News

TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Friday, May 29

ORLANDO, Fla. — Read live updates below:

Testing sites heading to Florida Publix, Home Depots

7 p.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis says they’re not slowing down COVID-19 testing, even as the states starts to get back to normal.

Testing sites will be set up at Home Depot and Publix parking lots, DeSantis said Friday. There will be at least six in the state, including Boca Raton, but he didn’t specify other locations.

The state is working with Home Depot and Publix to determine locations for future testing sites, according to the governor’s office.

During a news conference at a testing site outside a Home Depot in Boca Raton, DeSantis said demand is not quite as high as supply.

“What we’re finding is, we have the capacity to do at least 10,000 tests a day just from drive-through sites. But yet, we typically only (have) demand for about half that much,” DeSantis said. “So we’ve told people (to) come if you want to get tested; it doesn’t matter your age.”

Reopening plans for Disney World, SeaWorld approved by state

3:17 p.m. update

Orange County officials have announced that Walt Disney World’s and SeaWorld’s reopening plans have been approved by the state.

SeaWorld will reopen on June 10. At Disney World, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open on July 11, and Epcot and Hollywood Studios will open on July 15.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates

Health officials report 49 coronavirus-related deaths, including 3 in Central Florida

3:17 p.m. update

Florida health officials reported 1,212 new cases of COVID-19 and 49 coronavirus-related deaths since Thursday.

The total number of cases in the state is now at 54,497, with deaths at 2,413.

Health officials reported one death in Orange County, one death in Marion County and one death in Polk County.

Click here for an interactive map of cases statewide, and see each local county’s number of cases below:

Orange: 1,945 (43 new cases since Thursday)

Seminole: 481 (7 new cases since Thursday)

Volusia: 725 (16 new cases since Thursday)

Brevard: 409 (8 new cases since Thursday

Osceola: 688 (14 new cases since Thursday)

Lake: 291 (11 new cases since Thursday)

Marion: 243 (2 new cases since Thursday)

Flagler: 182 (3 new cases since Thursday)

Polk: 977 (38 new cases since Thursday)

Sumter: 253 (no new cases)

Universal Orlando Resort announces reopening of select hotels

12:58 p.m. update

Universal Orlando Resort announced Friday that select hotels will begin reopening June 2.

Officials said the reopening of the hotels will be carefully managed and phased, including a new enhanced health, safety and hygiene procedures.

The phased reopening of the hotels includes Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal’s Aventura Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites.

Guests staying in these hotels will be able to visit the theme parks on June 3 and 4, prior to the public reopening on June 5.

Officials said plans for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites will be announced at a later time.

Guests who have booked reservations at these two hotels through Universal Orlando or Universal Parks and Resorts Vacations will be contacted to modify their reservation if it has been affected.

Universal Orlando’s resort hotels, co-owned and operated by Loews Hotels & Co, have enhanced their standards and protocols throughout their operations. These enhancements currently include:

  • Guests, team members and vendors are required to wear face coverings in public areas.
  • Team members and vendors will be required to have temperature checks upon arrival. Those with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be allowed to work.
  • Guests will be asked to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms and comply with quarantine orders prior to arrival.
  • Guest will have temperature checks upon arrival and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will require medical clearance to enter the hotel.
  • Hand sanitizer stations will be located in public areas and elevator landings.
  • There will be enhanced cleaning of guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas with an EPA-approved cleaner and disinfectant.
  • Frequent cleaning of high-touch areas such as telephones, remote controls, door handles, light switches, elevators and table tops.
  • Food and beverage outlet capacities are limited and based on latest recommendations and guidelines.
  • There will be social distancing signs and reminders of social distancing requirements in high-traffic areas.
  • There will be several contactless experiences for guests, including hotel texting-services, express checkout and contactless room deliveries.

9:03 a.m. update

Gov. DeSantis to provide coronavirus update

Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a 12:15 p.m. press conference to provide an update on COVID-19 throughout the state.

The governor will have the briefing from Boca Raton.

You can watch his remarks live here.

Read: Downtown Orlando businesses feeling pinch due to COVID-19 pandemic

8:10 a.m. update

Osceola County to hold COVID-19 update

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

The press conference can be viewed here once it begins.

4:38 a.m. updates

CVS Health expanding Central Florida COVID-19 testing sites

CVS Health is expanding its COVID-19 testing program by opening additional test sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations across Florida today.

See a list of the Central Florida locations below:

  • CVS Pharmacy, 1098 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
  • CVS Pharmacy, 101 South Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
  • CVS Pharmacy, 901 North Woodland Boulevard, Deland, FL 32720
  • CVS Pharmacy, 2187 Howland Boulevard, Deltona, FL 32738
  • CVS Pharmacy, 2454 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy., Kissimmee, FL 34744
  • CVS Pharmacy, 1235 North 14th Street, Leesburg, FL 34748
  • CVS Pharmacy, 17021 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora, FL 32757
  • CVS Pharmacy, 250 East Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach, FL 32176
  • CVS Pharmacy, 1510 Semoran Boulevard, Winter Park, FL 32792

For more information, click here.

“Coronavirus

Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.