Florida

Timeline: Coronavirus updates March 16

ORLANDO, Fla. — See our in-depth coverage below:

9 p.m. update

The Florida Department of Health announced Monday night it has identified the first presumptive-positive case of coronavirus in Brevard County.

Additional information such as whether the virus was travel-related, or the gender and age of the person infected, was not immediately available.

“The arrival of coronavirus in Brevard is neither a surprise nor catastrophic,” Brevard County Commission Chair Bryan Lober said in a news release. “The County has been taking preventative actions since January, actions which have been expanded in recent days. The county and our partner agencies have all necessary resources and support personnel to address this occurrence.”

7:45 p.m. update

WWE announced Monday evening that WrestleMania has moved from Tampa Bay to the training facility in Orlando on April 5, and there will not be a live audience.

It will stream live at 7 p.m. on WWE Network and be available on pay-per-view.


6:30 p.m. update

Watch the latest in-depth report from Channel 9′s team of reporters covering the spread of the coronavirus in Central Florida:

READ: Second Orange County resident dies after COVID-19 diagnosis; 4 cases confirmed in the county, health officials say

5:30 p.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis said he is not ready to issue an order closing bars and restaurants across the state, he said he is waiting to review CDC guidelines.

5:22 p.m. update

Florida officials said voting for the primary election on Tuesday will go forward as scheduled.

5:15 p.m. update

State officials said the vast majority of COVID-19 cases in Florida are from international travel or people who have come from other states who have traveled internationally.

5:05 p.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a bridge loan program for small businesses in Florida and directed the Department of Revenue to provide flexibility on corporate income tax payments.

4:40 p.m. update

A second Orange County resident has died after testing positive for COVID-19, said Dr. Raul Pino with the Florida Department of Health in Orange County.

The woman, who was in her 70s, had serious preexisting medical conditions and died at an area hospital, Pino said.

Officials said the first Orange County to resident who died after testing positive was quarantined in California and never set foot in Orange County while infected.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News NOW for LIVE updates.

4:30 p.m. update

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the Orange County Regional History Center is closed for deep cleaning.

The Orange-Osceola chief judge said all jury trials are suspended for the next two weeks.

4:15 p.m. update

There have been four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Orange County so far, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said.

4:12 p.m. update

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is providing an update on the coronavirus in the county.

>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE LIVE <<<

4:10 p.m. update

The Associated Press is reporting that the Dow dove 13% on Monday making for the worst drop in three decades, as fears deepen that the coronavirus will throw global economy into recession.

3:43 p.m. update

President Donald Trump said precautionary measures may be required to combat COVID-19 through July or August.

“It’s an invisible enemy,” Trump said.

3:30 p.m. update

The White House said the public should avoid gatherings larger than 10 people and cancel discretionary travel in bid to slow the outbreak of COVID-19.

3:18 p.m. update

White House officials are set to provide an update on the coronavirus outbreak at 3:30 p.m.

3:15 p.m. update

Officials announced that Universal CityWalk at Universal Orlando will close at midnight Monday, and that all hotels at Universal Orlando Resort will close at 5 p.m. on Friday. A spokesperson said they anticipate the closures to be in effect through March 31.

3 p.m. update

The first case of COVID-19 has been diagnosed in Lake County, the Florida Department of Health announced Monday. According to the state’s interactive COVID-19 tracking map, the case involves a woman and is travel-related.

Click here to see the map.

2:55 p.m. update

In support of the CDC’s recommendations, the city of Palm Coast announced that all city-run activities at city facilities starting Tuesday through Thursday, April 30, are effectively cancelled.

The city said the Palm Coast Community Center, Palm Coast Tennis Center, Palm Harbor Golf Club, and Palm Coast Aquatics Center will also be closed to the public through the same time period.

The city said it will evaluate scheduled events extending beyond April at a later time.

READ: Coronavirus: Get your workout done during social distancing with these home gym essentials

2:32 p.m. update

Seminole County Public Libraries announced they will close until further notice at 3 p.m. Monday.

All Seminole County Public Libraries are closing at 3:00 pm today - Monday March 16, 2020 until further notice.

Posted by Seminole County Library on Monday, March 16, 2020

READ: Coronavirus: How to keep your kids’ skills up when schools are closed

2:30 p.m. update

The DeVos family, owners of the Orlando Magic, announced that they have funded a $2 million compensation fund for Orlando Magic, Amway Center, Lakeland Magic and Orlando Solar Bears hourly workers for games and time missed during the COVID-19 suspension of seasons.

2:05 p.m. update

Leesburg Bikefest has been canceled. Organizers posted the following statement on the event’s website:

“In abiding with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s call that all events of 50 or more be cancelled during the time of our event. We have cancelled this years Leesburg Bikefest. Thank you for your support and understanding during this uncertain time. Please stay safe and we’ll see ya in 2021."

We're sorry to inform you that The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday called for the Cancellation...

Posted by Leesburg Bikefest on Monday, March 16, 2020

READ: Coronavirus: Tips from an auto detailer for cleaning and disinfecting your car

1:40 p.m. update

The Florida Department of Health on Monday afternoon reported an additional six confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state, bringing the total to 155 cases.

There have been four deaths reported in the state so far, officials said.

The agency has created a new interactive map that shows where in the state new cases have been confirmed. Click here to see the map.

Read: Coronavirus: Nurses, hospital list what to buy now if you end up testing positive for COVID-19

Click here to read Channel 9′s other stories about the coronavirus.

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.


1:20 p.m. update

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said deputies who are on light-duty will staff district offices during the day on weekdays to take phone calls and walk-in reports of non-emergency cases that are not in progress and that have no suspect identified.

Chitwood said residents should still call 911 in an emergency.


12:26 p.m. update

Volusia County Schools will be providing free meals for students from March 23 to March 27 at select distribution points.

Staff will hand out meals directly to students who walk or drive to the locations. The meals will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Click here to find your school’s distribution center.

11:10 a.m. update

Mall at Millenia officials tweeted Monday that the mall remains open its regular hours, while individual stores have decided to limit their hours. Officials said the mall has increased its sanitation efforts in response to COVID-19.

Read the mall’s full statement below:

READ: Walmart cuts hours to allow for stocking, sanitizing shelves amid coronavirus concerns

11 a.m. update

Orlando Fire Chief Benjamin Barksdale said the department is ready with the proper safety and disinfectant protocols to respond to calls involving residents with severe flu-like symptoms or COVID-19.

“We all have to take this very seriously,” Barksdale said.

Firefighters demonstrated Monday that necessary outfits they will wear to calls involving patients who might or do have the virus. They involve full-body suits, masks, gloves and safety glasses.

Also, after transporting any person who may have the virus, Barksdale said the department has a decontamination unit that sprays a fine mist into the back of the ambulance and can completely disinfect it in 20 minutes.

But unless you are having severe symptoms, he urged residents not to call 911. He said firefighters and EMTs will not have tests for COVID-19 to administer to the public. Instead, he recommended calling your doctor or health department.

READ: Coronavirus: Nurses, hospital list what to buy now if you end up testing positive for COVID-19

10:35 a.m. update

At the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, all Florida driver licenses, commercial driver licenses, and ID cards expiring in the next 30 days will be extended an additional 30 days past the expiration date, officials said Monday.

Click here to learn more from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

10:20 a.m. update

The Orlando Fire Department is scheduled to host a news conference discussing the coronavirus at 10:30 a.m. Scroll down to tune in live.

9:51 a.m. update

Trading has resumed.

9:41 a.m. update

According to the Associated Press, stocks have plunged again at opening, triggering 15 minute halt in trading, as investors worry coronavirus impact could lead to recession.

9:15 a.m. update

Osceola County officials are slated to hold a briefing at noon to discuss the county’s response to the coronavirus.

There has only been one confirmed case within the county.

READ MORE: Coronavirus Timeline: Saturday, March 14

8:59 a.m. update

Florida health officials continue to urge residents to keep to themselves and wash their hands thoroughly throughout the day.

4:26 a.m. update

Walt Disney World has made the decision to close all of their stores in North America amid the coronavirus outbreak.

All of its operating locations in Anaheim and Disney Springs will close beginning March 17.

The company also said that their hotels at Walt Disney World Resort and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort will close March 20 at 5 p.m. The properties will remain closed through March 31.

Additional coverage:

Watch: Orlando International Airport TSA officer tests positive for coronavirus, TSA says

Watch: Coronavirus trial vaccine to be tested Monday

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.

Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.