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As the COVID-19 coronavirus 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.
Stories that require more in-depth coverage will be posted on WTSP.com/coronavirus.
Key Facts
- Effective today, all individuals on Eglin Air Force Base property and facilities will wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or work centers
- The CDC is now suggesting that any Americans, who wish to do so, should wear basic cloth or fabric face coverings when they go out in public.
- Walt Disney World cancels its summer college program
- 254 deaths reported in Florida, with 13,629 confirmed cases
- Cruise ship companies, working with the Coast Guard, slowly have been allowing passengers to disembark
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9:48 p.m. (April 6)
Three Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies are on a 14-day quarantine after they were exposed to someone with COVID-19 coronavirus.
It happened around 8:30 p.m. Sunday at a home in Thonotosassa, the agency said in a news release.
The deputies got to the home before paramedics and performed CPR on him, in addition to using an Automated External Defibrillator. After learning from a relative the man took heroin earlier in the evening, deputies administered a single dose of Narcan, the sheriff's office said.
6:28 p.m. (April 6)
Publix confirms a third employee in the Tampa Bay area has tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus.
The worker is employed at one of the company's Dunedin stores, located at 1491 Main Street, Publix said in a statement.
6 p.m. (April 6)
The Florida Department of Health reports an increase of 305 positive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus since the morning update, bringing the statewide total to 13,629 cases.
An additional 18 people have died from the virus: a total of 254 people is being reported.
4:45 p.m. (April 6)
Sarasota Memorial Hospital released the following information Monday afternoon.
- Tested more than 810 people, with 671 negative results, 66 positive results and 73 results pending
- 33 patients are hospitalized
- 5 patients have died
- 38 people have been discharged from the hospital or ER with follow-up monitoring by the Florida Department of Health
- 9 SMH employees tested positive and have been monitored at home
4:30 p.m. (April 6)
Tampa General Hospital is offering two ways for people to be screened and tested for COVID-19.
TGH Virtual Care allows people to talk directly to a board-certified physician who will ask screening questions to determine if testing is necessary.
The TGH Virtual Care app allows consumers to speak directly to a physician 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no appointment necessary.
The charge is $49.
Another option is TGH Urgent Care Powered by FastTrack.
Two locations are dedicated to screening and testing patients: Carrollwood (4505 Gunn Highway) and Brandon (799 W. Lumsden Road). You can call (813) 925-1903 to be screened over the phone and directed to a clinic location, or can make an online appointment by visiting fasttrackurgentcare.com.
3:55 p.m. (April 6)
A Pinellas County government employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The county issued a statement Monday afternoon outlining the information that it will be able to release as the county navigates this pandemic.
Below is what the county said it will be able to provide:
Confirmation about whether or not there is a new case of COVID-19 within the
Pinellas County workforce. Confirmation about all of the safety protocols followed in partnership with DOH.
Those protocols are:
If an individual is COVID-19 positive and had no exposure to others,
the individual will be connected with DOH resources and placed on a 14-day
isolation period.
If an individual is COVID-19 positive and had direct exposure to coworkers
and/or the public, DOH Epidemiology will initiate its standard notification
process and the County will, of course, support any and all DOH
recommendations, including a 14-day quarantine for those employees who were directly exposed.
3:40 p.m. (April 6)
Pinellas County is grateful to the many businesses and individuals that have donated thousands of gloves, masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies to help protect health workers and first responders on the front lines in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.
Due to the critical need for personal protective equipment and disinfectants, the County is coordinating nine new donation sites at local fire stations and nonprofits that will operate this week Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – noon:
PPE Donation sites:
- Fire Station 29, 11195 70th Ave. N., Seminole
- Fire Station 57, 3375 Tarpon Lake Blvd, Palm Harbor
- Fire Station 54, 225 Pine Ave, Oldsmar
- Fire Station 35, 11350 N 43rd St., Pinellas Park
- Fire Station 25, 250 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach
- Fire Station 24, 180 108th Ave., Treasure Island
- Fire Station 23, 7301 Gulf Blvd., St Pete Beach
- St. Pete Free Clinic, 3115 44th Ave N., St Petersburg
- RCS Pinellas, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater
Supplies will be delivered to local hospitals, long-term care facilities, and first responders to ensure their safety as they take care of our community.
2:55 p.m. (April 6)
As Hillsborough County remains under a local state of emergency and as part of continued mitigation efforts in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Hillsborough County government will be extending all existing closures through April 30, 2020 to uniformly align with Executive Order Number 20-91 issued by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, April 3.
The closures impact facilities and service locations across the county. For details and up-to-date information regarding cancellations and closures visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe.
2:45 p.m. (April 6)
Effective today, all individuals on Eglin Air Force Base property and facilities will wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or work centers. This includes all military personnel, civilian employees, family members, DoD contractors and all other individuals on Eglin property and facilities.
Team Eglin will phase in the wearing of masks this week while continuing to support ongoing mission essential activities.
Everyone should fashion face coverings from household items or common materials, such as clean T-shirts or other clean cloth that can cover the nose and mouth area. Medical personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators or surgical masks will not be issued for this purpose as these will be reserved for the appropriate personnel.
“The safety and well-being of the Eglin Force and our families will always be my top priority,” said Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, 96th Test Wing commander. “We will always provide our personnel with the most up-to-date information on appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the virus.”
2:00 p.m. (April 6)
The number of deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. surpassed 10,000 on Monday.
Researchers with Johns Hopkins University said 10,335 people have died because of the coronavirus. And, there are more than 347,000 confirmed cases around the country.
11:30 a.m. (April 6)
Governor Ron DeSantis says that adding servers and adding paper applications to the Department of Economic Opportunity to help with unemployment applications flowing in.
Desantis said more people are being trained to help with the number of unemployment applications coming in during the COVID-19 pandemic.
11:15 a.m. (April 6)
Walt Disney World cancels its summer college program. The company is also sending people who are participating in its Cultural Representative Program.
11 a.m. (April 6)
The Florida Department of Health is reporting 13,324 positive cases of COVID-19 with 236 deaths.
10 p.m. (April 5)
The 927th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa said it's sending its own doctors and nurses to New York and New Jersey to help fight COVID-19. The group included 120 professionals, including doctors, nurses and respiratory specialists within the Air Force.
The group is set to be in New York by Tuesday.
5:57 p.m. (April 5)
The Florida Department of Health released the latest numbers on the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
There have been 221 people who have died from the virus and there are 12,350 reported cases.
5 p.m. (April 5)
While Gov. Ron DeSantis' stay-at-home order allows for people to gather at churches while practicing social distancing, many Tampa Bay area congregations opted for smaller or virtual services for Palm Sunday.
At Grace Lutheran, worshippers could come to the church but had to stay 10 feet apart. Some churches worried virtual services would deter people from participating.
A week after the arrest of Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, The River at Tampa Bay held a Palm Sunday service online.