Florida Department of Health identifies 1,467 cases statewide; 104 in Palm Beach County, as of 7 p.m. Tuesday.

*

TO OUR READERS: 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 Palm Beach Post. If you want breaking coronavirus news directly in your inbox, sign up for our Coronavirus Newsletter.

*

With the number of coronavirus cases in Florida topping 1,450 and 20 people dead, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday stopped short of ordering people to stay in their homes, instead saying only people over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions should shelter in place.

"Some people think the governor should be a dictator and just imprison everyone in their homes," said the governor, who has come under fire for not taking bolder action. He insisted, however, that he’s not a dictator and doesn’t think keeping people at home has been effective in other hard hit states.

His comments came shortly before the Florida Department of Health released new numbers that showed an additional 240 Florida residents had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in 24 hours, including 15 in Palm Beach County.

>> Florida coronavirus stats made simple

The total number of county residents infected with the virus now stands at 104, including two sheriff’s deputies. Three elderly people have died, the most of any county in the state, along with Broward, Lee and Duval counties.

Still, the pace of new cases slowed statewide and in Palm Beach County to the point that for the first time in a week they are not doubling at least every three days. Cases statewide rose at a 20 percent pace over 24 hours while Palm Beach County cases rose by 17 percent.

While Boca Raton on Tuesday became the first city in the county to close all non-essential businesses, Palm Beach County commissioners were silent about their plans.

County Administrator Verdenia Baker did not respond to phone calls asking whether such a restriction, already in place in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, is being considered here. The county’s vice mayor, Robert Weinroth, said Monday the county was looking at it but was loathe to further impact county residents’ lives.

With schools, bars, beaches, boat ramps, fitness clubs, most restaurants, movie theaters and other entertainment venues closed, adding other businesses would further curtail residents’ daily lives and throw even more people out of work, Weinroth said.

>>Mall at Wellington Green to close temporarily

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have advised that closing non-essential businesses and shelter-in-place orders are key to stopping the spread of the virus. At least 11 states have done so.

Under Boca’s order, that takes effect Wednesday, a vast array of businesses could remain open. Supermarkets, banks, convenience stores, gas stations, health providers, pharmacies, liquor stores, law offices and gun shops wouldn’t have to close under the order that is modeled after ones in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Non-essential businesses would include hair salons and other shops that offer personal services. Pawn shops and other unique stores also would be affected.

The latest numbers show the virus continues to thrive, infecting residents in 44 of the state’s 67 counties. South Florida remains the epicenter with 312 cases in Broward County and 367 in Miami-Dade. Including Palm Beach County, 783 people in South Florida have COVID-19.

>>A callout to restaurants - Help us spread the word about your services

In the Treasure Coast, 22 people have been infected with Martin reporting four cases, St. Lucie County six and Indian River County 12.

Since Palm Beach County has far fewer people infected than its southern neighbors, it doesn’t have to take the drastic steps that Broward and Miami-Dade have embraced, Commissioner Mack Bernard has said. Both counties have closed golf courses, something Palm Beach County has yet to do.

>>A callout to restaurants - Help us spread the word about your services

The state offered a breakdown Tuesday of cases within counties, showing figures that may not precisely follow city boundaries. Among the most numerous In Palm Beach County: 18 cases in West Palm Beach, 17 in Boca Raton, 15 in Delray Beach, 10 in Boynton Beach, seven in Jupiter and three in Wellington and Lake Worth.

Among cities, Miami has recorded the most cases so far, with 181. Other hardest-hit cities: Hollywood, 76; Tampa, 65; Fort Lauderdale, 62; and Miami Beach, 45.

>>Jupiter animal rescue pairs social distancing seniors with foster pet

Since the pandemic began sweeping the state, DeSantis has concentrated his efforts on protecting the frail and elderly.

The health advisory he announced Tuesday, asking anyone over the age of 65 and those with chronic health problems to stay home for the next 14 days, is an extension of that, he said.

"We have to make sure those folks are protected," he said.

But, the state numbers show that no age group is immune to the virus.

Those infected in Palm Beach County range from 6 to 84. Sixty-two are men and 42 are women. Statewide, roughly 57 percent of those infected are men.

While an 84-year-old woman, and 83- and 88-year-old men died, 17 county residents are hospitalized with the virus, the health department said.

>>Editorial: Governor, shut this state down

DeSantis barred visitation at elder care facilities to keep the residents safe, but the virus still found its way into 36 nursing homes throughout the state, health officials said. The bulk of those cases are in Duval and Broward counties. No facility in Palm Beach County has reported infections, state health officials said.

On Tuesday, DeSantis also issued an order, barring gatherings of more than 10 people, including private parties.

He used private parties he has seen on news reports from California to explain why he doesn’t believe that state’s shelter in place order is working and why he won’t enact one in Florida.

"If you’re holding a massive block party in California, wouldn’t you be better off just going to work?" he asked.

DeSantis has repeatedly said a national shortage of testing kits and supplies has thwarted the state’s efforts to control the virus. With four government-run testing sites in operation and a fifth to open in Orlando on Wednesday, roughly 16,000 people have been tested statewide.

In Palm Beach County, 744 have been tested. That is far lower than the 2,667 who have been tested in Broward County and 2,729 in Miami-Dade County. Drive-through testing centers are in operation in Pembroke Pines, near Fort Lauderdale, and at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami

Statewide, about 9 percent of those who are tested learn they have been infected.

>>Three West Palm Beach firefighters placed in quarantine

Rep. Emily Slosberg, D-Delray Beach, has urged DeSantis to open a drive-thru testing center west of Delray.

While President Donald Trump on Tuesday told Fox News that he "thinks it’s possible" to have the country return to normal by Easter on April 12, DeSantis didn’t share his fellow Republican’s optimism.

A quick turnaround is unlikely, he said. But, he said, those who predict it will be nearly a year before restrictions are lifted are equally misguided.

Globally, the number of confirmed cases as of noon Tuesday stood at 418,000, with nearly 19,000 deaths. In the United States, the number of cases topped 53,300 cases, with nearly 700 deaths.

Florida has the sixth-most confirmed cases in the nation, behind New York, New Jersey, California, Washington and Michigan.

"No way is a nine-month shutdown going to be tolerated," DeSantis said. "Let’s do what we can to blunt the force of the virus.

He said he is trying to strike a balance between controlling its spread and allowing people to function.

"I think you can continue to do this in a way that will continue to make progress on the virus without (hurting more people)," he said.

Staff writers Chris Persaud, Craig Dolch, Kimberly Miller, Hannah Morse and Julius Whigham contributed to this story.

jmusgrave@pbpost.com

@pbpcourts

>> MORE COVERAGE

>>Shutdown devastates local restaurants, staff

>>Most municipalities are under a ‘state of emergency’... here’s what that means

>>Video of fiery exchange between Lake Worth Beach mayor, commissioner goes viral

>> Beachgoers bummed by governor’s line in the sand

>>Editorial: Young people must help stop spread of virus

>>GOP lawmakers detail help for businesses, workers

>>What does the coronavirus infection do inside your body?

>>Amid disruption everywhere, real estate transactions still rolling through -- but for how long?

>>Income tax filing deadline moved to July 15 from April 15

>>Coronavirus cases worldwide: An interactive look

>>HOW TO PROPERLY WASH YOUR HANDS: To fight off the virus, read this

VIDEO: Coronavirus vs the flu