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'll be updating this daily blog as we continue to get through this together.
8:07 PM
- Nearly 200 people were able to take the coronavirus test right in their neighborhood Saturday morning with pop-up testing site
7:14 PM
- Siesta Key businesses are ready to welcome back customers Monday with beaches opening back up on Monday
6:04 PM
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate leader Mitch McConnell respectfully decline offer of quick COVID-19 tests
5:33 PM
- A total of 4,978 people died from COVID-19, according to the WHO’s situation reports which details the number of new and total COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide.
- April 30 and May 1 marked the deadliest 48 hours in the United States’ fight against COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.
4:46 PM
- Britain’s Department of Health says a total of 28,131 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for the new coronavirus in the United Kingdom, an increase of 621 from the previous tally.
3:35 PM
- University of Tampa will hold its first-ever virtual commencement ceremony on May 9 at 11 a.m. More information will be given out on Monday.
2:39 PM
- Spaniards filled the streets to exercise for the first time after seven weeks of confinement to fight the coronavirus.
1:17 PM
- France hopes to extend the health emergency put in place to fight the coronavirus crisis until July 24.
12:42 PM
- The number of beds treating COVID-19 patients continued to decline as Italy prepared to ease its strict lockdown measures on Monday.
11:30 AM
- DOH reports 735 news cases and 50 new deaths related to COVID-19. Florida's current total is 35,463.
7:55 AM
- Russia reported a sharp spike in its daily tally of coronavirus infection cases, with a new one-day high of 9,633 on Saturday
3:49AM
- Africa now has more than 40,000 coronavirus cases
3:01 AM
- Singapore will let selected businesses reopen from May 12 in a cautious rollback of a two-month partial lockdown to curb the virus spread
1:27 AM
- China, where the pandemic began in December, reported one new infection and no deaths in the 24 hours through midnight Friday
Important updates from Friday, May 1
- A number of major airlines have announced in recent days that face coverings will be required on flights during the spread of COVID-19.
- Hundreds of extra deputies will be on Pinellas County beaches to make sure people are social distancing starting Monday.
- Pasco County is reopening five public parks over the weekend.
- Recommendations, which were intended to guide Disney World and Universal Studio, showed that capacity at the attractions should be initially capped at 50%.
- DEO confirmed to ABC Action News' I-Team that they launched a new page that makes sure Floridians who applied for unemployment are paid retroactively to when they lost their jobs, not to when they were able to apply.
- Gov. DeSantis announces Florida state parks will reopen Monday, May 4.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Thursday, April 30
- 3.8 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, bringing 6-week total to 30 million.
- NASCAR announced season will resume May 17 with seven races in 10 days, including four in elite Cup Series.
- 1 million people have now recovered from coronavirus around the world
- Lakeland Wawa temporarily shuts down after an employee tests positive for coronavirus
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Wednesday, April 29
- US economy shrunk at a 4.8% rate last quarter due to coronavirus shut downs.
- President Donald Trump says the federal government will not be extending its social distancing guidelines when they expire Thursday at the end of the month.
- First phase of reopening businesses will begin Monday, with restaurants and stores at 25% capacity, Gov. DeSantis said.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Tuesday, April 28
- New numbers bring Florida to 32,846 total cases and 1,171 deaths
- A pug in North Carolina has tested positive for the coronavirus and it may be the first instance the virus has been detected in a dog in the United States.
- Governor DeSantis says he will give an update on the safer-at-home order tomorrow.
- Pinellas County leaders vote to re-open beaches starting Monday
- Hillsborough extends county government closures through May 15
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Monday, April 27
- Sarasota County public beaches open with limitations.
- Lakeland city leaders vote to reopen golf courses, parks, trails, boat ramps on May 1.
- Worldwide cases of the coronavirus top 3 million.
- Tampa General Chief of Staff, Dr. Tapan Padhya said the hospital is looking to start its full elective schedule Monday, May 11. The remarks were made during a press conference with Gov. DeSantis at the hospital.
- To view more updates, click here.
→ COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS
This blog is being updated frequently. Stay with ABC Action News for the latest.