Coronavirus in Jacksonville: Live updates for Saturday, May 16
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4:20 p.m. | Jacksonville area virus-testing volume better than federal benchmark
Orange Park resident Kathleen McDonald only needed to drive a few minutes from her home to Walter Odum Park where health care workers under portable shade canopies administered drive-by testing for the COVID-19 virus.
McDonald hadn’t gone to the big downtown Jacksonville testing site at TIAA Bank Field that opened in March, but the convenience of the Orange Park site coupled with preparing for upcoming visits by her children and grandchildren convinced her to take advantage of the free test. | Read more
1:20 p.m. | What cellphone data says about how people are moving in Duval County
In the first full week of May, Duval County had fewer people staying home than nearly any other major county in the country, new cellphone data show, even as the county has continued to avoid the sorts of major coronavirus outbreaks that have devastated other parts of the nation. | Read more
1:15 p.m. | More than 25,000 AdventHealth tests unreliable
More than 25,000 coronavirus tests administered by AdventHealth in Central Florida, which includes Volusia and Flagler counties, are not reliable, according to hospital officials.
AdventHealth had partnered with multiple third-party labs across multiple states to assist with the “overwhelming demand” for COVID-19 testing, according to a press release. | Read more
12 p.m. | Duval, Clay counties each record two new COVID-19 deaths; test totals decrease sharply
The Florida Department of Health reported four new deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Saturday’s daily report, two each from Duval County and Clay County.
Northeast Florida cases increased by 13 since Friday’s report, and the area’s positive test total now stands at 2,022. Seven of the new cases were in Duval County, with five in Clay County and one in Putnam County. | Read more
Statewide
Hospitalizations: 1,964
Deaths: 8,146
Cases in Northeast Florida
Duval: 1,259
Clay: 313
St. Johns: 231
Nassau: 65
Baker: 26
Putnam: 128 | Read more
11:05 a.m. | City says weather to close TIAA Bank Field testing at noon Saturday
The Florida Department of Health will be closing COVID-19 testing at the Lot J site near TIAA Bank Field, effective at noon Saturday.
In a Twitter post from the Florida Association of Public Information Officers and retweeted by the city of Jacksonville, it was announced that “due to the weather forecast @TIAABankField will be closing at 12pm today.” | Read more
10:40 a.m. | Homeless get coronavirus testing in St. Augustine
Health officials tested homeless people for the novel coronavirus in downtown St. Augustine on Friday.
St. Augustine police officers alerted people in the area that testing would be available. | Read more
9:05 a.m. | Pandemic compounds challenges to St. Johns County farmers
Jeb Smith, part of a fifth-generation cattle and sod farm here in St. Johns County, has seen the ups and downs of the always-fickle agricultural industry.
Smith who is also a St. Johns County commissioner says the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges that farmers here in Northeast Florida were facing even before the outbreak. | Read more
6:50 a.m. | JADA proud of 2,500-meal delivery to frontliners
The Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association recently completed its unprecedented initiative of distributing 2,500 meals to area hospital personnel and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office substation staff members as they continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. | Read more
EARLIER
Florida tops 44K cases, Duval adds 32; Clay sees new death
In its Friday afternoon update, the department reported 44,138 cases in the state, 928 more than reported 24 hours earlier. There was also a new death in Clay County, one of 42 new deaths Friday.
Statewide hospitalizations increased to 7,959, and the department now lists 1,917 deaths.
Northeast Florida cases totaled 2,009, an increase of 41 since Thursday. All but four of those new cases were in Duval County, whose total now stands at 1,252.
The region’s death toll is now 67. | Read more
Cases in Northeast Florida
Duval:1,252
Clay:308
St. Johns:231
Nassau:65
Baker:26
Putnam:127
10:40 p.m. | Seven deaths reported at Clay County nursing home
A Clay County nursing home has now recorded seven deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, as compiled by the Florida Department of Health in Friday’s report.
The department said that Governors Creek Health and Rehabilitation has added two more deaths since the May 8 report, when it listed five. | Read more
Coronavirus pandemic claims yet another retailer: J.C. Penney
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed troubled department store chain J.C. Penney into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It is the fourth major retailer to meet that fate.
As part of its reorganization, the 118-year-old company said late Friday it will be closing some of its stores and will disclose details and timing in the coming weeks.
It operates 850 stores and it has nearly 90,000 workers. It said that it received $900 million in financing to help it operate during the restructuring. | Read more
Pop-up food pantry opens to serve struggling Jacksonville families
Catholic Charities Jacksonville has fed the community’s hungry through a traditional food pantry for 20 years. Through June 10, the nonprofit will also distribute free food to struggling families in a more modern venue — a drive-thru pop-up pantry.
The pantry will serve about 1,500 families a week, in addition to the 140 families still being assisted weekly through the existing pantry at St. Pius V Catholic Church. Prior to the pandemic, the church pantry was serving about 100 families a week. | Read more
Gov. Ron DeSantis allows gyms to reopen Monday
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that gyms and fitness centers will allowed to operate starting Monday when Florida begins a “full Phase One” reopening plan.
He said gyms and fitness centers would be allowed to open as long as social distancing requirements were followed and machines were sanitized, although he didn’t discuss any specific requirements or capacity restrictions during the news conference in Jacksonville. | Read more
Mitch McConnell says he was ‘wrong’ to say Obama left behind no pandemic plan
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has issued a rare mea culpa, saying he mistakenly accused the Obama administration of not leaving a plan for President Donald Trump on how to deal with a pandemic.
“I was wrong,” McConnell told Fox News Thursday. “They did leave behind a plan. So, I clearly made a mistake in that regard.” | Read more
Foster care teen’s death draws scrutiny to group home outbreaks: Who is looking out for these children?
Across the country, foster parents are in short supply, at-risk kids aren’t able to get in-person services they need and courts are closed, leaving adoptions and family reunifications in limbo.
Only a handful of states have issued moratoriums on aging out of the system, which means 18 and 21-year-olds could suddenly find themselves without a home or job in the worst economy in decades, with 36.5 million Americans filing unemployment claims since March. | Read more
Americans with tax issues aren’t getting their coronavirus stimulus checks. They suspect the IRS is delaying payment
Kimberly Dyer was counting on her $1,700 stimulus check to help pay her bills after her work hours were reduced and her salary was cut in half because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But the check hasn’t arrived, even though the Internal Revenue Service’s “Get My Payment” tracking app says she’s eligible.
Neither has the $5,129 tax refund she is owed. The IRS has notified her that her 2019 tax returns are under review. | Read more
People are furious over 2020 graduation ceremonies, the latest coronavirus political battleground
Graduation ceremonies have become a political battleground for schools, students and parents in the wake of school closures caused by the coronavirus. Some believe they can have a ceremony safely while others are accusing the high-schoolers and their parents of being selfish during a global pandemic. | Read more
Social distancing in US drops significantly from height of COVID-19 pandemic, poll finds
The number of Americans who say they are social distancing amid the nation’s coronavirus pandemic – although still a majority – has dropped by 17 percentage points since late March as several states have ended stay-at-home orders, according to a new Gallup poll released Friday.
But the drop isn’t just from individuals who live in states where they can now dine in restaurants, get haircuts at barbershops or visit parks. More people in states that still have stay-at-home restrictions are also no longer social distancing. | Read more
You can catch coronavirus through your eyes. A virologist fears that’s how he got it.
More Americans are using cloth coverings to shield their noses and mouths in an effort to blunt the spread of coronavirus, but eyes — long believed to be a possible infection route — usually remain open to the air.
That’s how a high-profile infectious disease expert believes he caught the virus.
Virologist and NBC contributor Joseph Fair says he was likely infected through his eyes while on a crowded airplane flight, Fair told the Today Show. He said he was taking precautions he advises others to take, including wearing a mask. | Read more
Gun shops flouted state closure orders in April as industry notched another big month
Gun stores in several states have defied orders to close their doors as the coronavirus pandemic drives historic demand for firearms, according to background check data maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and interviews with shop owners.
During April, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System processed 2.9 million checks, making it the fourth highest month on record, dating back to 1998. | Read more
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club to partially reopen this weekend
President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club will partially reopen to members this weekend as South Florida slowly reopens from the coronavirus lockdown.
An email sent Thursday to members says the Palm Beach resort’s Beach Club restaurant, its pool and its whirlpool will reopen Saturday after being closed two months. But members will have to practice social distancing — and they’ll have to bring their own towels. | Read more
Antibody tests reveal past infections but not future immunity
The addition of antibody testing at Lot J in Jacksonville has stoked interest in tests that show whether someone previously had a COVID-19 infection, but the tests cannot prove a person gained immunity, experts say. | Read more
In lockdown, bicycles are ‘the new toilet paper’
So many kinds of businesses have suffered so much during the coronavirus pandemic, but here’s one that’s not only endured but boomed. Like, crazy booming.
Bicycle shops.
“This has been the craziest six weeks of my life,” said Brian Corcoran, an owner of three Champion Cycling shops in Jacksonville. “I haven’t had a day off since March 6.” | Read more
Map of coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S.
Beginning Saturday, Publix will be open earlier and later
Publix announced its stores are expanding their hours 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. beginning Saturday. That’s an hour earlier for opening and an hour later for closing since the COVID-19 pandemic. | Read more
Tracking the spread of coronavirus cases in the US and worldwide
Coronavirus in Jacksonville: Answers to your questions
Readers across the First Coast have questions about the COVID-19 outbreak. Now, the Times-Union has some answers. | Read more
Many restaurants remain open for take-out, delivery
Looking to support local businesses staying open during the coronavirus pandemic? Want a meal or a drink to take home?
Many restaurants in the Jacksonville area area offering takeout, curbside or drive-thru options to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. | Read more
Acts of kindness, good deeds, how area residents are helping others
When times are tough, Jacksonville’s people come through for each other.
While it’s important to read the latest news about coronavirus, it’s also good for us to read about the good deeds, the random acts of kindness and the stories about people helping those around them. These stories are sure to make you smile or inspire you on ways you give back to your community. | Read more
Testing site locations in Duval and Northeast Florida
More COVID-19 testing sites have recently opened - and more will soon open.
We’ll keep a list here of all testing sites for Jacksonville, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Baker and Putnam counties. | Read more
Laid off? 7 steps to take, and phone calls to make, now
The laid-off line cook was confused and tearful as she pondered the sudden loss of her $400-a-week job at a Lake Worth Beach restaurant.
Economists expect the crippling shutdown to put hundreds of thousands of Floridians — and millions of Americans — out of work. Mortgage lenders and others are stepping in to offer assistance. | Read more
Stimulus check: Calculate how much money you could get
The U.S. Senate approved a sweeping $2 trillion stimulus package that aims to help people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
People who are still working, those who are unemployed, those who are self-employed and contractors would all benefit. Businesses also stand to get financial assistance to avoid closing down or laying off employees because of the economic effect of the pandemic. | Read more
Ticket Tracker: What’s canceled, postponed, rescheduled or still on?
Dozens of concerts were canceled due to the coronavirus — and more might still be coming — but many now have new dates. | Read more
FAQ: Coronavirus
Coronavirus is spreading in the U.S. Here's everything to know, from symptoms to how to protect yourself. [USA TODAY]
Worried about the coronavirus (COVID-19)? Here is what you should be aware of, from symptoms to best practices for avoiding the disease, including what you should do if you suspect you have contracted coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | Read more