SWFL band DONEFOR to open for Sublime, 311 and Goldfinger at Orlando music festivalCape Coral faces lawsuit over First Amendment
As of 6 p.m. Friday, there are 3,198 positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Florida. The case count includes 3,054 Florida residents and 144 non-Florida residents. There are currently 46 deaths reported in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health. The most recent death due to coronavirus in Lee County was a 94-year-old man, who is currently the oldest Southwest Florida community member to die from the virus. Captiva Island reported its first patient case in Lee County. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of cases: 3,198 (up from 2,900) Number of Florida residents: 3,054 (up from 2,765) Number of non-Florida residents: 144 (up from 135) Deaths: 46 (up from 34) SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS Total number of cases: 194 (up from 168)* Deaths: 5 Lee County: 95 (up from 76) Collier County: 85 (up from 81) Charlotte County: 8 (up from 5) DeSoto County: 6 (unchanged) Glades County: 0 Hendry County: 0 *Click HERE for a SWFL case-by-case breakdown – updated daily. As of the most recently revealed numbers, there have been 34,322 total tests administered in the state of Florida, with 3,198 positive tests. 31,114 tests have come back negative, and the remainder are pending, according to the FDOH website. NOW HIRING: SWFL companies adding jobs as business picks up amid coronavirus crisis LATEST CLOSURES: Southwest Florida business updates and store closings FRIDAY COVID-19 HEADLINES Getting familiar with SWFL school’s new E-learning programs Calculate how much you will get from the $2 trillion stimulus package ‘Teachers on A Mission’ deliver hundreds of meals a day to students and families in need British Prime Minister Johnson tests positive for virus WATCH FRIDAY’S NEWS CONFERENCES: Today’s scheduled live streams: 1 p.m. Collier County Board of County Commissioners emergency meeting. Watch here 2:30 p.m. Gov. DeSantis gives a daily briefing. Watch here 5 p.m. White House Coronavirus Task Force daily briefing FWC issues recreational boating restrictions Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order Friday that mandates all recreational vessels must maintain a distance of 50 feet apart with no more than 10 people on board effective immediately. This was shared on the official FWC twitter account. See more on COVID-19 updates on the FWC website. NEW Executive Order: Recreational vessels must be at least 50 feet apart with no more than 10 people on board effective immediately: https://t.co/UdppwO1dw3 #Florida #Coronavirus #boating #SocialDistancing pic.twitter.com/VK5akKCKDA — MyFWC (@MyFWC) March 27, 2020 Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed its marine units will help enforce the FWC executive order in the waters it patrols. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Sanibel issues temporary bans on unlimited rentals through April The City of Sanibel released a new proclamation Friday that included a ban on unlimited rentals, ordering any individual or entity who offers lodging to cancel or refrain from doing so until April 24. The city defines unlimited rentals as any single-family home, condominium, timeshare, any other place of public accommodation for lodging, including any resort housing, inn, hotel, motel, or other establishment that provides lodging to transient guests. Any individual or entity that meets the criteria defined by the city above is ordered to cancel all existing reservation and refrain from accepting any new guests beginning 12:01 a.m. Saturday, March 28 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 24. For more information, click here for the full City of Sanibel proclamation. COLLIER COMMISSIONERS STRIKE DOWN STAY-AT-HOME ORDER Board of County Commissioners of Collier County voted not to move forward with a countywide stay-at-home order during it special meeting Friday. CDC issues “Warning – Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel” Key Points Widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring globally. CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential international travel. Older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for severe disease. There may be limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas. US residents may have difficulty returning to the United States. Travelers should avoid contact with sick people and wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. All international travelers should stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing. Read the full notice FWC extends deadlines to renew specialized licenses The FWC will be extending renewal deadlines for the following specified licenses issued by the Commission with an existing renewal deadline that occurs in the month of March or April 2020: Commercial Freshwater licenses pursuant to 379.363, F.S.; Charter Fishing Licenses pursuant to 379.354(7)(a)-(c), F.S.; Captive Wildlife Exhibition and Sale Licenses pursuant to 379.3761(2), F.S.; Venomous/Conditional/Prohibited Reptiles 379.372, F.S. and 68-5.005 and 68- 5.007, F.A.C.; Private Game Preserves and Farms, 379.3711 and 379.3712, F.S.; and Marine Special Activity Licenses, Chapter 68B, F.A.C. and 379.361(4), F.S British Prime Minister Johnson tests positive for virus British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the new coronavirus but remains in charge of the U.K.’s response to the outbreak. Johnson said Friday that he was tested for COVID-19 on the advice of the chief medical officer after showing “mild symptoms” involving a temperature and a persistent cough. MORE IF YOU FEEL SICK: The Florida Department of Health has opened a 24-hour COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours. LINK: Florida Department of Health COVID-19 updates <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> *The map is best viewed on a desktop computer. If you don’t see the map above tap HERE for a fullscreen version.