Florida

TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Friday, April 3

ORLANDO, Fla. — 11:12 p.m. update

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood provided a list containing the number of COVID-19 cases in each city.

The list shows confirmed cases and how many people are being monitored for the virus.

10:05 p.m. update

An Amazon employee tested positive for COVID-19 at the Boggy Creek fulfillment center in Orlando.

The company said all workers have been alerted.

8:50 p.m. update

Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard now shows cases by zipcode.

To see how many cases are in a specific zipcode, click here.

8:35 p.m. update

Publix announced it will be expanding its pharmacy hours.

The new hours can be found below:

Monday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesday - 7-8 a.m. for customers ages 65 and over, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for others

Wednesday - 7-8 a.m. for customers ages 65 and over, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for others

Thursday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

*Hours on Saturday and Sunday vary by specific store

EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS EN FLORIDA CENTRAL>> Cifra de casos confirmados en Florida sobrepasa los 10,000 y 170 muertes

6:20 p.m. update

According to the Florida Department of Health, there are now more than 10,000 cases of the coronavirus in the state. That number is now 10,268 up by 683 cases since Friday morning.

Officials also said the death toll is now 170, up from seven Friday morning.

NEW CASES:

Orange: 602 (589 this morning)

Seminole: 163 (160 this morning)

Volusia: 125 (119 this morning)

Brevard: 62 (51 this morning)

Osceola: 201 (191 this morning)

Lake: 88 (85 this morning)

Sumter: 68 (67 this morning)

Flagler: 28 (27 this morning)

Polk: 126 (115 this morning)

Marion: 38 (34 this morning)

5:27 p.m. update

President Donald Trump is giving an update on coronavirus.

Trump said the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention is recommending individuals wear a face mask when possible.

>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE<<

4:42 p.m. update

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced he is suspending the penny sales tax transportation initiative.

4:33 p.m. update

Orange County officials are providing an update on coronavirus.

>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE<<

Officials provided an updated map showing hot spots of coronavirus in the county.

4:31 p.m. update

Seminole County leaders said they signed an order that prohibits individuals who test positive for COVID-19 from leaving their homes.

Leaders said several people who tested positive admitted to leaving their homes after testing positive for the virus.

Leaders said the order is meant to stop the spread of the virus.

4:28 p.m. update

A COVID-19 testing site will open at the University of Central Florida on Monday.

School officials said there will be 250 tests per day and will be provided weekdays at Garage A.

The testing site is a partnership with Aventus Biolaps.

3:44 p.m. update

The Florida Department of Health launched a community action survey, StongerThanC-19, that is designed to aid Florida as the state continues to fight the spread of COVID-19.

“We are asking residents to take two minutes out of their day to take the StrongerThanC-19 community action survey and answer the brief series of questions provided. The responses will be used to help the Department improve the distribution of resources to support healthcare and other initiatives across the state," said Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees.

To take the survey, click here.

3:32 p.m. update

Orange County leaders are reminding residents that the county is still under a curfew. The curfew is from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., and is effective until further notice.

1:50 p.m. update

Port Canaveral announced Friday that it is furloughing its employees who are dedicated to the port’s cruise operations through May 30, pending when cruise lines resume operations at the port.

Read a portion of the port’s statement below:

“While Port Canaveral is open and operating, the current pandemic situation has had significant impact on our businesses. In an effort to mitigate the economic challenges facing our Port, we made the difficult decision to temporarily furlough employees dedicated to the Port’s cruise operations and recreation business segments whose job functions are not required for current operations of the Port. This temporary furlough is effective April 3, 2020 and is expected to last until May 30, 2020 and pending the resumption of cruise lines operations at Port Canaveral. All impacted employees have been notified and will remain Canaveral Port Authority employees through the duration of the furlough period.”

1:45 p.m. update

Florida Agriculture Commissioner “Nikki” Fried issued a statement on Friday stating that Gov. Ron DeSantis is “failing to lead” during the coronavirus pandemic.

Read a portion of her statement below:

“Florida needs leadership now more than ever, but Governor DeSantis is failing to lead. His safer-at-home order is filled with glaring loopholes as the details emerge. He quietly issued a second executive order that weakens stay-at-home restrictions, allowing mass gatherings on beaches and in religious institutions, creating enormous confusion for local officials, and putting Floridians and businesses further at risk after weeks of inaction.”

EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS EN FLORIDA CENTRAL

11:30 a.m. update

The Florida Department of Health is reporting that the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state has topped 9,500 with 577 new cases being reported since Thursday night. Since Thursday, 19 new deaths were also reported bringing the death toll in the state to 163.

NEW CASES:

Orange: 589 (541 last night)

Seminole: 160 (145 last night)

Volusia: 119 (102 last night)

Brevard: 51 (49 last night)

Osceola: 191 (170 last night)

Lake: 85 (82 last night)

Sumter: 67 (66 last night)

Flagler: 27 (25 last night)

Polk: 115 (103 last night)

Marion: 34 (33 last night)

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.

EN ESPAÑOL: ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS EN FLORIDA CENTRAL

11 a.m. update

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the Orange County Convention Center hit its capacity of 250 tests within seven minutes of opening on Friday.

9:41 a.m. update:

SECO Energy announced it will be extending payment arrangements to customers amid the COVID-19 outbreak to help in providing some relief.

8:07 a.m. update:

Sen. Randolph Bracy is set to host a food drive to help provide for families during the coronavirus pandemic. Bracy and his partners plan to pass out enough food to feed 500 families.

The drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 832 Courtland Street.

Read: Critical nursing shortage in Florida spurs call for retired medical professionals to return to work

7:20 a.m. update:

Following the implementation of Gov. Desantis’ stay-at-home order, there have been questions regarding what qualifies as essential.

Channel 9 found that churches can remain open as long as social distancing is practiced.

The new executive order from the governor says “attending religious services at churches, synagogues and houses of worship” is an essential activity.

Although Seminole County states that all places of assembly must be limited to under 10 people, members of New Salem Primitive Baptist Church believe churches should be able to limit capacity by a percentage and not a person limit.

Read: Officer helps single mother struggling during COVID-19 pandemic pay for grocery haul

6:20 a.m. update:

A select group of organizations in Volusia County will be handing out a week’s worth of groceries to those in need at 6 p.m.

Anyone interested should call 386-947-7708 for additional information.

5:30 a.m. update:

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of metro Orlando will host a business webinar on the Coronavirus Aid Relief Economic Security Act to help other minority-owned businesses take advantage of the stimulus package that will aid small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The webinar begins at 1 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Read: DeSantis redirects state resources to help with rising unemployment during pandemic

4:32 a.m. update:

Over 9,000 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the state of Florida, which is nearly 1,000 more than what was reported Thursday morning.

Cases in Florida hit 9,008 as of Thursday evening. Health officials reported 8,010 cases Thursday morning.

Of those cases, 8,694 are Florida residents.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

There have been 144 coronavirus-related deaths in the state, compared to 128 from Thursday morning.

“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.


Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.