Florida

TIMELINE: Coronavirus updates April 13

ORLANDO, Fla. — BLOG EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 13 abril

Read live updates below:

New COVID-19 cases

6:45 p.m. update

The Florida Department of Health reported 29 coronavirus-related deaths and 418 new cases statewide since Monday morning.

Officials said the total number of cases in Florida has reached 21,019.

Read: George Stephanopoulos tests positive for coronavirus

They said the death toll stands at 499.

Of the cases, 20,394 involve Florida residents and 625 involve nonresidents.

Read: Stimulus checks: IRS to launch site that allows you to find out when you get yours

So far, 2,841 people have been hospitalized in the state.

Officials also reported one death each in Brevard and Polk counties since Monday morning, bringing the death toll in each county to six and nine respectively.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

Osceola County reported no new cases of the virus since Monday morning.

Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida, and see a county-by-county breakdown of Central Florida cases below.

• Orange: 1,024 (1,017 earlier Monday)

• Osceola: 333 (no change since Monday morning)

• Seminole: 268 (267 earlier Monday)

• Volusia: 216 (212 earlier Monday)

• Brevard: 148 (140 earlier Monday)

• Lake: 162 (155 earlier Monday)

• Sumter: 112 (111 earlier Monday)

• Marion: 101 (96 earlier Monday)

• Flagler: 45 (44 earlier Monday)

• Polk: 270 (263 earlier Monday)

President Donald Trump is holding a live news conference on the federal government’s response to the pandemic. Click here to watch it live.

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.



Face coverings in Orange County

5:15 p.m. update

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the county urges residents to wear face coverings in public, but it will not require people to do so because it would be difficult to enforce such a mandate and because there is a shortage of face masks in the region.

Earlier Monday, Osceola County scaled back its mandate, saying that people who do not wear face coverings in public will not be arrested or fined. Click here to read more about that.

Read: Osceola County officials say people not wearing face masks will not face fines, jail time

Elsewhere in Central Florida, The Fresh Market said that beginning Tuesday, it will require customers to wear face coverings while shopping at its grocery stores. Click here to read more about that.

Click here to watch Orange County’s live news conference.

Read: The Fresh Market to require shoppers to wear face coverings in its stores

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.


BLOG EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 13 abril


Gov. DeSantis sending National Guard teams to test at nursing homes

4 p.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis said he is mobilizing National Guard strike teams to aggressively test residents and staff at Florida nursing homes for COVID-19.


Masks now only recommended in Osceola County

3:30 p.m. update

Osceola County officials changed their minds Monday stating that a previously issued mandate requiring face coverings in public is now a recommendation.


Gov. Ron DeSantis coronavirus update

3:15 p.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis is providing an update on the coronavirus outbreak in Florida.

Click here to watch the live news conference.

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.


Seminole County coronavirus updates

2 p.m. update

Seminole County officials are giving a live update on the status of the coronavirus in the county as well as the county’s response to it.

Read: Coronavirus: One of nation’s largest producers of pork products closes plant


Local, state and federal coronavirus updates

1:20 p.m. update

Local, state and federal officials have several live news conferences planned for Monday afternoon to provide the public updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.

See the full slate of live events below, and click here to watch them live.

Read: Coronavirus in Central Florida: Here is how to stay informed

• Seminole County officials are holding a live news conference at 2 p.m.

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to give a live update at 2:30 p.m.

• Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will give a live update at 4:30 p.m.

• President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force are scheduled to speak at 5 p.m.

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 COVID-19 cases

11:50 a.m. update

The Florida Department of Health reported nine coronavirus-related deaths and 706 new cases statewide since Sunday evening.

Officials said the total number of cases in Florida has reached 20,601 -- more than the seating capacity of the Amway Center.

Read: George Stephanopoulos tests positive for coronavirus

They said the death toll stands at 470.

Of the cases, 20,035 involve Florida residents and 566 involve nonresidents.

Read: Stimulus checks: IRS to launch site that allows you to find out when you get yours

So far, 2,694 people have been hospitalized in the state.

Officials also reported one death in Brevard County since Sunday evening.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

Click here to see a map of positive cases in Florida, and see a county-by-county breakdown of Central Florida cases below.

• Orange: 1,017 (up from 949)

• Osceola: 333 (up from 323)

• Seminole: 267 (up from 255)

• Polk: 263 (up from 254)

• Volusia: 212 (up from 201)

• Lake: 155 (up from 150)

• Brevard: 140 (up from 133)

• Sumter: 111 (up from 110)

• Marion: 96 (up from 93)

• Flagler: 44 (down from 45 earlier)

Click here to watch live, in-depth coverage of how the pandemic is affecting Central Florida live on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon.


BLOG EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 13 abril


Osceola County face covering ordinance

10:25 a.m. update

Osceola County commissioners are discussing an ordinance requiring face coverings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioner Fred Hawkins Jr. described the ordinance as an overreach.

“I would like to reconsider making this a mandate,” he said.

Read: Osceola County residents now required to wear face covering when in public

Commissioner Peggy Choudhry also said she wants the face coverings to be a recommendation, not mandate.

The county’s policy board will meet at 2 p.m. to discuss the matter.

Click here to read more about the ordinance, which went into effect Monday.


9:09 a.m. update

Seminole County officials will hold a press conference to discuss the county’s response to COVID-19.

The conference is slated for 2 p.m.


8:05 a.m. update

Teachers in Brevard County will be donating nearly 600 containers of disinfecting wipes to Health First hospitals within the county.

The delivery is scheduled around 1 p.m.


7:38 a.m. update

Orlando officials will hold a City Council meeting at 2 p.m. in regards to the COVID-19 crisis.

The meeting can be viewed here.


6:17 a.m. update

Rep. Val Demings is slated to hold an 11 a.m. virtual town hall hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association in regards to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tips are expected to be shared to help dementia caregivers through the crisis.

Registration for the event can be found here.

Read: Osceola County residents now required to wear face covering when in public


4:26 a.m. update

Florida health officials reported 551 additional cases of COVID-19 since Sunday evening, with the total number of cases now at 19,895.

Of the cases, 19,337 involve Florida residents and 558 involve nonresidents.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

Officials also reported nine deaths since Sunday evening, with three deaths in Central Florida.

The three deaths in Central Florida were reported in Brevard County, one death in Marion County and another death in Flagler County.

Read: TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Sunday, April 12

The death toll in Florida now stands at 461. Click here to read a full wrapup of Sunday’s 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.

“Coronavirus

Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

Jason Kelly joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2014. He serves as the station's Digital Executive Producer.

Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.