Coronavirus in Jacksonville: Live updates for Monday, June 1
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4 p.m. | ‘Breeding grounds for this virus’: Health experts warn large protests heighten risk of coronavirus spread
Public health officials warn new cases of COVID-19 probably will emerge after mass gatherings fueled by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and racial unrest in cities across America.
Health experts fear carriers of coronavirus, which causes the disease, with no symptoms could unwittingly infect others at protests where social distancing is simply not taking place. | Read more
2:50 p.m. | Mötley Crüe and co. stadium tour, including Jacksonville stop, postponed
Fans will have to wait another year to see Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in Jacksonville.
On Monday, the bands announced they’d be postponing the mega tour, dubbed “The Stadium Tour,” which was scheduled to launch at Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field on June 18. | Read more
1:05 p.m. | A busy hurricane season and the coronavirus pandemic ‘is a cataclysmic scenario’
Thanks to COVID-19, the hurricane season that officially starts Monday will be unlike any other.
“The combination of an ongoing pandemic and what NOAA has forecast to be a busy hurricane season is a cataclysmic scenario,” according to the disaster policy group SmarterSafer Coalition. | Read more
12:05 p.m. | Latino homes report serious COVID-19 symptoms nearly twice as often, survey of 1.6 million shows
In Wake Forest, North Carolina, a town of about 40,000 near Raleigh, a sweeping national survey of COVID-19 symptoms has exposed a staggering ethnic divide.
Nearly two-thirds of Wake Forest’s Hispanic homes surveyed reported suffering the combination of symptoms most closely tied to the coronavirus, compared to less than 1% of everyone else. | Read more
11:45 a.m. | Duval County records one new COVID-19 death, 10 cases
Duval County recorded 10 new positive tests for the coronavirus and one new death in Monday’s report from the Florida Department of Health.
The department announced the death of a 75-year-old woman in Duval County. It said that she had not traveled outside the area and did have contact with at least one other confirmed case. | Read more
Statewide
Cases: 56,830
Hospitalizations: 10,231
Deaths: 2,460
Cases in Northeast Florida
Duval: 1,654
Clay: 383
St. Johns: 260
Nassau: 76
Baker: 29
Putnam: 153 | Read more
10:30 a.m. | Message to Class of 2020: Eric Mann
In his message to the class of 2020, Eric Mann, President and CEO of the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast, congratulated the recent graduates across Northeast Florida.
“One of the things we’ve learned about this interruption in our lives is that while ... it has changed our lives forever, what you’ve accomplished by graduating, no one can take that away,” he said. “Take satisfaction in accomplishing something that’s been great. You are going to be one of the greatest generations because of COVID-19.” | Read more
10:05 a.m. | Floridians with no history of depression are suffering amid coronavirus
As mental health issues increase, experts urge people to reach out for help.
Darry Tunick thought watching his wife die of sepsis two days after their son was born was the worst grief he could ever experience.
Eight years later, unable to access unemployment benefits months after losing his income because of coronavirus shutdowns, he thinks he may have been wrong. | Read more
8:15 a.m. | Lockdowns ease across Europe, Asia with new tourism rules
The first day of June saw coronavirus restrictions ease from Asia to Europe on Monday, even as U.S. protests against police brutality sparked fears of new outbreaks.
The Colosseum opened its ancient doors in Rome, ferries restarted in Bangladesh, golfers played in Greece, students returned in Britain and Dutch bars and restaurants were free to welcome hungry, thirsty patrons. | Read more
EARLIER
New COVID-19 deaths in Duval, Putnam counties
Duval County reported two new deaths and Putnam County listed one in the Florida Department of Health’s Sunday report on the coronavirus pandemic.
In Duval County, the state listed the death of a 90-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman. The death in Putnam County was listed as a 63-year-old man, the sixth to die in the county.
Those were three of four new deaths recorded statewide, raising the cumulative COVID-19 death toll to 94 for Northeast Florida and to 2,451 for the state. Duval County has now reported 50 deaths to date from the coronavirus.
Statewide
Cases: 56,163
Hospitalizations: 10,190
Deaths: 2,451
Cases in Northeast Florida
Duval: 1,644
Clay: 382
St. Johns: 260
Nassau: 76
Baker: 29
Putnam: 152
Deaths in Northeast Florida
Duval: 50
Clay: 28
St. Johns: 6
Nassau: 1
Baker: 3
Putnam: 6 | Read more
Jacksonville again closes COVID-19 testing Monday at Lot J, Legends Center
The city of Jacksonville again closed testing for the coronavirus pandemic at two locations for Monday, citing public safety concerns.
The drive-thru testing site at Lot J of TIAA Bank Field in the sports complex will be closed, as is the walk-up testing site at the Legends Center in Northwest Jacksonville. | Read more
Coverage from the last 48 hours:
Testing closed all Sunday at Jacksonville’s Lot J
The city of Jacksonville announced there will be no coronavirus testing Sunday at Lot J. | Read more
City cancels Sunday’s appointments for relief program
The City of Jacksonville canceled Sunday’s appointments for its mortgage, rent and utility relief program. | Read more
Glitches and makeup tests — how AP exams went in Jacksonville
Because of the coronavirus, the annual advanced placement exams — high stakes tests that can apply toward college credit — were moved online.
But for Jacksonville high school students, and others across the country, the transition didn’t come without glitches. | Read more
Cloudy picture for local summer camps
Summer camps should be cranking up for kids in about a month, but the coronavirus has thrown plans into chaos for many camp providers.
Some are accepting applications, some are canceling plans and others are offering virtual summer camps. | Read more
Jacksonville Mayor praises national, state response in testimony to Congressional panel
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry on Friday praised the White House and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ for building the “foundation” for Jacksonville’s response to the coronavirus outbreak while speaking to a Congressional panel, briefly discussing the city’s efforts to return to work and provide relief to hard-hit residents while also weighing in on politicized issues.
Curry was part of a panel of mayors from seven cities across the country, delivering a five-minute prepared speech and answering questions from members of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. | Read more
City halts COVID-19 tests for day at Lot J, Legends Center
Coronavirus testing Saturday was halted early at Jacksonville’s Lot J of TIAA Bank Field and the Legends Center. | Read more
Five more COVID-19 deaths at Westside Jacksonville nursing home
A nursing home on Jacksonville’s Westside has recorded five more deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, as reported in Friday’s weekly report of the Florida Department of Health.
Signature Healthcare of Jacksonville, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, has now reported 12 deaths from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, the most for any facility in the Jacksonville area. | Read more
2 months after Norwegian cruise ships docked in Jacksonville, company won’t answer questions
More than two months after three Norwegian cruise ships docked in Jacksonville, Norwegian Cruise Lines refuses to answer any questions about the status of the crew on board, even as one of the ships has seen a cruise doctor die in the last month. | Read more
St. Johns County court system preps for reopening amid coronavirus
Going to court won’t look the same in St. Johns County because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The courthouse has changed since March, when St. Johns County’s court system had to abruptly shift and delay operations because of the pandemic. | Read more
Florida health department releases antibody testing statistics
Florida’s Department of Health for the first time Friday released results of COVID-19 antibody testing across the state, a measure intended to show whether an individual has been exposed to the coronavirus in the past. | Read more
Map of coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S.
Jacksonville University, Edward Waters to change academic schedules due to virus
Jacksonville University and Edward Waters College announced they are changing their academic schedules for 2020-21 in an effort to mitigate effects of the coronavirus pandemic. | Read more
Shelters aiming to fight spread in hurricane season
As hurricane season starts Monday, Jacksonville officials are making plans for emergency shelters that can be safe from both storms and the coronavirus pandemic.
Two Duval County schools are expected to become shelters specifically for people who have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, while routines at other shelters will change to prevent the virus spreading. | Read more
Jaguars’ coach eyes return of face-to-face connection with team
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said he and the rest of his coaching staff have done about as much installation of their offensive and defensive systems and other preseason preparations with the team as they can from a virtual standpoint.
Virtual meetings during the coronavirus pandemic will only go so far when it comes to getting an NFL team ready for the upcoming season — especially a team with 30 rookies, three-quarters of the 90-man roster having four years or less of NFL experience and a new offensive coordinator in Jay Gruden. | Read more
Owner: Jumbo Shrimp future safe despite some minor-league baseball teams being at risk
Jumbo Shrimp owner Ken Babby says despite reports of hundreds of minor-league baseball players being released Thursday and the future of some franchises being at risk, Jacksonville’s Double-A franchise is secure for a long time.
Babby told the Times-Union on Friday that if any minor-league franchises are at risk of folding amid the economic stresses of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s likely going to be short-season clubs below the Single-A level and not a Double-A franchise like the Jumbo Shrimp. | Read more
Families gather for movie night at home of Jumbo Shrimp
Even without baseball, families enjoyed a night out at the ballpark Saturday night when the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp held a Family Movie Night. | Read more
Stand Up & Stride for Jacksonville-area victims of domestic violence
The coronavirus isn’t going to halt the Hubbard House’s annual event to raise awareness about domestic violence, but this year it will be in the form of a week-long Stand Up & Stride virtual awareness walk.
Beginning Monday the awareness campaign will replace the Jacksonville-based shelter’s 11th annual domestic-violence awareness walk originally scheduled for April 18. | Read more
Most St. Johns County teachers satisfied with online learning; some uncomfortable returning to school
The majority of St. Johns County teachers surveyed report an ‘excellent’ or ‘satisfactory’ experience with online learning throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a district survey.
And while most said they would feel comfortable or somewhat comfortable returning to school, some teachers are still hesitant to return. | Read more
Residents in Jacksonville’s `fragile’ Brentwood to get food, masks
The Friends of Brentwood Library Inc. will host A Day of Doing Good on June 13 to help the Jacksonville neighborhood where almost 60 percent of children live in poverty, many in single-parent households, according to group founder Sharon Coon.
Six hundred cases each of food and reusable masks will be distributed, as well as books, soap bars, snacks and art activities. | Read more
Child immunizations drop in Florida amid coronavirus pandemic
The number of vaccinations administered to children during the coronavirus pandemic has sharply decreased, leading to worries among pediatricians about public-health consequences if something isn’t done to reverse the trend.
Florida Department of Health data show a 15 percent reduction in the number of vaccinations administered in March 2020 compared to March 2019. | Read more
U.S. cuts World Health Organization ties over virus response
President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. will be terminating its relationship with the World Health Organization, saying it had failed to adequately respond to the coronavirus because China has “total control” over the global organization.
He said Chinese officials “ignored” their reporting obligations to the WHO and pressured the WHO to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered. | 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