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As the COVID-19 pandemic grips the globe, it can be difficult to find reliably factual information about what's going on here in Florida.
This blog is a resource to address that crucial need. 10News reporters and producers will use it to share the latest headlines, while actively focusing on facts, not fear.
Key Facts
- A drive-through testing site is now open for Sarasota and Manatee counties. If you're 18 or older, you can get a test, regardless of symptoms.
- Florida's unemployment website is down this weekend for current applicants. Anyone looking to file a new claim or who qualifies as an independent contractor, or is self-employed will still be able to reach the site.
- Roughly 30.3 million Americans have now filed for jobless aid in the six weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began
- Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans for phase one of reopening Florida. It begins Monday when restaurants can open with restrictions.
- Beaches reopening Monday, May 4: Pinellas County and Manatee County.
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10:22 p.m. (May 3)
As restaurants prepare to reopen for dine-in services, many things have changed.
Customers to Datz Restaurant Group's locations will notice some of them.
“There are no condiments on our tables anymore. Gone are the days of the ketchup bottle that sat on the table," explained Suzanne Perry, co-owner of Datz Restaurant Group which owns Dr. BBQ, Datz Tampa, Datz St. Pete, Datz Riverview, Dough and The Canyon.
These restaurants have changed everything from the way people wait to how customers will eat. Gone, too, is the crowded lobby.
9:25 p.m. (May 3)
With 12 deaths reported, a Polk County nursing home ranks among the Top 5 senior care facilities hardest hit by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Opis Highlands Lake Center, of Lakeland, sits in fourth as of Sunday, with 12 reported COVID-19 resident deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH).
In a separate statewide case monitoring list recently released by the DOH, the facility reports 85 cases of COVID-19 in residents and staff -- 62 residents and 23 staff.
6:08 p.m. (May 3)
The Florida Department of Transportation has collected 16,300 traveler forms at the Interstate 10 and Interstate 95 checkpoints and 22,600 traveler forms at public-use airports statewide.
Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier ordered a mandatory 14-day quarantine for people coming into the state from areas hardest hit by the coronavirus, such as New York.
1:45 p.m. (May 3)
Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke Sunday at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach. During the press conference, he said that the state received 200,000 FDA approved COVID-19 antibody tests early Sunday morning.
They will be distributed throughout the state "in the coming days," according to the governor.
A mobile testing lab will be deployed in the state starting this week. The lab will provide 45-minute rapid tests. About 3,500 tests will be available each week. The governor says long term care facilities will be serviced by the lab first.
DeSantis says Walgreens announced 11 drive-thru testing sites will open throughout the state this week. One testing site will be located in Hillsborough County. The governor also said CVS and Walmart will soon make similar announcements for drive-thru testing sites.
11:35 a.m. (May 3)
Some Florida state parks will begin reopening as part of the state's phase one plan starting Monday, May 4.
People are asked to practice social distancing, limit group sizes to 10 people or fewer and stay 6-feet apart. Visit the state's page for park-specific information.
RELATED: Florida state parks to reopen Monday
11:15 a.m. (May 3)
A drive-thru testing site is now open for both Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The site is located at the Mall at University Town Center and opened at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 3.
If you're over the age of 18, you can get a test, and you don't need to be showing symptoms to be tested. You don't have to a Sarasota or Manatee County resident to be tested.
The drive-thru only site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
11 a.m. (May 3)
The Florida Department of Health reports 1,379 people have died from COVID-19, according to its morning update.
There are currently 36,078 confirmed cases in the state, with 6,035 hospitalizations statewide.
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8:08 p.m. (May 2)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to hold a press conference about COVID-19 coronavirus at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.
10News will stream the event live.
6:21 p.m. (May 2)
Malls in the Tampa Bay area are slated to open in the coming weeks as part of a gradual reopening of the state's economy amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Westfield shopping centers announced they will reopen starting Monday, May 15, according to a news release. Operating hours will be adjusted, with locations open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The company stresses it will be implementing relevant Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health and safety protocols as part of the reopening.
4:46 p.m. (May 2)
Charges have been dropped against a business owner accused of violating the state's safer at home on several occasions.
Galen Wood, 36, was arrested Thursday, April 16, at his business, Kitchen Table Games, after deputies said they received several tips that he was operating a business not permitted to be open.
Law enforcement claimed Wood was argumentative with them when he was told to close.
RELATED: Charges dropped against Pinellas Park business owner accused of violating safer at home order
4:25 p.m. (May 2)
Thousands of people once again are flocking to many of Florida's beaches as they begin reopening despite the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
At some of them, the Grim Reaper is showing up, too.
"The Grim Reaper represents death," said attorney Daniel Uhlfelder to WKRG-TV. "This is a deadly virus."
Dressed in black, wearing black gloves and handling a plastic scythe, Uhlfelder visited Miramar Beach on Friday, hoping people would second-guess being there: The coronavirus hasn't gone away, and it's still spreading.
1 p.m. (May 2)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable discussion with local barbers and hairdressers in the Orlando area to discuss their plans for reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. DeSantis was also joined by Orange County Mayor, Jerry Demings
During the 1 p.m. roundtable which was held at the OhSoooJazzy Hair Salons, DeSantis and salon owners talked about the safety measures that barbershops and salons could implement to prevent the spread of the virus inside their shops.
During the Saturday roundtable, Demmings talked about the importance of getting small businesses like salons and barbershops back open in a safe manner.
DeSantis agreed with Demmings and said it was “not a matter of if, but when” salons and barbershops would be able to open.
11 a.m. (May 2)
The Florida Department of Health reports 1,364 people have died from COVID-19 coronavirus as of its morning update.
There are 35,463 confirmed cases in the state, with 5,947 hospitalizations statewide, the agency says.
9:20 a.m. (May 2)
Essential workers could see an additional $12 per hour added to their paycheck for the next three months.
Sen. Mitt Romney is proposing "Patriot Pay," which would be given out in May, June, and July to frontline workers who face increased exposure to the new coronavirus. One-quarter would come from the employer and the rest would come from the federal government. It would be paid for using a refundable payroll tax credit.
Romney says one of the reasons behind the proposal is to make sure that workers in critical industries take home more compensation than the unemployment insurance rate.
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7:02 p.m. (May 1)
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport has implemented a COVID-19 action plan for travelers.
Here is what travelers can expect:
- Total sanitizing of all surfaces; Increased intensity and frequency of disinfecting hard surfaces and high-touch areas throughout the airport
- Increased cleaning efforts in the restrooms and other public areas
- Assuring public restrooms are supplied with soap and towels
- Additional hand sanitizing stations installed throughout the airport
- Passengers are asked to follow social distance measures put in place at the airport with 6-foot distancing markings and seating restrictions.
- Passengers need to wear face-covering while in the terminal.
- Concessions open for departing passengers are currently closed.
3:35 p.m. (May 1)
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's (DEO) CONNECT site is set to be down once again this weekend. But, only those with existing claims will be impacted.
Anyone looking to file a new claim or who qualifies as an independent contractor, or is self-employed will still be able to reach the site, according to the DEO.
The DEO said the reason for the site's closure to current applicants is to help "process claims and making payments over the weekend."
Those filing new claims can do so here.
Those who are self-employed can file for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program assistance here.
As of Friday the DEO says it has verified 960,410 unique claims and paid 426,623 claimants a total of more than $598.8 million.