FLORIDA – ABC Action News is committed to providing Tampa Bay area residents all of the updates on the coronavirus, COVID-19, and the impact it's having on our way of life. To help you stay on top of it all, we've compiled all the updates for Friday, March 27. For today's updates, visit www.abcactionnews.com/virus. Don't forget we are in this together!
10:00 PM
- Hillsborough County's safer-at-home order is officially in effect.
7:36 PM
- Manatee County deputy tests positive for COVID-19 after vacationing in Orlando.
7:00 PM
- Total cases in Florida jumps to 3,198. Death toll is now at 46.
5:30 PM
- Hillsborough County clarifies its "safer-at-home" order saying publicly-funded parks will be closed.
5:00 PM
- SeaWorld furloughs 90 percent of its employees, documents say. Affected SeaWorld employees will no longer be paid after March 31, according to documents.
4:35 PM
4:08 PM
3:50 PM
- Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed "until further notice." Hourly parks and resorts cast members will still be paid through April 18.
3:33 PM
- Winn-Dixie introduces special shopping hour for community heroes. Healthcare personnel and first responders can visit any Winn-Dixie or Fresco y Más grocery store from 8-9 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday evenings to participate in the special shopping hours.
3:13 PM
- Governor Ron DeSantis is suspending new vacation rentals in the state for two weeks
- Visitors traveling from New Orleans or anywhere in Louisiana will be mandated to self isolate for-14 days
- National Guard to be sent to Palm Beach amid increasing positive cases in the area
- SNAP benefits will increase temporarily to the maximum amount
- FWC emergency order is to enforce social distancing on waterways
3:04 PM
The Florida Aquarium extends their temporary closure through Sunday, May 10. However, the aquarium says they remain ready to open earlier if it is determined safe to do so.
2:48 PM
2:42 PM
- Hillsborough County Emergency Management has secured 1,000 additional testing collection kits from the State of Florida in anticipation of re-launching its COVID-19 community collection testing site at Raymond James Stadium. An official date to re-open the site has yet to be determined
2:15 PM
- Sarasota County Fire Chief Michael Regnier announces a county firefighter tested positive for COVID-19.
2:13 PM
- The world’s largest producer of condoms says the coronavirus pandemic may lead to a global shortage of the rubber contraceptives.
2:01 PM
- The Tampa Bay History Center extends its public closure in compliance with the Hillsborough County Emergency Management Policy Group’s Safer-at-Home Order.
12:35 PM
- The Tampa Police Department reports that, as of this morning, 38 officers are being monitored for COVID-19. 30 of the 38 are in self-quarantine. There is no update as of yet on the 9 officers awaiting test results.
12:11 PM
- Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister tells residents to be aware of possible scams circulating related to the coronavirus outbreak.
Scammers are trying to take advantage of your fears!
Sheriff Chad Chronister shares a few #coronavirus scams all residents should be on the lookout for over the next several months! #Retweet #scams #COVID19 #TeamHCSO #SheriffChadChronister pic.twitter.com/UUw6hER9LA
— HCSO #teamhcso (@HCSOSheriff) March 27, 2020
12:09 PM
- The School District of Manatee County’s Food and Nutrition Services Department will provide kids and teens, 18 and younger, free lunch and breakfast for the next day during the mandated school closures, from Monday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 15, 2020. The free meals will be offered regardless of income. Visit www.manateeschoolfood.net for times and locations.
12:00 PM
- 416 new positive cases and 6 new deaths reported in Florida by DOH, bringing state's total to 2,900.
11:20 AM
- Polk State College announces they will continue all classes online through the Summer 2020 Semester to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
7:32 AM
- Spain sees record number of daily virus deaths at 769 but official says new infections are easing.
7:30 AM
5:00 AM
- U.S. cases surpassed China and Italy on Thursday; positive cases currently at 85,991. According to Johns Hopkins, 753 people in the U.S. have recovered. In Florida there are 2,359 residents who have tested positive and 29 reported deaths.
Important updates from Thursday, March 26
- US deaths top 1,000 as $2.2 trillion in virus aid approved.
- U.S. now leads world in total number of COVID-19 cases, surpassing China and Italy.
- Four Tampa General Hospital employees test positive for coronavirs.
- 69-year-old Hillsborough County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away at home, first death in the county
- Hillsborough County leaders vote to enact a safer-at-home order this week amid the coronavirus pandemic, no curfew.
- Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried released a statement saying Gov. DeSantis needs to issue a stay-at-home order for all state residents.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Wednesday, March 25
- A bill that will give many Americans a $1,200 check in the upcoming days gets the green light from the US Senate.
- Drive-through testing site at Raymond James opens. Pre-screening and pre-registration are required.
- Pinellas County issues "safer-at-home" order; becomes the first local county to do so.
- Hillsborough County leaders vote unanimously to enact "stay-at-home" and curfew order
- President Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Florida. Federal funding is now available for affected areas in the state.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Tuesday, March 24
- Hillsborough County main information number for residents experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to call beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to get pre-screened and, in some cases, pre-registered for testing.
- 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo to be delayed for 'up to a year' due to coronavirus pandemic
- A 67-year-old Pinellas resident diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away. This is the first COVID-19 death in Pinellas.
- Governor DeSantis issues health advisory for those 65 years old and over as well as those with underlying conditions of any age to stay home for the next two weeks
- COVID-19 testing sites will open at Raymond James Stadium on Wednesday.
- Mayor Jane Castor says she is hoping to enact a citywide stay-at-home order on Wednesday.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Monday, March 23
- Governor DeSantis to order 14-day quarantine on anyone flying from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to Florida.
- Hillsborough County leaders vote to not issue a 'stay-at-home' order yet, revisiting subject on Thursday
- All Florida State Parks closed to the public.
- Lakeland Regional Health is limiting visitors to its facilities with some exceptions and stopping all elective procedures.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis doubles down on his stance on avoiding a statewide shutdown. He said it is “not advisable” to issue a stay-at-home order for all Floridians.
- Three people test positive at the MacDill Air Force Base.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Sunday, March 22
- Five University of Tampa students test positive for coronavirus.
- Gov. DeSantis announces the opening of a drive-thru testing site at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
- Hawaii's governor has instituted a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine starting Thursday of all people traveling to the state as part of efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus.
- Republican Sen. Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. This makes him the first known U.S. senator to be diagnosed with the virus at the center of the pandemic.
- Florida now has over 1K positive COVID-19 cases, says Department of Health.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Saturday, March 21
- City of Tampa mayor says a stay-at-home order is likely in the coming days.
- Sarasota Memorial Hospital has confirmed that three additional patients tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.
- President Trump says coronavirus now reported in 148 countries.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Friday, March 20
- Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture urges Governor Ron DeSantis to issue a statewide "stay-at-home" order for all Floridians.
- An active-duty sailor who is assigned to MacDill Air Force Base tests positive for coronavirus, officials say.
- Doctors Hospital of Sarasota confirms that a physician tests positive for COVID-19.
- Gov. DeSantis says restaurants are allowed to deliver alcohol with meals.
- Executive Order in Florida directs all restaurants and food establishments within the state to suspend on-premises food and alcohol consumption for customers.
- U.S. and Mexico agree to end all non-essential travel between the border of the two countries
- Florida Keys closing to visitors starting Sunday, March 22
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Thursday, March 19
- Italy surpasses China in COVID-19-related deaths, death toll now above 3,400
- President Trump, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn announce officials are looking into two drugs to treat COVID-19.
- Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced the release of 164 "low level, nonviolent" offenders from county jails.
- Officials announce all Manatee County public beaches will close at 6 a.m. Friday. All Sarasota County beaches will close at 6 a.m. Saturday.
- Labor Department says unemployment claims rose by 70,000 last week.
- All beaches in the City of Anna Maria will be closed effective 6 a.m. Friday 3/20/20 until further notice.
- The U.S. State Department issues a level 4 travel advisory, warning Americans to avoid all international travel.
- To view more updates, click here.
→ CORONAVIRUS CLOSINGS & CANCELLATIONS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA
Important updates from Wednesday, March 18
- City votes to shut down Clearwater Beach starting March 23 at 6 a.m.
- City of Tampa closes all beaches
- Trump says Department Housing and Urban Development to suspend foreclosures and evictions through April
- Treasury proposal: Deliver $500B in checks to millions of Americans, first round coming April 6
- Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced the immediate suspension of evictions in the county
- To view more updates, click here.
→ CORONAVIRUS IN FLORIDA: COUNTY-BY-COUNTY INTERACTIVE MAP
Important updates from Tuesday, March 17
- Florida students won't return to schools until April 15
- Gov. DeSantis orders no groups of more than 10 people on beaches
- All Florida bars, nightclubs closed for at least 30 days
→ COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS
This blog is being updated frequently. Stay with ABC Action News for the latest.