First disturbance more than a month before official start of 2024 Atlantic Hurricane SeasonPainting rain barrels for a good cause
As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, there have been 28,576 positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Florida. The case count includes 27,791 Florida residents and 785 non-Florida residents. There are 927 deaths reported and 4,455 hospitalizations, according to the Florida Department of Health. There have been 292,636 tests administered in Florida. A total of 28,576 tests have come back positive, and 263,468 tests have come back negative. The remainder are still pending, according to the FDOH website. The state has also released a list of long-term care facilities where cases have been reported. *Numbers are released by the DOH twice daily at approximately 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. *Editors note: The DOH has removed some previously reported positive cases from their report totals, causing fluctuations in case totals. The state does not track recoveries. WINK News is working to find out from DOH why these cases have been removed. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of cases: 28,576 (up from 28,309) Deaths: 927 (up from 893) 707 total new cases reported Wednesday 60 total new deaths reported Wednesday SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS Total in SWFL: 1,546 (up from 1,506) Deaths: 58 (up from 56) 56 total new cases reported Wednesday 2 total new deaths reported Wednesday Lee County: 821 (up from 794) – 30 deaths (1 new death) Collier County: 487 (up from 483) – 11 deaths (1 new death) Charlotte County: 154 (up from 148) – 11 deaths DeSoto County: 24 (unchanged) – 4 deaths Glades County: 5 (unchanged) – 1 death Hendry County: 55 (up from 52) – 1 death 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 FOOD PANTRIES: Harry Chapin mobile food pantry schedule, week of April 20 WEDNESDAY COVID-19 HEADLINES Reopening of parks, preserves in Lee County first phase in slow process Musician uses Facebook Live to raise money for out of work restaurant servers UPCOMING BRIEFINGS: 4 p.m. – Gov. DeSantis briefing – WATCH replay 5 p.m. – White House Coronavirus Task Force Briefing North Port to reopen city parks City parks in North Port will reopen starting Monday, April 27. Parks, playgrounds and restrooms will be open, but community centers, Warm Mineral Springs Park and the North Port Aquatic Center will remain closed. Park amenities, including playgrounds, will be thoroughly cleaned prior to opening, the city said. The city is reminding people to follow social distancing guidelines. Reopening of parks, preserves in Lee County first phase in slow process While walking trails and more than 20 county parks in Lee County reopen again Wednesday morning, county commissioners are looking to the governor’s new task force to see what comes next. Opening trails at parks and preserves is the definition of a slow reopening – exactly how Commissioner Frank Mann wants it. “It’s a matter of life and death and we’re going to be very careful before we bring crowds back together,” he said. Commissioners plan to wait for the governor’s task force to make its recommendations, which are due Friday. 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.