Coronavirus in Jacksonville: Live updates for Wednesday, May 20
This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing to the Times-Union/jacksonville.com.
6:55 p.m. | St. Johns County families celebrate seniors, but some still want traditional ceremonies
The Class of 2020 has been waiting for this moment.
It’s finally time for them to step out of their comfort zones, gain independence and begin the next stage of their lives. And while coronavirus has stolen memories and important moments from these young people, the community is still honoring them from a safe distance. | Read more
6:20 p.m. | NCAA: Some voluntary sports activities can resume June 1
The NCAA Division I Council on Wednesday voted to allow athletes in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball to resume voluntary on-campus workouts, beginning June 1, a person familiar with the outcome said.
The move lifts a prohibition that has been in place since March, when the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a variety of actions shuttering college sports. | Read more
5:25 p.m. | Touting reopening, HHS Secretary Alex Azar visiting Jacksonville
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar will visit Jacksonville Friday to talk with health care providers reopening the country’s economy despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Azar is scheduled to tour the coronavirus testing site outside TIAA Bank Field, talk with providers about maintaining the health care system’s capacity and meet with leaders of a local lab to talk about testing capacity and testing supplies. | Read more
4:40 p.m. | Message to Class of 2020: Nat Ford
In his message to graduating high school seniors across Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Transit Authority CEO Nat Ford told seniors that setbacks are a part of life.
“They say your senior year is supposed to be memorable,” he said. “I challenge you to see this adversity as an opportunity.” | Read more
4:25 p.m. | Money outweighs coronavirus risk for Instacart shopper
As the display time ticks toward 7 a.m., Jeff Mitchell swipes his iPhone’s screen. Again. And again. And again.
“Here we go,” says Mitchell, 43, as the app on his phone finally shows his first assignment: an order of toilet paper, fresh fruit, sparkling water, onions and juice for a customer shopping at Costco. | Read more
3:30 p.m. | City of Jacksonville closes Prime Osborn testing site
The City of Jacksonville announced Wednesday it is closing its drive-thru coronavirus testing site at downtown’s Prime Osborn Convention Center, saying that residents have access to testing at other public sites and dozens of private medical facilities.
The location, which will no longer operate after Wednesday, was the first drive-thru testing center when it opened in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak on March 20. | Read more
3:20 p.m. | ‘Vital’ American Academy of Physician Assistants survey outlines coronavirus struggles: A lack of PPE, furloughs and burnout
A lack of personal protective equipment. Reductions in pay. Burnout.
Those are among the challenges faced by physician assistants during their battle against the novel coronavirus, according to a survey released Tuesday by the American Academy of Physician Assistants. | Read more
2:45 p.m. | Charley Hoffman said PGA Tour’s plan doesn’t ‘have all the answers’
One of the players involved in plotting the PGA Tour’s resumption said on Wednesday that even though the outline of the plans to return to competitive golf covered 37 pages, there may still be stumbling blocks.
PGA Tour veteran Charley Hoffman expects players to quickly adjust to the “new normal” if playing golf during the coronavirus pandemic. | Read more
1 p.m. | Graduates, start your engines: Alachua high school ceremony set for racetrack
When Gatornationals was canceled in March, it seemed to mark the official beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in the Gainesville area.
But come next month, the Gainesville Raceway will help mark something of a return to something closer to normalcy for Alachua County high school seniors and their families. | Read more
12:50 p.m. | Nations reopen yet struggle to define ‘a new normal’
As countries around the world loosen their coronavirus restrictions, people are discovering that the return to normal is anything but — and it’s becoming clear the economic pain and social disruption could be long-lasting.
Schools, offices, public transportation, bars and restaurants are now on the front lines of post-lockdown life — back in business, in many cases, but not business as usual. | Read more
12:35 p.m. | Reopening Northeast Florida: St. Johns County approves $2 million to bring tourists back due to coronavirus impact
Staring down a major shortfall in bed tax revenue from lodging receipts, the St. Johns County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve $2 million to market the region and bring tourists back. | Read more
11:55 a.m. | Northeast Florida cases increase by 34, no new local deaths
The Northeast Florida area recorded 34 new cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths in the latest statistics from the Florida Department of Health.
Of the new cases, 18 were located in Duval County, bringing the positive test total there to 1,336. Clay County recorded 12 new cases, while Nassau County had three and St. Johns County listed one. | Read more
Statewide
Hospitalizations: 8,681
Deaths: 2,096
Cases in Northeast Florida
Duval: 1,336
Clay: 333
St. Johns: 233
Nassau: 69
Baker: 26
Putnam: 135 | Read more
10:55 a.m. | Trump calls high number of coronavirus cases in the US a ‘badge of honor,’ attributes it to testing
President Donald Trump on Tuesday called the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States – the highest in the world – a “badge of honor,” arguing the still-increasing number of cases is simply evidence the country is testing more people.
“By the way, you know, when you say that we lead in cases, that’s because we have more testing than anybody else,” the president said at the White House. “When we have a lot of cases, I don’t look at that as a bad thing. I look at that in a certain respect as being a good thing, because it means our testing is much better. So, if we were testing a million people instead of 14 million people, it would have far few cases, right?
“So, I view it as a badge of honor. Really, it’s a badge of honor.” | Read more
10:25 a.m. | Target’s online push readied it for pandemic
A years-long campaign by Walmart and Target to challenge Amazon.com online was, as it turns out, a dry run for a pandemic.
Online sales at Target more than doubled as the pandemic put millions in lockdown during the first quarter, revealing further the critical role big box stores played in getting supplies to an immobilized population. | Read more
7:55 a.m. | States accused of fudging or bungling COVID-19 testing data
Public health officials in some states are accused of bungling coronavirus infection statistics or even using a little sleight of hand to deliberately make things look better than they are.
The risk is that politicians, business owners and ordinary Americans who are making decisions about lockdowns, reopenings and other day-to-day matters could be left with the impression that the virus is under more control than it actually is. | Read more
EARLIER
Florida surpassed 2,000 total deaths from COVID-19 Tuesday in the updated online data from the Florida Department of Health.
The state recorded 55 new deaths to raise the cumulative toll to 2,052. The 55 additional deaths in the online dashboard compared to Monday’s report is the most since Florida added 69 deaths in the report of May 8. | Read more
Statewide
Hospitalizations: 8,494
Deaths: 2,052
Cases in Northeast Florida
Duval: 1,318
Clay: 321
St. Johns: 233
Nassau: 66
Baker: 26
Putnam: 134 | Read more
After more than seven weeks of care, retired Navy pilot can go home
Retired Navy pilot Ricardo Vizcarrondo was groggy when he came out of a three-week medically induced coma. And when a nurse turned on the TV in his room, he became even more puzzled.
Why are those people each in their own little squares on the screen? Why are the TV news people in regular clothes, and why are they broadcasting from their homes? | Read more
Duval Schools sends updates, survey about reopening, teachers remain skeptical
Face shields, physical barriers and staggered school days could be the landscape of the 2020-2021 school year for Duval Schools.
Starting Monday evening, the school district began distributing surveys to teachers and families with questions about what people want to see next school year. | Read more
Florida scientist says she was fired for refusing to ‘manipulate’ COVID-19 data
The scientist who created Florida’s COVID-19 data portal wasn’t just removed from her position on May 5, she was fired on Monday by the Department of Health, she said, for refusing to manipulate data.
In an email last Friday to researchers and other data users, Rebekah Jones warned that with her removal changes were likely coming to the accessibility and transparency of the dashboard data. | Read more
DeSantis calls data manipulation charge a “non-issue”
Facing an explosive charge that his administration is manipulating coronavirus data to help make the case for reopening Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis played down the controversy Tuesday as a “nonissue.”
Florida’s COVID-19 death toll topped 2,000 Tuesday, underscoring the serious threat posed by the coronavirus and the potential consequences of not giving people accurate information on the risks involved. | Read more
Wedding industry takes a hit from COVID-19
Sarah Bloom and her now-husband, Jason, had planned a wedding with 100-plus guests at the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine to take place in April. But with less than a month until the big day, their plans unraveled entirely.
Cancellations were coming left and right from out-of-town guests and friends who were in self-quarantine because of possible COVID-19 exposure. | Read more
Riverside Arts Market to reopen Saturday on limited basis
The Riverside Arts Market is getting set to return to Jacksonville’s weekend scene.
The market is scheduled to reopen Saturday on a limited basis, termed the “Riverside Essentials Market.” | Read more
Map of coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S.
National high school federation envisions many steps in road back for sports
High school games in front of empty seats. Temperature scans before practice. Football workouts that might remain on hold until a third phase of recovery.
All of them could be in the near future for high school sports, at least based on a new national document laying out a road map to reopening. | Read more
Jaguars to delay plans for reopening TIAA Bank Field
Under NFL guidelines, the Jaguars could have reopened their facility at TIAA Bank Field on Tuesday for the first time since it was closed mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the franchise issued a statement Tuesday morning that they are going to wait until May 26 to begin phase 1 reopening of their offices. | Read more
Message to Class of 2020: Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi
Jacksonville natives Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi want the class of 2020 to know that they believe in them.
“The whole world is with you,” Tedeschi, who along with Trucks leads the highly regarded Tedeschi Trucks Band, said. | Read more
Coronavirus lockdowns have caused a whopping 17% drop in global carbon emissions
The coronavirus lockdowns have had an “extreme” effect on daily carbon emissions, causing a whopping 17% drop globally during peak confinement measures by early April – levels last seen in 2006. | Read more
Disney Springs return comes with a warning about risk
As Walt Disney World prepares to allow some third-party shops and restaurants to open at its entertainment complex later this week, it’s posting a warning.
While enhanced safety measures are being taken at Disney Springs, “an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present,” the company said Monday on a website for the entertainment complex. | Read more
Pier 1 to go out of business and close all 540 stores
Pier 1, the seller of wicker chairs and scented candles, said it will go out of business and permanently close all 540 of its stores.
The Fort Worth, Texas- based company said Tuesday that it was unable to find a buyer for its business after filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. | Read more
JCPenney plans to close more than 240 stores
J.C. Penney, among several retailers suffering financially during the coronavirus pandemic, will permanently close nearly 30% of its 846 stores as part of a restructuring under bankruptcy protection.
The Plano, Texas, retailer said Monday that it plans to close about 192 stores by February 2021, and then 50 additional stores in the year after that. | Read more
Florida college tries disinfectant fog for coronavirus
A team with the Florida State Firefighters Association demonstrated a new technology in the fight against COVID-19 and other diseases by disinfecting the administrative building and dormitories at the Florida State Fire College on Monday. | Read more
Florida grad with terminal illness surprised with parade
Graduation is a big deal for DeLand High School senior Sarena Champagne.
The 21-year-old with a terminal illness endured a slew of medical problems and overcame trauma that might stop someone else in their tracks. Even the coronavirus pandemic, which deprived her of a chance to walk across the stage in a traditional ceremony, wasn’t able to prevent a celebration. | Read more
Belmont Stakes to move to June 20, without fans
The Belmont Stakes will be run June 20 without fans and serve as the opening leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown for the first time in the sport’s history.
The New York Racing Association on Tuesday unveiled the rescheduled date for the Belmont, which will also be contested at a shorter distance than usual. | Read more
‘Ink Master’ artists criticize Florida tattoo studio shutdown
“Ink Master” contestant and Cocoa Beach tattoo artist Mark Longenecker has a message for Gov. Ron DeSantis: Come see how clean and sterile my shuttered shop is — and I’ll offer you a free tattoo. | Read more
Nancy Pelosi says Trump is ‘morbidly obese’ and should not take hydroxychloroquine
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was “not a good idea” for President Donald Trump to be taking a drug that has not been proven to work against the coronavirus because it can pose a risk for people with heart conditions and he is “morbidly obese.”
Trump told reporters Monday that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine for about a week and a half to stave off infection from the coronavirus. | Read more
Florida man was coronavirus skeptic until it infected him
Brian Lee Hitchens was a coronavirus skeptic until the illness led him to be hospitalized at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.
Now the Jupiter Farms resident wants people to know the virus is dangerous and real. | 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