Traffic nightmare due to road and lane closures near eventful night in downtown Fort MyersFEMA gives Lee County another deadline extension for the flood insurance discount
As of 6 p.m. Friday, there have been 24,753 positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Florida. The case count includes 24,066 Florida residents and 687 non-Florida residents. There are 726 deaths reported and 3,649 hospitalizations, according to the Florida Department of Health. There have been 240,604 tests administered in Florida. A total of 24,753 tests have come back positive, and 215,229 tests have come back negative. The remainder are still pending, according to the FDOH website. *Numbers are released by the DOH twice daily at approximately 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of cases:24,753 (up from 24,119) Deaths: 726 (up from 686) 1,413 total new cases reported Friday 58 total new deaths reported Friday SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS Total in SWFL: 1,356 (up from 1,333) Deaths: 46 (up from 42) 72 new cases reported Friday 5 new deaths reported Friday Lee County: 721 (up from 718) – 25 deaths Collier County: 445 (up from 432) – 8 deaths (2 new deaths) Charlotte County: 131 (up from 128) – 9 deaths (2 new deaths) DeSoto County: 23 (up from 22) – 3 deaths Glades County: 5 (unchanged) – 1 death Hendry County: 31 (up from 28) – 0 deaths Click HERE for a SWFL case-by-case breakdown – updated daily. 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 FRIDAY COVID-19 HEADLINES Fort Myers Beach town leaders coming together to discuss opening up the beaches Activities for you when too much family time brings on stress UPCOMING BRIEFINGS: 10:00 a.m.— Governor DeSantis COVID-19 briefing. WATCH HERE 6 p.m. — White House Coronavirus Task Force daily briefing <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> Trump announces guidelines for reopening state economies During Thursday’s briefing, the president said a handful of states that have already meet the criteria could begin the new guidelines “literally tomorrow.” States will be very “vigilant” and very “careful.” Dr. Anthony Fauci said the plan is not a “light switch,” and changes will be gradual. The “dominating drive” of this plan was to make sure it was done in the safest way possible, he said. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, told reporters that the administration “did not put a timeline on any of the phases” and was leaving it to governors and the data they have to determine the best timing for their states. 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.