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've compiled all the updates for Thursday, March 26. For today's updates, visit www.abcactionnews.com/virus. Don't forget we are in this together!
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8:45 PM
- Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried released a statement saying Gov. DeSantis needs to issue a stay-at-home order for all state residents.
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4:49 PM
- Pasco County Schools will expand the number of student feeding sites from 7 to 25 starting Tuesday, March 31. Locations have not been released.
4:26 PM
- Citrus County Government announces the Lecanto Government Building is temporarily closed to the public beginning Friday, March 27, 2020.
4:04 PM
- Stocks surge again on Wall Street after Senate passes coronavirus aid bill, bringing S&P 500 index up 17% since Monday.
3:22 PM
- Italy reports 6,153 new coronavirus infections, taking global total over 500,000.
3:16 PM
- The Indianapolis 500 has been postponed from May to Aug. 23.
2:59 PM
- DOH Sarasota announces drive-thru specimen collection For COVID-19. The site, located at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota, will be open from 8 a.m. to noon, beginning Friday, March 27. To make an appointment, call (941) 861-2883.
2:30 PM
- St. Pete Grand Prix expected to be rescheduled for 2020. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new date when announced
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12:30 PM
- Winn-Dixie's parent company South Grocers announces it will be installing Plexiglas partitions at registers in all stores. The move comes after Publix made a similar announcement on Tuesday.
11:54 AM
- No more appointments will be made for the drive-through test site at Raymond James Stadium until further notice due to the limited number of test kits available. The Hillsborough County call center has made appointments for 900 residents since opening lines this week for people with COVID-19 symptoms.
11:24 AM
- According to the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, a 69-year-old Hillsborough County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away at home on March 25. This is the first person to die in the county while diagnosed with COVID-19.
11:00 AM
- There are now 2,355 positive COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths reported in Florida. Of those cases, 2,235 are Florida residents and 120 are non-Florida residents.
10:50 AM
- Four Tampa General Hospital employees test positive for coronavirs. TGH says the employees were both clinical and non clinical and were exposed thru community spread or travel.
10:00 AM
- A student from USF Tampa who had been traveling abroad tested positive for COVID-19 upon their return to the U.S. This student, who has not been on campus this semester, is self-isolating in another state and will continue to be monitored by health officials.
- An employee in USF Innovative Education on the Tampa campus has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual is being monitored by health officials, following guidance established by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The employee has not been on campus since March 13.
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- Worldwide infections from the coronavirus are soaring toward half a million people as health care systems struggle to keep up.
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5:00 AM
- US deaths top 1,000 as $2.2 trillion in virus aid approved.
Important updates from Wednesday, March 25
- A bill that will give many Americans a $1,200 check in the upcoming days gets the green light from the US Senate.
- Drive-through testing site at Raymond James opens. Pre-screening and pre-registration are required.
- Pinellas County issues "safer-at-home" order; becomes the first local county to do so.
- Hillsborough County leaders vote unanimously to enact "stay-at-home" and curfew order
- President Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Florida. Federal funding is now available for affected areas in the state.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Tuesday, March 24
- Hillsborough County main information number for residents experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to call beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to get pre-screened and, in some cases, pre-registered for testing.
- 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo to be delayed for 'up to a year' due to coronavirus pandemic
- A 67-year-old Pinellas resident diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away. This is the first COVID-19 death in Pinellas.
- Governor DeSantis issues health advisory for those 65 years old and over as well as those with underlying conditions of any age to stay home for the next two weeks
- COVID-19 testing sites will open at Raymond James Stadium on Wednesday.
- Mayor Jane Castor says she is hoping to enact a citywide stay-at-home order on Wednesday.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Monday, March 23
- Governor DeSantis to order 14-day quarantine on anyone flying from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to Florida.
- Hillsborough County leaders vote to not issue a 'stay-at-home' order yet, revisiting subject on Thursday
- All Florida State Parks closed to the public.
- Lakeland Regional Health is limiting visitors to its facilities with some exceptions and stopping all elective procedures.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis doubles down on his stance on avoiding a statewide shutdown. He said it is “not advisable” to issue a stay-at-home order for all Floridians.
- Three people test positive at the MacDill Air Force Base.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Sunday, March 22
- Five University of Tampa students test positive for coronavirus.
- Gov. DeSantis announces the opening of a drive-thru testing site at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
- Hawaii's governor has instituted a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine starting Thursday of all people traveling to the state as part of efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus.
- Republican Sen. Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. This makes him the first known U.S. senator to be diagnosed with the virus at the center of the pandemic.
- Florida now has over 1K positive COVID-19 cases, says Department of Health.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Saturday, March 21
- City of Tampa mayor says a stay-at-home order is likely in the coming days.
- Sarasota Memorial Hospital has confirmed that three additional patients tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.
- President Trump says coronavirus now reported in 148 countries.
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Friday, March 20
- Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture urges Governor Ron DeSantis to issue a statewide "stay-at-home" order for all Floridians.
- An active-duty sailor who is assigned to MacDill Air Force Base tests positive for coronavirus, officials say.
- Doctors Hospital of Sarasota confirms that a physician tests positive for COVID-19.
- Gov. DeSantis says restaurants are allowed to deliver alcohol with meals.
- Executive Order in Florida directs all restaurants and food establishments within the state to suspend on-premises food and alcohol consumption for customers.
- U.S. and Mexico agree to end all non-essential travel between the border of the two countries
- Florida Keys closing to visitors starting Sunday, March 22
- To view more updates, click here.
Important updates from Thursday, March 19
- Italy surpasses China in COVID-19-related deaths, death toll now above 3,400
- President Trump, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn announce officials are looking into two drugs to treat COVID-19.
- Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced the release of 164 "low level, nonviolent" offenders from county jails.
- Officials announce all Manatee County public beaches will close at 6 a.m. Friday. All Sarasota County beaches will close at 6 a.m. Saturday.
- Labor Department says unemployment claims rose by 70,000 last week.
- All beaches in the City of Anna Maria will be closed effective 6 a.m. Friday 3/20/20 until further notice.
- The U.S. State Department issues a level 4 travel advisory, warning Americans to avoid all international travel.
- To view more updates, click here.
→ CORONAVIRUS CLOSINGS & CANCELLATIONS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA
Important updates from Wednesday, March 18
- City votes to shut down Clearwater Beach starting March 23 at 6 a.m.
- City of Tampa closes all beaches
- Trump says Department Housing and Urban Development to suspend foreclosures and evictions through April
- Treasury proposal: Deliver $500B in checks to millions of Americans, first round coming April 6
- Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced the immediate suspension of evictions in the county
- To view more updates, click here.
→ CORONAVIRUS IN FLORIDA: COUNTY-BY-COUNTY INTERACTIVE MAP
Important updates from Tuesday, March 17
- Florida students won't return to schools until April 15
- Gov. DeSantis orders no groups of more than 10 people on beaches
- All Florida bars, nightclubs closed for at least 30 days
→ COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS
This blog is being updated frequently. Stay with ABC Action News for the latest.