From Verot to The Show: Blaze Alexander is living his MLB dreamFormer SWFL priest accused of sexual abuse in 1980s may have more victims
As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, there have been 15,698 positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Florida. The case count includes 15,234 Florida residents and 464 non-Florida residents. There are 323 deaths reported and 2,082 hospitalizations, according to the Florida Department of Health. There have been 143,707 tests administered in Florida. A total of 15,698 tests have come back positive and 127,882 tests have come back negative. The remainder is still pending, according to the FDOH website. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of cases: 15,698 (up from 15,456) Deaths: 323 (up from 309) 951 total cases reported Wednesday 27 total deaths reported Wednesday SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS Total in SWFL: 868 (up from 847) Deaths: 22 (unchanged) 62 new cases reported Wednesday 0 new deaths reported Wednesday Lee County: 476 (up from 462) Collier County: 282 (up from 277) Charlotte County: 76 (unchanged) DeSoto County: 19 (up from 18) Glades County: 4 (unchanged) Hendry County: 11 (up from 10) Click HERE for a SWFL case-by-case breakdown – updated daily. RESOURCES NOW HIRING: SWFL companies adding jobs as business picks up amid coronavirus crisis LATEST CLOSURES: Southwest Florida business updates and store closings #GulfshoreStrong: Covering people making a difference in SWFL WEDNESDAY COVID-19 HEADLINES Lee County highway projects being fast-tracked due to reduced traffic CDC’s list of cruise ships affected by COVID-19 How you can make a CDC approved DIY facemask UPCOMING BRIEFINGS: 1:15 p.m. Gov. Ron DeSantis hold a press conference in Miami on COVID-19 response WATCH HERE 5 p.m. The White House Coronavirus Task Force daily briefing Port Charlotte Publix employee tests positive Publix confirmed Wednesday that an employee at its McCall Road store has tested positive for the coronavirus. No other details have been released, including what interaction that employee may have had with customers. Marco Island backtracks on plan to reopen beach access Marco Island announced Monday that they had voted to open one public beach access for entrance and one for an exit. The idea was meant to give residents the ability to walk on the beach for exercise and some fresh air. However, the concern residents had was that it would give a reason for more people to come into the area, putting residents at a higher risk. On Wednesday morning, the city decided not to reopen the area, as the safety of their residents is their highest priority. IF YOU FEEL SICK: The Florida Department of Health has opened a 24-hour COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours. LINK: Florida Department of Health COVID-19 updates <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> *The map is best viewed on a desktop computer. If you don’t see the map above tap HERE for a fullscreen version.