The number of positive cases of the new coronavirus has reached nearly 8,000 in Florida, and more than 100 people have died from the virus as of Wednesday night, according to numbers the state reported.
The state’s total cases were 7,773, nearly 1,000 more than the 6,955 cases earlier in the day. Deaths totaled 101, an increase from 87, the state Department of Health said.
Palm Beach County continues to lead the state in the number of people who have died from the new coronavirus, as Wednesday evening’s count lists 22 victims.
As of Wednesday evening, there had been 13 deaths in Broward and 11 in Miami-Dade. Nearly 1,000 people are being treated at hospitals.
There are another 45 or so deaths in the county in which COVID-19 test results are pending, says Dr. Wendolyn Sneed, Palm Beach County’s medical examiner. These deaths occurred over the past week and typically involved other medical conditions in addition to a possible coronavirus infection, she said.
Gloomy projections show the pandemic could reach a peak of 136 deaths a day in Florida in early May, and experts say perhaps 5,500 or more Floridians will die of the disease by early August. Still another model out Wednesday said there could be between 2,281 and 15,333 deaths from COVID-19 through Aug. 4.
Asked about the predictions, Gov. Ron DeSantis said, “It’s a very serious situation … this thing is really nasty. It’s something that’s caused a lot of harm to a lot of people.”
DeSantis ordered all Floridians to stay home — with a long list of exceptions — to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
“At this point, I think even though there’s lot of places in Florida that have very low infection rates, it makes sense to make this move now,” he said, of the order taking effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday and expiring April 30.
These guidelines — necessary to align with what the governor called a “national pause button” — are already familiar to much of South Florida.
Leaving the house is still permitted for plenty of activities, jobs, and services deemed “essential.” That covers gas stations, grocery stores, medical offices, car repair businesses, banks and more.
The new order also defines essential activities as attending religious services, recreation with proper social distancing from others, taking care of pets, and “caring for or otherwise assisting a loved one or friend.”
“We understand we need to be looking out for our pets,” DeSantis said at a news conference.
For weeks, Democratic lawmakers, newspaper editorials and others have criticized the lack of a statewide order as especially risky considering concerns raised about the virus spreading among Florida’s vulnerable elderly population.
The move by DeSantis, a Republican ally of President Donald Trump, came hours after U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said in a TV interview that national guidelines essentially mean there is a “stay-at-home order” for everyone in the country.
Florida had been one of only 17 states without a statewide directive for people to shelter in place. The state’s order does not indicate whether there would be any enforcement of the restrictions, unlike Fort Lauderdale, which says violators can face arrest and fines.
“The government can’t ham-fist everybody into their bedroom,” DeSantis said. “It’s just not practical.”
Latest developments
It’s still unknown whether cruise ships carrying sick passengers will soon dock in Broward County. The county has a Thursday deadline to decide whether the port should let in Holland America’s Zaandam cruise ship — which has had four deaths and nearly 200 people fall ill. The governor says he would welcome allowing Floridian passengers to disembark.
The state is lifting a burden on workers who have been laid off because of the coronavirus. As long as the crisis continues, there will not be a requirement that people wait a week before they can collect their first unemployment check.
Two more assisted-living facilities in South Florida have confirmed coronavirus infections, as concerns remain about a lack of testing. Facilities across the state are on lockdown, trying to keep the virus from seeping inside. Federal health inspectors are evaluating how long-term care facilities are responding.
The City of Miami Beach is getting its first mobile testing site on Thursday. It’s located at the municipal parking lot, 4621 Collins Avenue, next to the Eden Roc hotel. It’ll be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. by appointment only, Sunday to Friday. About 250 to 300 people will be tested each day by MedRite Urgent Care.
The state soon will roll out more new testing locations, DeSantis announced. This includes Hialeah, and southern Miami-Dade, and southern Palm Beach County. Details will be revealed later. “This will be a great help to our city in the fight against the coronavirus,” Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez said in a statement.
The new coronavirus outbreak is good news for sea turtles. The shutdown of beaches in South Florida could produce some of the best nesting conditions in the coming weeks as the season picks up, experts say. Turtles won’t be disrupted as they come ashore to place their eggs.
By the numbers
The Department of Health on Wednesday evening said the state’s documented coronavirus cases totaled 7,773. The agency reported 990 people with COVID-19 are in the hospital, and 69,265 people have been tested overall so far.
The number of coronavirus patients in Florida is doubling nearly every three days.
Broward and Miami-Dade are the counties with the highest number of cases in Florida. As of Wednesday evening, Broward has 1,348 total cases and Miami-Dade had 2,416. Palm Beach County has 616. A total of 101 deaths have been reported by the state, with 22 in Palm Beach, 13 in Broward and 11 in Miami-Dade.
There are about 210,000 cases nationwide, and the U.S. death toll had reached nearly 4,600 by Wednesday evening. New York has the most deaths of any one area in the country, with more than 1,900.
Worldwide, there are over 911,000 cases and nearly 45,500 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.
Do you have insider information on how public officials, government agencies or companies have handled the response to the coronavirus crisis? Our reporters want to hear from you. To submit a confidential news tip, click here.
Need to know
Wondering where to get tested for the new coronavirus? Here’s our guide to drive-thru sites.
Here is a roundup of events that have been canceled to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
From flattening the curve to social distancing: A coronavirus glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Coronavirus questions answered by a medical expert
What does the coronavirus do to the body?
Will heat stop the spread of new virus?
Coronavirus kitchen: What to stock in case you’re quarantined
What can the government force people to do in the name of containing the coronavirus?
More frequently asked reader questions, answered
Tips to stay healthy and ready
How to protect yourself and what to do if you’re sick
Avoid touching these things
How to disinfect your space on an airplane
Gyms and coronavirus: What are the risks?
Coronavirus cleaning tips for your iPhone, Android
More resources
Get the most updated information about coronavirus in Florida: Florida Department of Health website at floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19. Or call the Florida COVID-19 call center at 866-779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
Get the most updated information about the virus in the United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.
To get tested
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, you should contact your county health department (floridahealth.gov/chdepicontact) and take these steps:
Seek medical advice: Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
Avoid contact with others.
Avoid travel.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to avoid spreading the virus to others.
Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
