Florida

TIMELINE: Coronavirus updates April 8

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hear a doctor discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight in Central Florida below:

Read live updates below:

Ghost town in downtown Orlando

8:06 p.m. update

The Orlando Police Department said its downtown bike unit continues to make sure everyone stays safe.

The Police Department tweeted a video of officers riding bikes near the Amway Center with no one in sight.

New deaths reported in Orange, Polk counties

7 p.m. update

The Florida Department of Health reported 14 coronavirus-related deaths and 242 new cases since Wednesday morning.

Health officials said of the 15,698 cases statewide, 15,234 involve residents and 464 involve nonresidents.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

They said a total of 2,082 people have been hospitalized and 323 people have died so far.

Officials said Orange and Polk counties reported one new death each since Wednesday morning.

Read: Coronavirus: How COVID-19 progresses; a day-by-day breakdown of symptoms

Polk County reported no new cases of the virus.

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

• Orange: 824 (803 Wednesday morning)

• Seminole: 218 (216 Wednesday morning)

• Volusia: 165 (163 Wednesday morning)

• Brevard: 105 (102 Wednesday morning)

• Osceola: 277 (272 Wednesday morning)

• Lake: 139 (136 Wednesday morning)

• Sumter: 91 (90 Wednesday morning)

• Marion: 68 (65 Wednesday morning)

• Flagler: 36 (35 Wednesday morning)

• Polk: 206 (no changes since Wednesday morning)

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.


White House coronavirus update

6 p.m. update

President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force are giving a live update on the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to watch the news conference 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.


2 more Orange County deputies test positive

4:30 p.m. update

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said there have been 803 cases of COVID_19 in the county, resulting in 96 hospitalizations and 10 deaths.

He released an updated heat map that identified the following ZIP codes as hot spots:

• 32822 (Orlando and Azalea Park)

• 32824 (Orlando, Meadow Woods, Southchase and Taft)

• 32828 (University Park)

• 32837 (Hunters Creek)

Demings said 40 of the county’s 53 ZIP codes have reported at least one cases of the virus.

He said he has asked that the Orange County Convention Center be used as a federal medical facility site should we exceed our region’s hospital capacity.

Read: Coronavirus: How COVID-19 progresses; a day-by-day breakdown of symptoms

Wearing a cloth face covering, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the city of Orlando has removed rims and nets from city-owned basketball and volleyball courts and closed fitness stations at the city’s parks.

He said the parks will remain open so long as residents practice social distancing.

Dyer also said the city is still trying to give a mask to each city employee who must work in public.

Dr. Raul Pino, the state’s health officer for the county, said of the more than 8,500 people in the county who have been tested for the virus, 7,000 have tested negative.

Read: Playtime, it’s not just for kids. How adults’ mental health can benefit from play during coronavirus pandemic.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said two more deputies have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to five. He said they are self-isolating. He also said crime has decreased in the county.

Watch the full news conference below, and click here to watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News live:


Seminole County coronavirus cases

3:40 p.m. update

Seminole County leaders said 220 patients have tested positive for COVID-19.


3:32 p.m. update

Omni Healthcare said it has seen 600 patients at its drive-thru COVID-19 testing location in Melbourne.


2:25 p.m. update

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity created a Business Damage Assessment survey determine the impact of COVID-19 on local business operations. The survey will help DEO implement appropriate relief programs. The Business Damage Assessment Survey can be taken online here.

Leaders said the Seminole County Office of Emergency Management and Florida Department of Health-Seminole personnel are available daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by phone to answer non-emergency questions related to COVID-19 at 407-665-0000. Spanish-speaking operators are on standby to assist.

Seminole County leaders said they are offering mail in ballots for voting. Anyone in the county can call 407-585-VOTE for a ballot.

Leaders said there is not an overcapacity at Seminole County hospitals.

Watch the conference in full below:


Coronavirus update from state, Seminole County

2 p.m. update

Seminole County officials are giving a live update on the county’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to watch the news conference live.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just wrapped up a news conference on the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Watch it in full below:


EN ESPAÑOL - AQUÍ TENEMOS UNA SECCIÓN - SOBRE TODO LO QUE OCURRE CON LA PANDEMIA DE CORONAVIRUS


No new Central Florida deaths

11:55 a.m. update

The Florida Department of Health reported 13 coronavirus-related deaths and 709 new cases since Tuesday evening.

Health officials said of the 15,456 cases statewide, 15,003 involve residents and 453 involve nonresidents.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

They said a total of 1,955 people have been hospitalized and 309 people have died so far.

Officials said Central Florida reported no new deaths since Tuesday evening.

No new cases have been reported in Volusia or Flagler counties since then.

Read: Coronavirus: Could you have already had the virus? 5 questions answered

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

• Orange: 803 (768 cases Tuesday evening)

• Osceola: 272 (256 cases Tuesday evening)

• Seminole: 216 (202 cases Tuesday evening)

• Polk: 206 (199 cases Tuesday evening)

• Volusia: 163 (no change since Tuesday evening)

• Lake: 136 (122 cases Tuesday evening)

• Brevard: 102 (98 cases Tuesday evening)

• Sumter: 90 (87 cases Tuesday evening)

• Marion: 65 (62 cases Tuesday evening)

• Flagler: 35 (no change since Tuesday evening)

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

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.


9:44 a.m. update

Seminole County officials will hold a press conference to provide an update on the county’s response to COVID-19.

Officials are expected to speak at 2 p.m.


8:28 a.m. update

The Osceola County School Board announced the following backup graduation dates in the case that social distancing guidelines are still in place for their original dates in May.

Location: Osceola School for the Arts

  • Monday, July 6 – Professional And Technical High (PATHS) at 1:30 p.m.
  • Monday, July 6 – Adult Learning Center Osceola (ALCO)/Osceola Virtual School/Zenith at 6:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 7 – Osceola School for the Arts at 6:00 PM

Location: Osceola Heritage Park

  • Wednesday, July 8 – Poinciana High at 9:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, July 8 – Harmony High at 1:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 8 – Osceola High at 6:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 9 – Tohopekaliga High at 9:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, July 9 – Liberty High at 1:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 9 – St. Cloud High at 6:00 p.m.
  • Friday, July 10 – Celebration High at 9:30 a.m.
  • Friday, July 10 – Gateway High at 1:30 p.m.
  • Friday, July 10 – Osceola Technical College (oTECH) at 6:00 p.m.

7:46 a.m. update

Sen. Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) will hold a press conference to discuss unemployment reform and detail his issues with the state’s unemployment program.

This comes after thousands across the state claimed to encounter issues filing for unemployment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Bracy is expected to speak at 1 p.m.

Read: Unemployment issues linger after Florida residents report site problems following overnight processing


6:47 a.m. update

Rep. David Santiago announced Monday that coronavirus testing will be coming to Volusia County. Channel 9 learned that he’s pushing to have the site in the county’s west side to be located in Deltona. The county’s east side is also slated to open locations.

It still isn’t known when the sites will open.

Read: Coronavirus: How to make fabric masks during COVID-19 pandemic


4:27 a.m. update

The Florida Department of Health reported 13 coronavirus-related deaths and 243 new cases since Tuesday morning, inching the state closer to 15,000 total cases.

Health officials said of the 14,747 cases statewide, 14,302 involve residents and 445 involve nonresidents.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

They said a total of 1,893 people have been hospitalized and 296 people have died so far.

Orange County, which has the most cases of Central Florida counties, reported its 10th death, officials said.

“Coronavirus

Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

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

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.

Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.