Florida

TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Friday, May 15

ORLANDO, Fla. — 11 p.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference Friday that 99.9% of all eligible Floridians who filed for unemployment in March have been paid. However, many said they still haven’t received a dime.

Watch our in-depth coverage:

Read live updates below:

NOTA EN ESPAÑOL: 15 de mayo, todo lo que ocurren en Florida Central con la pandemia de COVID-19

7:33 p.m. update

Orange County leaders say jump in COVID-19 cases is not significant enough yet to be alarmed

Orange County leaders said the jump in COVID-19 cases is not significant enough yet to be alarmed.

Channel 9’s Lauren Seabrook has been keeping track of the numbers every day.

Last week, increases were in single digits each day, but this week has been a different story.

In the last four days, the county was up by 24 cases Tuesday, 16 cases Wednesday, 25 cases Thursday and 42 cases Friday.

Dr. Raul Pino said he is watching for a bigger jump than tat and he is keeping an eye on hospitalizations, which have remained low.

Pino said the Florida Department of Health is trying to determine what the baseline will look like because the county will probably have new cases every day for a while.

Pino said he believes the biggest jump with be when theme parks open.

Gov. Ron DeSantis requested all theme parks submit a reopening plan to the state, with an open date in the plan.

DeSantis said the plans will have to be approved by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings first.

Demings said the smaller theme parks will present to the Economic Recovery Task Force next week.

6 p.m. update

Daytona Beach’s Midtown Cultural Center offering COVID-19 testing

Daytona Beach’s Midtown Cultural Center is offering COVID-19 testing.

Anyone can be tested at the site.

“This is a community that is historically under-tested and undervalued. The more people we can have tested from this community or any community gives us the information that we need to know how prevalent this virus is in our community,” said Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry.

4:55 p.m. update

Florida reports 42 coronavirus-related deaths, 928 new cases

Florida health officials reported 42 new coronavirus-related deaths and 928 new cases Friday.

There are a total of 44,138 Florida cases, with 1,917 deaths related to COVID-19, according to health officials.

Health officials said the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall is 7 percent in Florida.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

4 p.m. update

Orange County leaders give COVID-19 update

Orange County leaders are giving an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.

>>Click here to watch live<<

3:40 p.m. update

Racing returns to Daytona International Speedway in July without fans

Racing is set to return to Daytona International Speedway this summer, but without fans in the seats.

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship kicks off July 4, the Speedway announced Friday afternoon.

“IMSA is grateful to all of our promoter partners for collaborating with us to develop a revised schedule of outstanding events,” IMSA President John Doonan said in a news release. “Our No. 1 priority since March has been to get back to racing as safely and as quickly as possible, and this revised schedule is evidence of that. We appreciate the patience, cooperation, and input of our IMSA stakeholders, and we all are very much looking forward to going racing again this summer and putting on amazing races for our audience.”

Click here to see the updated racing schedule.

12:37 p.m. update

Gov. DeSantis announces gyms can reopen, restaurants to operate at 50 percent beginning Monday

Gov. DeSantis has announced that the state is transitioning into a “full Phase 1” beginning May 18. With the transition, gyms will be able to reopen. Restaurants and retailers will also be able to open at 50 percent capacity by adhering to safety protocols.

The governor also said that theme parks will be able to reopen if they submit a plan that is approved by their county.

Museums and libraries will be able to open at 50 percent capacity as well at the discretion of local governments.

Movie theaters and bars were not part of Monday’s reopening plan.

The governor made the announcement during a briefing from Jacksonville.

You can watch the press conference in its entirety below:

WATCH LIVE: Gov. DeSantis to provide COVID-19 update

WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to provide an update on Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan.

Posted by WFTV Channel 9 on Friday, May 15, 2020

Read: Union, Walt Disney World reach agreement on safety protocols, benefits for cast members returning to work

11:50 a.m. update

Deltona reschedules July 4 fireworks for Labor Day weekend

The city of Deltona announced Friday that it will reschedule its Fourth of July fireworks for Labor Day weekend. City officials said the specific date has not been determined.

The city also announced that its beginning its second phase of reopening access to its public parks by opening playgrounds, tennis courts and park restrooms. Splash pads, pavilions, fields and gymnasiums remain closed until further notice.

10:16 a.m. update

Gov. DeSantis expected to provide update on Phase 2 reopening plan

Governor Ron DeSantis will hold a press conference regarding COVID-19 in Florida at noon. The governor is expected to provide an update on Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan.

The governor will hold the briefing from Jacksonville.

>>>You can watch his remarks LIVE here<<<

Read: Gov. DeSantis looks to ease state into Phase 2 of reopening plan

9:17 a.m. update

Brevard County to reopen government buildings to public

Brevard County government facilities will reopen to the public on May 18, according to county officials.

Limited access and appointment-only services will be in place for visitors to adhere to safety protocols and social distancing guidelines.

The county has installed new protective measures such as plexiglass sneeze guards in certain areas and implemented enhanced facility cleaning and disinfectant protocols.

For additional information on the reopening plans for the county’s government facilities, click here.

Read: Gov. DeSantis extends order preventing foreclosures, evictions as tenants struggle to make rent

8:59 a.m. update

Osceola County officials to hold COVID-19 briefing

Osceola County officials will hold a 3 p.m. at press conference to provide an update on the county’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The briefing can be viewed here.

7:58 a.m. update

Free COVID-19 testing site to open in Daytona Beach

A free, walk-up COVID-19 testing site is set to open at the Midtown Cultural & Educational Center in Daytona Beach.

The site is set to open at 9 a.m. and will be open from Tuesday to Sunday.

Appointments are not required.

Read: CityWalk reopens with limited operations and new guidelines, drawing hundreds

6:25 a.m. update

CVS to open COVID-19 testing sites throughout Florida

CVS Health is opening 10 drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in Florida.

Three of the sites will be located in Central Florida:

  • 2400 Enterprise Road in Orange City
  • 221 South S.R. 434 in Altamonte Springs
  • South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando

CVS Health expects to have up to 1,000 locations across the country offering testing by the end of May.

Patients must register in advance to schedule an appointment.

4:36 a.m. update

Florida reports 48 coronavirus-related deaths, 808 new cases

Florida health officials reported 48 new COVID-19 deaths and 808 new cases of the virus on Thursday.

Two of those deaths were in Central Florida, with one each in Sumter and Polk counties.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, the numbers also show an uptick of 24 cases in Orange County. On Wednesday, Orange County had 16 more cases than Tuesday, but on Tuesday the number was only up by seven.

Read: Drive-in theaters make a comeback in Central Florida amid COVID-19 pandemic

“Coronavirus

Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.