2 coronavirus deaths announced in Florida by Department of Health Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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MEREDITH: WESH 2’S KELSI THORUD JOINS US LIVE IN STUDIO WITH THE NEW INFORMATION. KELSI: GUYS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELEASED THAT INFORMATION NOT EVEN AN HOUR AGO. ONE OF THE TWO DEATHS IS A PREVIOUSLY-ANNOUNCED CASE IN SANTA ROSA COUNTY. THE OTHER DEADLY CASE IS A NEW ONE OUT OF LEE COUNTY. AND ON TOP OF THAT, TWO OTHER PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN BROWARD. THE NEWS COMES AS VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE IS GEARING UP FOR A TRIP TO FLORIDA, IN THE TRUMP ADMINSITRATION’S ONGOING EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE VIRUS. >> 21 OF THOSE ON THE SHIP TESTED POSITIVE. KELSI: THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN THE U.S. IS NOW ABOVE 225, NEARLY TWO DOZEN OF THOSE ARE PEOPLE ONBOARD A CRUISE SHIP OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. THE VICE PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED IN FORT LAUDERDALE ON SATURDAY TO MEET WITH CRUISE LINE CEOS TO DISCUSS WAYS TO PREVENT THE VIRUS’ SPREAD. >> WE’LL BE DISCUSSING WHAT ADDITIONAL MEASURES OUR CRUISE LINES COULD TAKE TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. KELSI: FOUR MAJOR CRUISE LIN HAVE ALREADY ADDED PREBOARDING TEMPERATURE SCREENINGS, INCLUDING HERE AT PORT CANAVERAL. ON FRIDAY MORNING, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN $8.3 BILLION EMERGENCY SPENDING PACKAGE TO COMBAT THE VIRUS. >> CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, BUT WE’RE TAKING CARE OF IT. KELSI: THE HARDEST HIT STATES REMAIN CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON. SO FAR, 14 PEOPLE HAVE DIED. -- 16 PEOPLE HAVE DIED, TWO HERE IN FLORIDA. GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS HE EXPECTS TO GET SOME OF THAT FEDERAL AID. >> YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE WILL GET AT A MINIMUM $27 MILLION PROBABLY MORE. KELSI: THE GOVERNOR SAYS MUCH OF THAT AID WILL GO TOWARDS GETTING MORE LAB EQUIPMENT AND TRAINED STAFF, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MORE TEST KITS. >> WE DEFINITELY ENVISION THE NEED TO HAVE MORE TESTING CAPACITY SO I KNOW THOSE KITS ARE GOING TO BE HERE SOON AND IT’LL BE GOOD TO HAVE THEM, BUT WE AT THIS POINT HAVE NOT BEEN UNABLE TO TEST SOMEBODY DUE TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH EQUIPMENT. MEREDITH: SO FAR, THIS VIRUS HAS BEEN MOST DANGEROUS TO THE ELDERLY. MANY OF THE DEATHS CAME FROM A NURSING HOME IN WASHINGTON STATE. WHILE IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THESE TWO FLORIDA INSTANCES ARE,

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