Florida coronavirus updates: State data lists 3 deaths in Broward even as assisted-living facility says 6 residents died

Broward County may have at least seven deaths, even though data from Florida’s health department shows only three.

A Fort Lauderdale assisted-living facility said six of its residents have died from the new coronavirus. South Florida’s first medical professional to die of the disease was a Broward doctor, bringing the county’s total to at least seven deaths.

As of 7 p.m. Thursday, the state reported 2,484 cases and 29 deaths. The number of positive cases has jumped by about 1,250 since Monday.

Three new deaths at Atria Willow Wood were reported Thursday. The death toll there has been rising since the first resident died March 16, and at least 10 others have tested positive for the disease.

The number of positive cases have been increasing by hundreds each day as the state rolls out more and more testing. But one populous county is notably lagging behind.

Even though Palm Beach County has one of the largest populations in the state — including some 350,000 seniors — it appears to be conducting the smallest number of tests per person for the new coronavirus than any other densely populated county in the state of Florida.

That’s a problem for the more than a quarter of a million senior citizens who live in the county, since the coronavirus is especially deadly to older citizens, and the only effective way to curtail the disease is through the detection and isolation of those who have it.

Broward County issued a stay-at-home order Thursday, asking all residents to stay inside unless heading out for food, health care or an emergency. Workers considered “essential” employees can still report to their jobs.

The new rule begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday. It covers all 31 municipalities, and is similar to other sheltering orders that are popping up across Florida in response to the new coronavirus outbreak. “Anything we can to do to flatten the curve … is imperative in my opinion,” Commissioner Michael Udine said.

Boca Raton, the southernmost city in Palm Beach County, issued a similar order that will start at 12:01 a.m Saturday.

And, a Broward doctor became the first area medical professional to die from the disease, officials said Thursday.

Dr. Alex Hsu, who practiced internal medicine at Northwest Medical Center in Margate, died Tuesday, Broward Medical Examiner Dr. Craig Mallak told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He was 67.

Latest developments

Two Broward County poll workers, including one who accepted and handled voters’ driver licenses on primary day, have tested positive for the new coronavirus, officials said Thursday. The poll workers were on duty for early voting at a Weston site and at two Hollywood precincts during the March 17 primary.

Miami-Dade County on Thursday issued an emergency order for immediate “Safer at Home” rules, asking all residents and visitors not to go out except for “essential activities.” Also, residents in the city of Miami will be under a 10 p.m. curfew starting Friday night.

Florida’s system for processing unemployment claims isn’t keeping up with the surge of laid-off workers applying. There were 74,021 new claims filed in the state last week, a more than 1,000 percent increase over the 6,256 claims the week before.

Florida has approved a two-week extension on the final due date for property tax payments in all counties. The state Department of Revenue set a new deadline of April 15.

Did you know that drive-in movie theaters remain open? While South Florida’s conventional movie theaters and other entertainment options are closed, Lake Worth’s Swap Shop and Drive-In and the Thunderbird Drive-in at the Swap Shop in Fort Lauderdale are still screening films.

U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, says he is in self-quarantine after his 21-year-old son returned home almost two weeks ago from a study-abroad program in Spain and has exhibited signs of the new coronavirus.

South Florida families are stuck together in the house and tensions are extremely high. But there are strategies to make it work better for everyone.

By the numbers

The Department of Health’s Thursday evening update brought the state’s total documented coronavirus cases to 2,484 infections.

Broward and Miami-Dade are the counties with the highest number of cases in Florida. As of Thursday night, Broward has 505 cases. Miami-Dade has 684. Palm Beach County has 174.

Out of the 29 total deaths reported by the state, six were in Broward and Palm Beach counties. None have been reported in Miami-Dade.

As of Thursday evening, the United States now has more coronavirus cases than any country in the world. There are over 82,400 confirmed cases, with at least 1,178 deaths. New York City has the most deaths of any area in the nation: 281.

The number of cases now tops a half-million worldwide. There are over 526,044 confirmed cases worldwide in more than 100 countries and territories, with 23,639 deaths.

The number of documented cases in a given location is not necessarily an accurate reflection of the actual number of infected people documented by authorities.

Do you have insider information on how public officials, government agencies or companies have handled the response to the coronavirus crisis? Our reporters want to hear from you. To submit a confidential news tip, click here.

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More resources

Get the most updated information about coronavirus in Florida: Florida Department of Health website at floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19. Or call the Florida COVID-19 call center at 866-779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

Get the most updated information about the virus in the United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.

To get tested

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, you should contact your county health department (floridahealth.gov/chdepicontact) and take these steps:

Seek medical advice: Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

Avoid contact with others.

Avoid travel.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to avoid spreading the virus to others.

Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.