JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida increased Sunday evening to 19,895, up 909 cases in a span of 24 hours, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Fifteen additional deaths were reported Sunday, including the first death in Bradford County and the second death in Flagler County, bringing the total statewide to 461.
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As of 6 p.m. Sunday, there were 1,415 reported cases of the coronavirus in Northeast Florida.
There were 668 confirmed cases in Duval County (up 29 cases from Saturday evening), 215 cases in Alachua County (up 41 cases), 173 cases in St. Johns County (up three cases), 163 cases in Clay County (up two cases), 34 cases in Nassau County (up one case), 29 cases in Bradford County (up five cases), 43 cases in Putnam County (up nine cases) and 26 cases in Columbia County (up one case).
In Baker County, there were still 17 reported cases, while the number of reported cases in Union County remained at two. The number of reported cases in Flagler County decreased to 45 (down one case), although it’s unclear why.
There have been 28 deaths in Northeast Florida: 13 in Duval County, eight in Clay County, two in St. Johns County, two in Baker County, one in Putnam County, one in Bradford County and two in Flagler County.
According to the health department, the patient who died in Bradford County was a 78-year-old woman, and the two patients who died in Flagler County were a 72-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man.
The highest concentration of infections remains in South Florida, with the epicenter focused on Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
There were 2,672 coronavirus-related hospitalizations in Florida as of Sunday evening, according to the health department.
Members of the Florida National Guard have started on-the-spot testing of residents at nursing homes for the new coronavirus as long-term care facilities in the state have reported scores of cases, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday.
Guardsmen have conducted tests of residents and staff at nursing homes in South Florida and UF Health Shands has done other spot-testing at facilities, DeSantis said.
“We want to continue to do that, given that is the most high-risk population," the governor said.
In Clay County, in the Jacksonville area, 57 cases have been reported at long-term care facilities, according to the health department, and 51 cases among residents and staff have been reported at a nursing home in Suwannee County, located halfway between Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Statewide, there were almost 905 coronavirus cases in residents and staff at long-term care facilities, as of Sunday night.
RELATED | COVID-19 cases triple at Clay County assisted living facilities in 24 hours | Families demand answers from Clay County assisted living facilities as COVID-19 cases rise
Last month, DeSantis ordered a suspension of all visits to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and similar sites across the state.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, even death.
The governor also said Saturday that the state Department of Health has ordered serology tests that can detect coronavirus antibodies in people who aren’t currently sick.
“There may be people who had an illness in February or March and didn't go to the doctor for it, and maybe they think, ‘Maybe I had it,'" DeSantis said. “You can also spot-check and see a representative sample to see how many people in our society have the antibodies."
Separately, the governor said a stay-at-home order and the resulting reduced traffic had provided an opportunity to speed up construction on central Florida’s biggest infrastructure project: the expansion and refurbishment of Interstate 4, which stretches from Daytona Beach to Tampa.
A stretch of the interstate highway that goes through the Orlando area is in the middle of a $2.3 billion overhaul. The speed-up could allow the project to finish one or two months earlier than planned, DeSantis said. Portions of the highway that usually get more than 100,000 cars a day are now seeing 40,000 cars.
“We should take advantage of this pause,” DeSantis said. “The fact that we don’t have as many people on the roads, let’s take advantage of that.”
DeSantis also announced Saturday that 32,000 laptop computers are being distributed to 34 small and rural school districts around the state so that children can participate in their classes online.
At Walt Disney World, union officials said Saturday that Disney plans to stop paying wages to 43,000 workers in about a week while allowing them to keep their benefits for up to a year in what is the largest wave of furloughs since the theme park resort closed in mid-March because of the new coronavirus spread.
In Osceola County, which includes part of Disney World, officials issued an order requiring residents and visitors to wear face masks while in public. The order goes into effect on Monday.
Members of the Florida National Guard have started on-the-spot testing of residents at nursing homes for the new coronavirus as long-term care facilities in the state have reported scores of cases, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday.
Guardsmen have conducted tests of residents and staff at nursing homes in South Florida and UF Health Shands has done other spot-testing at facilities, DeSantis said.
“We want to continue to do that, given that is the most high risk population," the governor said.
In Clay County, in the Jacksonville area, 57 cases have been reported at long-term care facilities, according to the health department, and 51 cases among residents and staff have been reported at a nursing home in Suwannee County, located halfway between Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Statewide, there were almost 905 coronavirus cases in residents and staff at long-term care facilities, as of Sunday night.
RELATED | COVID-19 cases triple at Clay County assisted living facilities in 24 hours | Families demand answers from Clay County assisted living facilities as COVID-19 cases rise
Last month, DeSantis ordered a suspension of all visits to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and similar sites across the state.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, even death.
The governor also said Saturday that the state Department of Health has ordered serology tests that can detect coronavirus antibodies in people who aren’t currently sick.
“There may be people who had an illness in February or March and didn't go to the doctor for it, and maybe they think, ‘Maybe I had it,'" DeSantis said. “You can also spot-check and see a representative sample to see how many people in our society have the antibodies."
Separately, the governor said a stay-at-home order and the resulting reduced traffic had provided an opportunity to speed up construction on central Florida’s biggest infrastructure project: the expansion and refurbishment of Interstate 4, which stretches from Daytona Beach to Tampa.
A stretch of the interstate highway that goes through the Orlando area is in the middle of a $2.3 billion overhaul. The speed-up could allow the project to finish one or two months earlier than planned, DeSantis said. Portions of the highway that usually get more than 100,000 cars a day are now seeing 40,000 cars.
“We should take advantage of this pause,” DeSantis said. “The fact that we don’t have as many people on the roads, let’s take advantage of that.”
DeSantis also announced Saturday that 32,000 laptop computers are being distributed to 34 small and rural school districts around the state so that children can participate in their classes online.
At Walt Disney World, union officials said Saturday that Disney plan to stop paying wages to 43,000 workers in about a week while allowing them to keep their benefits for up to a year in what is the largest wave of furloughs since the theme park resort closed in mid-March because of the new coronavirus spread.
In Osceola County, which includes part of Disney World, officials issued an order requiring residents and visitors to wear face masks while in public. The order goes into effect on Monday.