Wednesday’s Coronavirus Updates: Third TSA agent at SWFL Int’l tests positive

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, there have been 22,519 positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Florida. The case count includes 21,865 Florida residents and 654 non-Florida residents. There are 614 deaths reported and 3,249 hospitalizations, according to the Florida Department of Health.

There have been 214,210 tests administered in Florida. A total of 22,519 tests have come back positive, and 191,377 tests have come back negative. The remainder are still pending, according to the FDOH website.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS

Total number of cases: 22,519 (up from 22,081)
Deaths: 614 (up from 591)

• 891 total new cases reported as of Wednesday
• 43 total new deaths reported as of Wednesday

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS

Total in SWFL: 1,250 (up from 1,232)
Deaths: 37 (up from 34)

• 40 new cases reported Wednesday
• 4 new deaths reported Wednesday

Lee County: 677 (up from 669) – 23 deaths (3 new deaths)
Collier County: 396 (up from 390) – 5 deaths
Charlotte County: 124 (up from 123) – 6 deaths (1 new death)
DeSoto County: 22 (unchanged) – 3 deaths
Glades County: 5 (unchanged) – 1 death
Hendry County: 26 (up from 23) – 0 deaths

Click HERE for a SWFL case-by-case breakdown – updated daily.

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RESOURCES

NOW HIRING: SWFL companies adding jobs as business picks up amid coronavirus crisis

LATEST CLOSURES: Southwest Florida business updates and store closings

#GulfshoreStrong: Covering people making a difference in SWFL

FOOD PANTRIES: Harry Chapin mobile food pantry schedule, week of April 13

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WEDNESDAY COVID-19 HEADLINES

• Stimulus check tracking site set to go live on Wednesday
• How to make sure you are disinfecting and sanitizing properly

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UPCOMING BRIEFINGS:

• 4:50 p.m. Gov. DeSantis daily briefing – WATCH replay here
• 5 p.m. White House Coronavirus Task Force Briefing

 

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Third TSA agent at RSW tests positive

A third TSA agent at Southwest Florida International Airport has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The TSA said Wednesday night that the screening officer last worked at the airport on Monday, April 13.

No further information was given. Trust WINK News for updates.

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IRS STIMULUS CHECK TRACKING GOES LIVE

The first batch of stimulus checks — or “economic impact payments,” as they are officially known — started hitting consumers’ bank accounts on Saturday, the Internal Revenue Service has said. But millions of people remain unsure of when the payments will arrive because it depends on whether the IRS has your direct-deposit information and your income level. Consumers can also update their mailing addresses if they’ve moved since they last filed their tax returns.

The “Get My Payment” service is live at IRS.gov as of Wednesday morning. It will let consumers check their payment status, confirm whether they prefer direct deposit or a paper check and enter their bank account information for direct deposit if the IRS doesn’t have it yet.

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President Trump says states will decide when to reopen

President Trump has reversed course and accepted that governors will decide when to reopen their states for business amid the coronavirus crisis that has now claimed more than 26,000 lives across the country.

Governors now face the agonizing decisions — under mounting public and political pressure — over when to lift the restrictions scientists say have helped to “flatten the curve” in some of America’s hardest-hit cities. But to ease those economically devastating closures, governors want to understand how many people have, and how many people have had, the coronavirus is in their states. That requires data from widespread testing.

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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

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