 officials give 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 COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here to watch their live news conference.
Orange County reports new death
1:10 p.m. update
The Florida Department of Health said Orange County reported one death overnight, brings its death toll to 28.
Lake, Marion and Flagler counties reported no new cases since Tuesday.
See a county-by-county breakdown of cases below:
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
• Orange: 1,251 (1,235 Tuesday)
• Osceola: 423 (417 Tuesday)
• Volusia: 375 (366 Tuesday)
• Polk: 361 (356 Tuesday)
• Seminole: 332 (328 Tuesday)
• Brevard: 225 (224 Tuesday)
• Lake: 213 (no change since Tuesday)
• Sumter: 164 (163 Tuesday)
• Marion: 130 (no change since Tuesday)
• Flagler: 78 (no change since Tuesday)
Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida.
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.
Statewide cases
11:43 a.m. update
The Florida Department of Health reported 26 coronavirus-related deaths and 440 new COVID-19 cases statewide since Tuesday evening.
Officials said the total number of cases in Florida has reached 28,309 and the death toll now stands at 893.
Read: Coronavirus live updates: Senate approves $484 billion ‘interim’ relief measure
Of the positive cases, involve 27,543 Florida residents and 766 involve nonresidents.
Read: Coronavirus: Where COVID-19 testing is available in Central Florida
Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
Are you able to give to the United Way and their ALICE Recovery Fund, which helps families pay their rent, mortgage and utilities? See below or click here for instructions on how to donate.
Orange County to hold Economic Recovery Task Force meeting
8:32 a.m. update
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is holding the first Economic Recovery Task Force meeting at 9 a.m.
To watch live, click here.
.@OCFLMayor's first @OrangeCoFL Economic Recovery Task Force meeting is today at 9 a.m. Watch live: https://t.co/QoNoKkfVvk. pic.twitter.com/gk0BfhE0sK
— Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) April 22, 2020
Seminole County mobile testing site
8:10 a.m.
The Seminole County mobile testing site will be at the Midway Community Center at 2251 Jitway Avenue in Sanford.
Those interested in being tested must bring a government-issued identification.
Patients do not have to be symptomatic.
The testing is free of charge, but patients with health insurance should bring their insurance card.
Appointments are not necessary.
The testing will be conducted from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Officials said 239 people were tested Tuesday at the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in East Altamonte.
Read: Coronavirus: Where COVID-19 testing is available in Central Florida
Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach reopen to sunbathers with some restrictions
6:50 a.m. update
Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach will reopen to sunbathers with some restrictions, officials said.
Along with other limited activities, leaders are allowing people to sit and lie down on the beach.
City officials said City Order 12A replaces Order 12 to allow beach activities including sitting or lying on the beach in groups of five or less while practicing social distancing.
Beach parking areas will remain closed and standing on beach crossover locations shall also require application of the social distancing requirement, officials said.
The beaches will open at 8 a.m.
Flagler County beaches to reopen for limited activities
6:30 a.m. update
Flagler County beaches will reopen at 7 a.m. but will close at 10 a.m.
The beaches are limited to running, walking, swimming surfing, fishing and other exercises.
Towels, coolers or umbrellas are prohibited from the beach.
The county controlled portions of the beach will reopen from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Beaches open in 1hr in .@FlaglerCtyGov But close at 10 am and are limited to running, walking, swimming, surfing, fishing and other exercises. No towels, coolers or umbrellas. The county controlled portions of the beach will then reopen from 6pm-8pm
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 22, 2020
Gov. DeSantis to hold Task Force meeting
6:10 a.m. update
Gov. Ron DeSantis will be holding a Reopening Florida Task Force meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The Task Force will focus on retail, transportation and education in four different meetings.
President Donald Trump’s plan suggests reopening should only begin after seeing a “downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period.”
Orange and Osceola counties have started to see decreases over the last few days.
Ultimately, it is the governor’s decision, but DeSantis wants to see some suggestions from his Task Force by Friday.
AdventHealth to give update this morning
4:20 a.m. update
AdventHealth leaders will be giving an update on the coronavirus at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Officials said nurses and physicians will share their first-hand accounts of working on a COVID-19 unit.
To watch the update, click here.
Orange County mobile testing site moves to Camping World Stadium
4:10 a.m. update
On Wednesday, the mobile testing site will move to Camping World Stadium.
No symptom criteria is required for testing at the mobile testing sites, but appointments are mandatory and individuals must be 18 years and older.
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.
The rest of the week’s mobile testing schedule is below:
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
Click here to watch live, in-depth coverage on Channel 9 Eyewitness News, and click here to read a timeline of what happened Tuesday.
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.
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