TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Monday, May 18

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

VIDEO: Coronavirus In-Depth - Reopening Florida, grocery prices go up Our in-depth coverage of COVID-19 and Central Florida's recovery efforts.

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Tests declining in Florida

10:30 p.m. update

Testing for COVID-19 continues to be a big discussion statewide.

Ch. 9’s Alexa Lorenzo breaks down why the governor says a decline in tests may be a good thing. Watch the video below:

VIDEO: Tests declining in Florida Testing for COVID-19 continues to be a big discussion statewide.

Gov. DeSantis defend’s state’s unemployment system

8:45 p.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday defended the state’s broken unemployment system, saying rejections are user error.

Political reporter Chris Heath found out the problems with unemployment aren’t a bug, they’re a feature.

Watch the full story below:

VIDEO: Gov. DeSantis defend?s state?s unemployment system Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday defended the state?s broken unemployment system, saying rejections are user error.

Florida Attorney General warns of stimulus checks scam at nursing homes

7:30 p.m update

The Florida Attorney General said some nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state have been wrongfully trying to take stimulus checks from patients.

The federal government said there have been reports of it happening across the country.

Watch: ‘Full Phase 1’ reopening begins: What’s opening, what’s staying closed

Medicaid patients have been the ones targeted for their stimulus checks.

The federal government said the nursing homes or assisted living homes have been wrongfully telling them that money belongs to the facilities.

Brevard County government facilities reopen, public asked to follow CDC guildlines

6:30 p.m update

For the first time in weeks, most Brevard County facilities are open to the public.

Read: Do masks protect you; how do you wear them, where do you find them?

County officials said different departments are taking different precautions, including adding plexiglass partitions to protect employees as well as the public.

Online service options are still available. But, if you need assistance in person at public works, utility services, planning and development, or housing and human services, you’re asked to make an appointment.

Trump says he’s taking anti-malaria drug to protect against COVID-19

5:45 p.m update

President Donald Trump said he has personally taken an anti-malaria drug that he has been touting as a possible treatment against COVID-19.

The president told reporters Monday that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine, even though he hasn't had any coronavirus symptoms.

Read more: Trump says he’s taking malaria drug in case he gets virus

He said he's been taking one pill a day for the past week and a half.

The Food and Drug Administration has warned of serious side effects from the drug, which has not been approved to treat COVID-19.

The president said he hasn’t experienced any side effects.

Free PPE offered at Orange County coronavirus testing sites

4:50 p.m update

Starting Tuesday, a different testing site in Orange County will offer free personal protective equipment. The testing is at Riverside Elementary, just off Maitland Boulevard.

Free PPE will also be offered at a testing site at Mid Florida Tech, officials said.

ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 18 mayo: Ofrecen equipo de protección personal gratis en el cdo. Orange

People who show up will receive a box of face masks and hand sanitizer.

Appointments are required, and testing will go until Thursday.

Orange County leaders give coronavirus update

4:10 p.m update

Watch the full Orange County news conference below:

Ocala reopens city skate park, Marion County reports 1 new coronavirus case

3:30 p.m update

Skateboarders in Ocala are asked to use social distancing as the city’s skate park reopened Monday.

Marion County is reporting 223 COVID-19 cases as of Monday afternoon. County officials said the most recent resident confirmed to have the coronavirus is a 36-year-old man from Ocala.

Five Marion County residents have died after contracting COVID-19.

The county’s positive test rate is 2.9%; Florida’s positive test rate is 6.9%.

DeSantis says paperwork problems cause issues with unemployment claims

2:45 p.m update

During a news conference Monday in Orlando, Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the state’s unemployment system.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s website has been overwhelmed with applications since the pandemic started.

WATCH: Gov. DeSantis opens I-4/408 interchange ramps months ahead of schedule

On Monday, DeSantis said more than $2 billion has been paid out and 97% of all Floridians who applied have been paid.

DeSantis said some people aren’t getting paid because their applications were inaccurate or incomplete.

DeSantis said Tuesday that he will take all the data that show who’s been paid, and go over the common problems for people who haven’t been paid.

Miami Beach temporarily restricts panhandling near businesses, restaurants

1:45 p.m update

Officials in Miami Beach are temporarily restricting panhandling outside businesses and restaurants.

The order signed Saturday by City Manager Jimmy Morales restricts anyone from panhandling within 50 feet of the door or service window of a business or restaurant.

ÚLTIMA HORA, CORONAVIRUS, 18 mayo: Anuncian ayuda millonaria para trastornos de salud mental y abuso de sustancias en Florida

The city’s legal staff said without a pandemic, the order would likely be struck down in court on free-speech grounds. But during the coronavirus outbreak, the city could mount a defensible case in court for the temporary measures.

While the rest of the county enters phase 1 of reopening Monday, essential businesses can reopen Wednesday in Miami Beach.

$2M emergency grant announced for mental health, substance abuse issues in Florida

1:05 p.m update

First lady Casey DeSantis announced a nearly $2 million emergency grant to address mental health and substance use disorders in Florida.

Funding will help fulfill the increased need for behavioral health services resulting from COVID-19.

Read: Psychological benefits of pet ownership during a pandemic

“(Gov. Ron DeSantis) and I are extremely grateful for this grant. While our health care workers are on the front lines, working tirelessly to help Floridians who are physically ill, there is an overwhelming need for behavioral health services,” the first lady said. “This grant enables DCF, through its strong partnerships with managing entities across the state, to continue providing mental health and substance abuse treatment for anyone in need, including those dedicated first responders who are working day-in and day-out to see us through this public health emergency.”

Read: Building emotional strength and resilience: 21 questions to ask yourself and others

The announcement is part of Casey DeSantis’ Hope for Healing Florida initiative, which strives to merge private and public resources to better serve Floridians struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues.

More than 46,000 cases of COVID-19, almost 2,000 deaths statewide

11:55 a.m update

Florida health officials reported that 24 people died of COVID-19 and that 854 new cases of the virus have also been reported in the state since Sunday

Data shows there have been 46,442 cases of the virus in the state and 1,997 deaths.

Brevard and Polk counties each reported one new death since Sunday. Central Florida reported 63 new cases in that time.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

See the latest case numbers by county below, and click here to see a statewide map of cases:

• Orange: 1,679 (1,655 Sunday)

• Polk: 746 (736 Sunday)

• Osceola: 627 (622 Sunday)

• Volusia: 605 (594 Sunday)

• Seminole: 435 (432 Sunday)

• Brevard: 367 (365 Sunday)

• Lake: 254 (252 Sunday)

• Sumter: 252 (251 Sunday)

• Marion: 223 (222 Sunday)

• Flagler: 160 (156 Sunday)

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.

OCSO opens station lobby to public

8:53 a.m. update

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office will open one of their county’s offices to the public for certain services.

The lobby at the location on 2500 West Colonial will be open for sex offender registration, employment opportunities, vehicle release and career criminal registration.

Other lobbies and substations throughout the county remain closed due to the pandemic.

Osceola County opens second round of housing assistance

8:15 a.m. update

Update: The county immediately reached its limit, having already received 500 applications by 8:20 a.m.

Officials in Osceola County will begin accepting applications for its second round of foreclosure prevention and rental assistance for residents in need during the pandemic.

In order to be eligible, proof of job loss and other documentation listed on the website is needed. Assistance will be made available on a first-come, first-ready basis.

Applications, which can be found here, activated at 8 a.m. Applications will be taken from 500 people.

Read: Florida gyms ready for reopening under pandemic guidelines

New Melbourne thrift store to help provide for homeless pets during pandemic

6:39 a.m. update

The SPCA of Brevard is launching a new thrift store and boutique in Melbourne that will directly impact its ability to save the lives of thousands of homeless pets during the pandemic.

The boutique, located at 790 S. Apollo Boulevard, will also have a cat adoption center within the store.

All purchases will help provide care for the animals in SPCA’s organization.

The location will open at 9 a.m.

Florida surpasses over 45,000 cases of COVID-19

4:37 a.m. update

Florida health officials reported that nine people died of coronavirus since Saturday, including one person in Central Florida.

Officials said 777 new cases of the virus have also been reported in the state since Saturday.

TIMELINE: Coronavirus - Sunday, May 17

Data shows there have been 45,588 cases of the virus in the state and 1,973 deaths.

On Saturday, six deaths were reported in Central Florida -- two in Orange County and one each in Seminole, Osceola, Brevard and Polk counties.

Coronavirus: Fun things to do while social distancing Coronavirus: Fun things to do while social distancing

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