Officials warned of a coronavirus death toll surge this week as state, national and global cases continued to climb over the weekend.

Florida saw an increase of more than 3,000 cases and 84 deaths since Friday with the latest state numbers given Monday evening at 13,629 with the death toll at 254. That’s over 1,000 new cases and another 33 deaths since Sunday night’s report with 1,720 hospitalizations to date.


The state also announced on Monday evening five more COVID-19 deaths for Central Florida: A 45-year-old Orange County woman, who is the youngest person in the area to die of the virus to date; a 66 year-old Polk woman, a 78-year-old Volusia woman and two men from Sumter, ages 83 and 85.

With Monday’s evening update, Central Florida had 1,803 reported cases and 29 deaths.


Early Tuesday, U.S cases passed 368,000 with a death toll near 11,000. Worldwide, there are over 1.35 million cases and more than 75,000 fatalities, according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.

One data projection site, that had previously plotted May 3 as the worst death day for Florida, now sees that coming on April 21 with a projected toll of 242 deaths.

The Sunday projected numbers from the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation had earlier projected Florida’s peak deaths to be only 136. The same site project April 16 will be the worst day for fatalities in the U.S. with 3,130, and now projects 81,766 deaths nationwide by Aug. 4.

Coronavirus Maps of Florida coronavirus cases by ZIP code and county Search for Florida coronavirus patients by ZIP code using this interactive map. Also see hourly updates on confirmed cases, the number of tests conducted and details of each patient. Data including cases in Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, Orange County, Collier County, Lee County, Manatee County, Pinellas County, Volusia County, Hillsborough County and others.

Part of the global shutdown has been rampant unemployment, which has stressed Florida’s already limited system to the degree the state took its website down overnight Sunday to ramp up its capacity to take in new claims. Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a Monday roundtable discussion that the overnight work will now allow the site to handle 120,000 individuals filing claims simultaneously.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 tests continue to ramp up in the state including a new appointment-only, drive-through option at UCF that opened Monday. The UCF site is only able to perform 250 tests a day. Late Monday, a spokeswoman for the testing site at the Orange County Convention Center said the site would have 328 tests available Tuesday, up from the regular 250 tests, and is transitioning to state-provided throat swab tests from federally provided nasal swab tests. To date, Florida has performed more than 126,000 tests.

Orange County leads the region with 754 cases, followed by Osceola’s 241, Seminole’s 195, Polk’s 180, Volusia’s 153, Lake’s 107, Brevard’s 92 and Sumter’s 81. Nineteen of the region’s cases are in patients age 10 and younger, including eight who are age 1 or younger. (See details on all Central Florida cases here).

Hard-hit South Florida leads the state with 7,828 total cases among Miami-Dade (4,671), Broward (2,075) and Palm Beach (1,082) counties, making up about 57 percent of the state’s cases. Two South Florida law enforcement officers died Saturday from coronavirus. Both men were in their 30s.

Palm Beach leads the state in deaths with 51 followed by 47 in Broward and 41 in Miami-Dade. In Central Florida, Orange County has nine deaths followed by five in Polk and Sumter, four in Osceola, three in Volusia, two in Lake and the one in Seminole. Brevard County has yet to record a COVID-19 death.

Social distancing efforts continue to become the norm across the nation as well as national recommendation that came out Friday from the CDC that people wear cloth masks when they go out in public. It’s a reversal from previous guidance that said the cloth masks weren’t necessary unless people had symptoms. Experts say people should leave the specialized N95 masks for the medical professions.

In the week leading up to Easter, religious services have been challenged with the effort, although Florida’s stay-at-home order offers an exemption for churches. Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state still encouraged religious leaders to abide by the CDC’s recommendations for maintaining 6 feet apart and not gathering in groups of more than 10.

For Palm Sunday, many churches moved to online streaming of services, although some still saw congregations gather in Florida.


Florida government and medical leaders say they are preparing for far worse conditions than we’ve seen so far, prompting them to create bed space in hospitals, recruit more medical staff, create field hospitals and stockpile ventilators — earlier in the crisis than New York did, they say. New York remains the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States, with over 130,000 reported cases and about 5,000 deaths, with more than 3,500 deaths in New York City alone.

As cases continue to increase, new data paints a bleak portrait for hospitals: 60% of the state’s 6,000 ICU beds are already taken while there’s still about a month before experts say cases will peak here. While patient counts and deaths get the most attention, experts say the number of hospitalizations is key to determining whether the state is running out of beds, intensive care units and essential equipment such as ventilators and N95 masks.

But Florida’s emergency management chief said Sunday the state would be able to meet the need for critical-care hospital space and ventilators. He also said the state has a dedicated team of people assigned to plan for how the state should deal with the threat of a hurricane during a time of coronavirus.


You can find a running summary of the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Orlando area and Florida below. Also, sign up for new daily Florida coronavirus update by subscribing to The Health Report newsletter and as-they-happen Breaking News emails at OrlandoSentinel.com/newsletters.


Latest news

Orange County braces for tourist tax plummet, as coronavirus cases rocket closer to 1,000

Tourist tax collections remained strong in February, up nearly 7% over last year, but Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond said Monday a sharp drop will come when the results are in for March.

The 6% tax on hotel rooms, Airbnbs and other short-term rentals will plummet in wake of unprecedented weeks-long closures of Walt Disney World, Universal and other attractions as well as the cancellations of some of the biggest shows scheduled for the Orange County Convention Center.

“The positive results from February don’t reflect the realities of March and the months to come," Comptroller Phil Diamond said, whose office collects the tax, a key indicator of the health of the region’s tourism economy.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office unveils coronavirus response teams of specially-equipped deputies

Wearing full-body protective suits over their bullet-proof vests, respirators for breathing and bright-orange gloves, a pair of Orange County deputies modeled the equipment the Sheriff’s Office hopes will prevent first-responders from catching the new coronavirus during arrests.

The deputies, whose gear was showcased in a video OCSO posted online Monday, are part of four new Medical Response Teams created to respond to calls involving people suspected to be infected.

Senate Democrats ask DeSantis to give workers retroactive pay to make up for lengthy unemployment delays

As delays continue to plague Florida’s unemployment system, union leaders and state lawmakers are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Department of Economic Opportunity to give workers retroactive pay to the date they were laid off.

The move could ease concerns that every setback in the online system, which has taken some workers days and even weeks to get through, will also translate to lost benefits.

Altamonte Springs to close city parks - including Cranes Roost - because of coronavirus

In an effort to slow the growing number of COVID-19 cases, Altamonte Springs will close to the public its eight city parks – including the popular Cranes Roost Park – on Tuesday.

City officials said in a press release that the parks will remain closed indefinitely “in great consideration for the health and safety of our visitors” because of the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19.

Florida Chief Justice suspends jury trials through May

Trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at courthouses across the state, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady on Monday extended a suspension of jury trials and many other in-person court proceedings through May.

“The Florida state courts have taken measures to mitigate the effects of this public health emergency upon the judicial branch and its participants,” Canady wrote in a 14-page order. “To that end, I have issued several administrative orders implementing temporary measures essential to the administration of justice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The overarching intent of those orders has been to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, while keeping the courts operating to the fullest extent consistent with public safety.”

Lottery jackpots are getting smaller. You can blame the coronavirus.

Winning a Mega Millions lottery prize worth hundreds of millions of dollars was always a long, long shot, but soon it will be nearly impossible.

The group that oversees the lottery game announced Friday it was following the lead of Powerball, the other national lottery game, and reducing its future jackpots.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson moved to intensive care unit of hospital after coronavirus symptoms worsen

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to the intensive care unit of a London hospital after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

Johnson’s office says Johnson is conscious and does not require ventilation at the moment.

Leave your reusable grocery bag at home in coronavirus pandemic, some markets tell customers

Californians four years ago voted to ban single-use plastic bags, moving to protect the environment by doing away with the oil-based products that too often wound up in gutters and waterways.

The flimsy plastic bags are not back in stores, yet. But some California grocery stores are asking customers not to bring the re-usable bags that replaced the light, single-use plastics after the ban took effect.

3 Orange jail guards test positive for COVID-19

Three Orange County Jail corrections officers have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, a spokeswoman said.

In an email, spokeswoman Tracy Zampaglione said two of the officers have been self quarantining after they told their supervisors of the tests prior to receiving the results. The third officer was told to quarantine after receiving a positive diagnosis.

Seminole graduations, senior dances planned for mid-June, if health scare allows

If public health guidelines allow, Seminole County’s public high schools will host graduation ceremonies on June 12 on their football fields and host a free dance for seniors the night before, Superintendent Walt Griffin announced Monday. The June ceremonies would be make-ups for April proms and May graduations that cannot take place because of spread of the new coronavirus. If the June dates don’t work, Griffin said both would be pushed back until mid-July.


No Space Mountain? No matter. Disney fans recreate their favorite rides from home in challenge

#Parkeologychallenge trended on Twitter on Saturday afternoon, the 20th day since Disney World had shut down. The buzz was from theme parks fans who regularly competed in a challenge to hop on every single ride at Disney World within a single day.

Now, they needed some entertainment to forget about the staggering news of deaths around the world from the coronavirus and the economic toil in Orlando and elsewhere as people lost their paychecks. So they played a game: Recreate moments from all 52 rides at Disney World using only what was available at their homes.

Florida fights coronavirus price gouging: 10-pack of toilet paper for $90 and $90 to ship it

The online posting listed a 10-pack of toilet paper for about $90. Add another $90 to ship it.

“It absolutely pisses me off," said Kissimmee resident Michael Sylvestre, pointing to people being taken advantage of during the coronavirus health crisis and store shortages.

He reported the Amazon seller to the Florida Attorney General’s office where, in the past three weeks, about 1,200 consumer complaints have come in about price-gouging on face masks, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and other items during the pandemic. Orange County generated the third most complaints behind Miami-Dade and Broward counties with more 150, the office said Friday.

Gov. DeSantis talks unemployment system

Gov. DeSantis said the state brought up 72 new servers from its State Logistics Response Center in Orlando to help handle to load of unemployment filings that had been overwhelming the system.

The state unemployment system, which went down for servicing overnight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., can now handle 120,000 individuals filing claims simultaneously, he claimed, up from about 40,000 to 60,000 last week.

But many critics have said getting through at all, either by phone or online, has been nearly impossible as unemployment soars due to the coronavirus.

As of last Thursday, 227,000 Floridians had filed claims, a jump from 74,000 the week before.

DeSantis also said 2,000 state employees from other agencies would be brought in to help with claims.

All state agencies will “pony up people,” DeSantis said at a Monday roundtable in Tallahassee. “We have all hands on deck now.”

Disney organizing free at-home activities, entertainment on new website

Walt Disney Co. is organizing an array of at-home activities into a new website designed to entertain, inform and occupy minds during the coronavirus shutdown. DisneyMagicMoments.com is now live and features free activities ranging from replicated theme-park experiences to celebrity storytime videos to drawing classes and musical presentations. Among Monday’s fresh offerings was a performance by Epcot’s JAMMitors group, a set of percussionists who rattled at-home makeshift instruments for the occasion. That comes on the heels of a recent virtual concert by members of Disneyland’s Dapper Dans ensemble, which is also on the site.

British Open canceled until 2021 as golf schedule reworked

The British Open will not be played this year for the first time since 1945, with the R&A choosing to play golf’s oldest championship next year at Royal St. George’s and move the 150th Open at St. Andrews to 2022. It was a major piece of golf trying to reconfigure a schedule brought on by the spread of the new coronavirus.

Golf organizations were expected to announced later Monday the PGA Championship moving to August, the U.S. Open going to September and the Masters to be played in November, two week before Thanksgiving.

3 in 4 US hospitals already facing COVID-19

Three out of four U.S. hospitals surveyed are already treating patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, according to a federal report that finds hospitals expect to be overwhelmed as cases rocket toward their projected peak.

A report Monday from a federal watchdog agency warns that different, widely reported problems are feeding off each other in a vicious cycle. Such problems include insufficient tests, slow results, scarcity of protective gear, the shortage of breathing machines for seriously ill patients and burned-out staffs anxious for their own safety.

Graduates were set to enter rosy job market. No longer

Faced with a spike in unemployment as the coronavirus pandemic shutters many businesses and slows others, graduating college seniors are faced with the unique challenge of launching their careers in the middle of an unexpected economic downturn, as well as a public health crisis.

Coronavirus patients rush to join studies of experimental drug remdesivir

Coronavirus patients around the world have been rushing to join remdesivir studies that opened in hospitals in the last few weeks. Interest has been so great that the U.S. National Institutes of Health is expanding its study, which has nearly reached its initial goal of 440 patients. The drug’s maker, California-based Gilead Sciences, is quickly ramping up its own studies, too.

Remdesivir is given through an IV. It’s designed to interfere with an enzyme that reproduces viral genetic material. In animal tests against SARS and MERS, diseases caused by similar coronaviruses, the drug helped prevent infection and reduced the severity of symptoms when given early enough in the course of illness. It’s farther along in testing than many other potential therapies and the current studies could lead to regulatory approval.

More than 1,000 U.S. active duty infections

The Pentagon says the number of COVID-19 cases in the active duty force topped 1,000 over the weekend. There are a total of 1,132 confirmed cases as of Monday morning. The total was 978 on Friday.


There also have been 303 cases among members of the National Guard. Among the military services, the Navy has the most cases, with 431. That includes more than 150 among the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Poll finds mixed bag for coronavirus response from Trump, DeSantis, local leaders

Stresses during the coronavirus crisis are running high, and a new poll finds mixed results on how leadership is handling the issue. The nonprofit Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida surveyed via email 3,244 Florida voters from March 31 through April 4 with a variety of questions about the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Results show about 51% approve of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ performance during the COVID-19 spread, with about 46% disapproving. The same poll information showed President Donald Trump with a 45% approval rating and a 53% disapproval.

Hobby Lobby, which initially resisted, closes all its stores for COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has forced Hobby Lobby to close its stores until further notice, the arts and craft retail chain has announced. The Oklahoma City-based company said in a statement Friday that it was furloughing all of its store employees and many of its corporate and distribution workers.

Through fire and coronavirus pandemic, Orlando keeps eating at Beefy King

There’s something unexpectedly similar between the coronavirus pandemic and the fire that scorched the back of Orlando’s Beefy King restaurant last year. Even though the fire briefly shuttered the restaurant last November and the virus has closed dining rooms across Florida, the community has supported the Milk District mainstay eatery both times.

April 7 declared ‘407 Day,’ a time to support local restaurants, order in

Tired of cooking on quarantine? Orange County and Visit Orlando are giving you an excuse to order in, proclaiming Tuesday, Apr. 7 as “#407 Day,” on which Central Florida residents are encouraged to show support for local restaurants.

More than 280 local eateries looking for business amid the coronavirus-borne downturn are listed on VisitOrlando.com/togo (as well as in our own, 400+ and growing list of Central Florida restaurants open for takeout and delivery). Orlando residents who participate in the campaign are encouraged to post on social media, sharing takeout selfies, fun food visuals and favorite places using the hashtags #407Day and #OrlandoToGo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and tagging @VisitOrlando and @OrangeCoFL in their posts.

Florida gas prices continue to tumble as coronavirus forces more to stay at home

Florida gasoline prices at the pump continue to drop while less drivers hit the road. Prices dropped 7 cents last week as part of the elephantine 50-cent drop seen in the last 40 days, according to AAA data. The average price of gas at the Florida pump is $1.91, although Orlandoans are enjoying even lower prices with an average of $1.81, AAA data shows.

After battling cancer, she was set for her first vacation in 5 years, then coronavirus canceled it

Tracy Brown was set to travel to Ocracoke Island, N.C., with her fiance, Ernie, her parents, her brother and his partner. It would be her first vacation in the five years that she and Ernie have been together. On March 18, Ernie lost both of his jobs and three days later, they learned that their vacation rental property was canceling their trip scheduled for late April and early May.

Her news comes at a time when many are rethinking vacation plans for this year. 84 percent of American travelers are changing plans for the next six months due to the coronavirus, according to a study by Longwoods International.

As coronavirus sickens dispatchers and deputies, concerns mount about protective equipment

The deaths of two South Florida deputies in recent days from the new coronavirus are heightening calls for better protection for the front-line troops who are policing the streets and working in jails. Union leaders in Broward County say they are concerned deputies and corrections officers are having to reuse masks and go through their supervisors to get other critical supplies, such as gowns and gloves.

UCF fans touched by coronavirus urge Knight Nation to help flatten curve

UCF football season ticket holder Tony Tsonis confesses he initially thought the novel coronavirus was a nuisance. During the past two weeks, Tsonis and his wife have been furloughed. Worse yet, his father died after contracting COVID-19.

Tsonis is one of many ardent UCF fans who are feeling the squeeze of the coronavirus pandemic in a deeply personal way and they are calling on their friends in Knight Nation to help get the spread of COVID-19 under control.

Fundraising gets creative for artists, theater during coronavirus

Artists are using their creativity as they try to earn income during the coronavirus shutdown, while cultural organizations try new fundraising ideas. The initiatives’ goals are simple: Put money in the hands of artists so they can pay bills while their income has disappeared — and at the same time make sure artists still have institutions in which to work once the crisis passes.

Tiger at NYC’s Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus

A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the new coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S. or a tiger anywhere, federal officials and the zoo said Sunday.

Fact check: Trump pitches unapproved drug for coronavirus

President Donald Trump is pitching an unapproved medicine for COVID-19 sufferers that science has not concluded is effective or safe. “Take it,” he said of the drug. For people sick with the coronavirus, he said Sunday, “It can help them but it’s not going to hurt them.” In fact, it may or may not help some people, and it may or may not hurt them.


His straight-ahead advocacy of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug, is the latest and one of the most consequential examples of Trump and public-health authorities not being on the same page in the pandemic.

Orlando church worshippers meet on Palm Sunday despite coronavirus concerns

A west Orange County church held Palm Sunday services despite coronavirus concerns. The service held at The Center Arena near the Metro West area of Orlando reflects how Gov. DeSantis quietly signed a second order on Wednesday that forces local governments to follow the state’s shutdown order to the letter, contradicting the initial stay-at-home order put in place until April 30.

Florida emergency management chief: State will have enough ICU beds and ventilators

“I have full confidence that we’ll be able to meet the ICU capacity,” state Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said in an interview on WPLG-Ch. 10. “We feel that we’ll be able to meet the capacity as far as the beds, or the potential bed issue, or the potential issue with ventilators.”

Asked about a projected peak need in early May of 2,500 beds and current capacity of less than 1,700, Moskowitz said the state bought, and has received 4,300 hospital beds. He said the beds the state bought, and the ability of hospitals to convert existing beds to intensive care beds, should be enough to meet the projected need.

He said field hospitals have been set up in Broward and Miami-Dade counties; field hospitals are pre-positioned for Jacksonville and the Orlando area; there is capacity for 400-bed hospital to be set up at the Miami Beach Convention Center; and work is being done to reopen two shuttered facilities in Miami-Dade County.

Moskowitz said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health and Human Services “have been fantastic” about responding to Florida’s requests for ventilators from the strategic national supply, and the state has received four shipments.

Trump administration waited 2 months before bolstering medical supplies for coronavirus pandemic, review shows

As early as mid-January, U.S. officials could see that hospitals in China's Hubei province were overwhelmed with infected patients, with many left dependent on ventilator machines to breathe. Italy soon followed, with hospitals scrambling for doctors, beds and equipment.

HHS did not respond to questions about why federal officials waited to order medical supplies until stocks were running critically low. But President Donald Trump has asserted that the federal government should take a back seat to states when it comes to dealing with the pandemic. Trump and his appointees have urged state and local governments, and hospitals, to buy their own masks and breathing machines, saying requests to the dwindling national stockpile should be a last resort.

Hospital worker stole personal protective equipment, cops say

A physician’s assistant at a hospital in Loxahatchee is accused of stealing numerous items that health care workers typically refer to as personal protective equipment. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Saturday said deputies were sent to Palms West Hospital after two hospital workers reported seeing Rhoderick Manhattan, 46, placing medical equipment into a vehicle.

It’s unclear when the alleged theft occurred. The sheriff’s office says deputies found multiple items inside the car, including over 50 boot covers, 25 protective overall suits, gloves, scrubs and head cover hoods. Palm Beach County has 998 reported cases of coronavirus, the third highest in the state, as of Sunday morning.

Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday Mass without the public

Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass without the public because of the coronavirus pandemic, which he said should focus people’s attention on what’s most important, despite heavy hearts — using one’s life to serve others. Francis urged people to hold fast to “what really matters in our lives.” He led the first of several solemn Holy Week ceremonies that will shut out rank-and-file faithful from attending, as Italy’s rigid lockdown measures forbid public gatherings.

Queen urges self-discipline as Britain sees record jump in coronavirus deaths

As warm, sunny weather beckoned across Europe, Queen Elizabeth II appealed to Britons on Sunday to exercise self-discipline in “an increasingly challenging time” as the country saw a record 24-hour jump in coronavirus deaths that even outpaced the daily toll in hard-hit Italy.

Britain recorded 708 new coronavirus deaths, bringing its overall toll to 4,313 as infections rose past 42,000, while Italy reported 631 deaths. Those coming down with the virus in the U.K. include Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the health secretary, England's chief medical official and Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.

Coronavirus is ravaging New York, and Florida could be next. Are we ready?

The images are both real and unimaginable. Bodies loaded into refrigerated morgue trucks. Makeshift hospitals thrown up like MASH units. Navy ships anchored offshore. New York, hit harder by the coronavirus than anywhere in America, is reeling from the pandemic, an example of what Florida could become in a few short weeks.

Perhaps Florida will never experience the devastation of New York, with its larger, more condensed population and a mass transit system that helped carry the virus through the city. New York is expected ultimately to suffer more than 800 deaths a day, more than 80% higher than Florida at its peak.

But government and medical leaders here say they are preparing for far worse conditions than we’ve seen so far. Like New York, they are creating bed space in hospitals, recruiting more medical staff, creating field hospitals and stockpiling ventilators — all earlier in the crisis than New York did, they say. On the ground, many people worry about a lack of testing, coordination among state and local officials and shortages of equipment to protect those on the front lines.


Testing site to open at UCF on Monday

A drive-through site will open at UCF on Monday, April 6, for members of the community by appointment only.

Individuals must have an appointment in order to receive a test, which will be administered in UCF’s Garage A, located at 12491 University Boulevard, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (appointments may end before 5 p.m. if the daily appointments are filled earlier). Those who do not have an appointment will be turned away.

To secure an appointment and have a test ordered for them, individuals must contact Aventus by calling 855-282-4860.

Orange and Osceola mortgage-foreclosure sales canceled

Ninth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Donald Myers, who has provided updates about courthouse activities during the coronavirus crisis, has canceled all pending mortgage-foreclosure sales in Orange and Osceola counties, abiding by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ halt on all eviction and relevant sales last week. But the judge pointed out the orders should not be construed as relieving any debtor of the obligation to make rent or mortgage payments. “Those obligations are still owed,” he said.

Concern is great as demonstrated by the 30,000 people who applied for crisis assistance from Orange County for one month’s rent. The courthouses are open, though access is limited to “proceedings that are essential and critical to the state-of-emergency or the public health emergency.”

Former Saints kicker dies at 73 after coronavirus complications

Former NFL kicker Tom Dempsey, who played in the NFL despite being born without toes on his kicking foot and made a record 63-yard field goal, died late Saturday while struggling with complications from the new coronavirus, his daughter said. He was 73 years old.

The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate first reported Dempsey’s death. Ashley Dempsey said Sunday that her father, who has resided in an assisted living home for several years after being diagnosed with dementia, tested positive for the coronavirus a little more than a week ago.

Seminole County closes boat ramps

All Seminole County boat ramps closed Saturday night “due to irresponsible boaters.” the county government’s Twitter account announced in a post. In general, statewide, recreational boating is still allowed, but vessels must stay at least 50 feet apart. Also, no recreational vessel may have more than 10 people on board.

For more information, visit PrepareSeminole.org or call 407-665-0000 daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Disney World’s annual-pass payment changes: What you need to know

Annual passholders to Walt Disney World have new options after the company followed the lead of Universal Orlando in deferring payments.

That announcement was overshadowed by news of furloughs at the massive theme-park resort, the nation’s largest single-site employer. But the company’s website reassures passholders they won’t have to continue paying for passes they can’t use.

Walt Disney World closed on March 16 and will remain empty of guests until at least April 30.

Jaguars legend Tony Boselli on battle with COVID-19

In a column, Orlando Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi said Jacksonville Jaguars legend Tony Boselli said he never felt so overmatched during his battle with COVID-19 and he prayed to God he would not die alone.

“Boselli is one of the biggest, strongest, fiercest football players I have ever covered,” Bianchi wrote. “He was a 6-foot-7, 330-pound mountain of a man; a blocking bulldozer; a human wrecking machine who played offensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars back in their heyday two decades ago.”

“I’ve never played in a football game where I felt so overmatched as I did against this thing,” Boselli told Bianchi Friday evening. Bianchi wrote that that Boselli’s voice was "still sounding weak after being released following five days in the ICU.”

Volusia, Brevard allow exercise on the beach

Volusia County shut down its beaches as of Friday, April 3, but reopened them to exercise-related activity on Saturday, April 4.

Brevard County cities on Thursday banded together to define acceptable activities on the beach. Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, and Melbourne Beach will be closed except for walking, jogging, biking, fishing, surfing and swimming until April 30.

Electric utilities cutting bills temporarily

The state’s largest utilities such as Duke Energy and Florida Power & Light Co. and some municipal utilities such as Mount Dora’s are reducing power bills temporarily in response to the COVID-19 hit on the economy.

Participating utilities are able to do so by tapping cash put aside as a result of relatively lower costs for natural gas that runs electric generators.

What to do if you can’t pay your bills

Here is what to do if you cannot pay your bills today due to the coronavirus pandemic. Do not panic. There are options for those who cannot pay their bills. Here are recommendations based on Orlando Sentinel interviews and research.


Tip of the day

Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning. If reusable gloves are used, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes.

Symptoms? Do this

Call your health-care provider if you have cough, fever and shortness of breath — and you’ve been in close contact with someone how has COVID-19 or has recently traveled to one of the following countries, where the virus transmission is widespread: China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea.

How to protect yourself

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick and avoid contact with persons in poor health.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

Clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Follow these recommendations for using a face mask: The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Follow these guidelines for using a cloth mask.

Questions? Here are numbers to call

The Florida Department of Health has set up a call center to answer questions about coronavirus. There’s a number for Orange County, too.

The Health Report: Florida Coronavirus Newsletter Daily A daily update on the coronavirus crisis in Florida. You are now following this newsletter. See all newsletters.

The Florida Department of Health’s number is 1-866-779-6121 and is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents can also email questions to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

In Orange County, the number to call is 407-723-5004; it’s available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For mental-health help, here is a list of resources.

For accurate, up-to-date information, visit

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov

The Florida Department of Health: floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19. For questions, call the COVID-19 call center at 866-779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

A live map of COVID-19 cases around the globe: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

You want to be extra-prepared? Here’s how to stock up before a pandemic: ready.gov/pandemic

For the latest coronavirus updates, visit OrlandoSentinel.com/coronavirus and follow @orlandosentinel on Twitter.

See complete coverage at OrlandoSentinel.com/coronavirus.