This post will be updated today, Friday, May 15, and through the weekend with the latest information on COVID-19 in South Florida.
WLRN is here for you, even when life is unpredictable. Local journalists are working hard to keep you informed on the latest developments across South Florida. Please support this vital work. Become a WLRN member today. Thank you.
WLRN staff continues to add to community resource lists, including this article on where kids and families can get food while schools are closed, and this post about whether and where to get tested for the coronavirus.
The dedicated website for the Florida Department of Health, including information about symptoms and numbers of cases, can be found here. The dedicated website from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be found here.
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QUICK UPDATES
State Reports More Than 45,500 Cases of COVID-19
Updated at 1:40 p.m.
The number of Florida new confirmed novel coronavirus cases rose to 45,588 with Sunday’s update, the increase of 777 being less than many weekdays but more than each of the last three Sundays.
And, again, South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe counties) account for most of that increase in COVID-19, but only three of the nine new deaths in Florida.
Weekend updates from the Florida Department of Health, especially Sundays, tend to show a less dramatic rise in cases and deaths. This is the fourth Sunday of once-a-day updates and the Sunday case numbers had been going steadily down during the last three weeks: 689, 615, 595. Then, Sunday: 777.
Read more from our news partner the Miami Herald
-David J. Neal
State Reports 11 Deaths At Lauderhill Nursing Home, 7 In Past Week
Updated at 5 p.m.
Eleven residents at a Lauderhill nursing facility have died of coronavirus-related illnesses — with seven of them documented in the past week — according to the weekly state report.
The report on coronavirus-related deaths in Florida nursing homes is released weekly, and in the previous update, Nspire Healthcare in Lauderhill was reported to have four such deaths at their facility.
The Lauderhill facility has seen 52 residents and 22 staff members test positive for COVID-19, according to the latest state report. Eleven residents who tested positive have been transferred to other facilities. According to the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Lauderdale facility has 109 licensed beds. No staff members have died, per the report.
Read more from our news partner the Sun Suntinel
-Wells Dusenbury
Two Miami-Dade Testing Sites To Reopen Sunday
Updated at 2:30 p.m.
The Hard Rock Stadium and Miami Beach Convention Center testing sites that were closed Saturday because of bad weather will reopen on Sunday, May 17.
Other South Florida sites that will remain closed until Monday, May 18 are:
- CB Smith Park, Broward War Memorial, Mitchell Moore Park, and Urban League in Broward County
- Amelia Earhart Park, Marlins Stadium and Holy Family Catholic Church in Miami-Dade County and
- FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, South County Civic Center in Delray Beach and Lakeside Hospital in Palm Beach County
Brevard Eastern Florida State College Palm Bay Campus and Volusia University High School will also remain closed till Monday. All other testing sites will continue normal operating hours, according to the state Department of Health. For more information on state testing sites, check this website.
-WLRN News
State's COVID Death Toll Now At 1,964
Updated Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
There have been 1,964 people who have died from the new coronavirus across Florida, the state Health Department reported Saturday. That’s an increase of 47 over the previous 24 hours.
Florida has had a total of 44,811 people with infections, which is 673 more than on Friday. Also, 8,146 people have been treated at hospitals since the outbreak began.
At least 26,007 people in South Florida have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the state reported Friday. That’s 472 more than the day before.
Read more from our news partner the Sun Sentinel
-Marc Freeman
Questions Raised About Antibody Tests Used In Miami-Dade
Updated Saturday at 8:45 a.m.
Over the past month, thousands of Miami-Dade County residents have poured into drive-thru testing sites in Aventura and Bal Harbour seeking the answer to one question: Do I have antibodies for COVID-19?
They were trying to get answers from a Nebraska healthcare company with connections to the Aventura mayor.
Armed with city officials’ endorsements, Banyan Medical Systems from Omaha opened a testing site for coronavirus antibodies in a parking garage at Aventura Mall on April 13, then did the same at Bal Harbour Shops on May 4. Banyan has plans for two more, in Doral and Cutler Bay.
Read more at our news partners the Miami Herald
-Daniel Chang, Ben Conarck and Aaron Leibowitz
Memorial Health To Begin Testing Children For COVID-19 In Broward
Updated Friday at 5 p.m.
Memorial Healthcare System plans to begin testing children for the coronavirus next week. Anyone under the age of 18 who has symptoms, or has been exposed to someone who's tested positive for COVID-19, can start scheduling appointments next Thursday, May 21.
The testing for children starts next Saturday, May 23 at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines. Appointments will be available Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Testing at C.B Smith Park, and several other sites across South Florida, is closed through this weekend due to the threat of inclement weather.
— Caitie Switalski
Statewide Coronavirus Cases Surpass 44,000
Updated Friday at 4:45 p.m.
Florida surpassed 44,000 positive cases of COVID-19 as Florida’s Department of Health confirmed an additional 928 cases of COVID-19 on Friday afternoon. Florida has a total of 44,138 confirmed cases.
Friday's update also included the announcement of 42 new deaths, increasing the statewide number to 1,875. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties make up 1,091 of those reported deaths. Monroe County has reported three deaths due to COVID-19.
-WLRN News
Palm Beach County Beaches Will Officially Reopen May 18
Updated Friday at 1 p.m.
Palm Beach County Commissioners approved a plan to reopen county beaches May 18, with a 5-2 vote.
Beaches won't be restricted to residents only, as commissioners previously discussed earlier this month. Palm Beach's county attorney said that commissioners had the "legal basis" to restrict beach access to Palm Beach County residents but they'd risk losing grant funding.
With a 5-2 vote, Palm Beach County commissioners have decided to reopen public beaches on Monday, May 18th. #wpb#pbcgov#beaches#Florida@WLRN — Wilkine Brutus (@wilkinebrutus) May 15, 2020
Breaking: Palm Beach County commissioners have decided to reopen public beaches on May 18th. Commissioner Weiss and Bernard were dissenting vote. Commissioner McKinlay struck down restrictions on concessions, allowing umbrellas and chairs. #wpb#pbcgov#beaches#Florida@WLRN — Wilkine Brutus (@wilkinebrutus) May 15, 2020
—WLRN News
Florida Temporarily Closes Some COVID Testing Sites Due To Stormy Weather
Updated Friday at 6:30 a.m.
Florida emergency management officials said they will close 14 state-run COVID-19 test sites on Friday and reopen them Monday due to a low-pressure weather system that is forecast to produce wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, lightning and thunderstorms with heavy rain.
State officials said they will close 10 drive-thru testing sites and four walk-up locations in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Brevard counties, including the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Marlins Stadium in Little Havana and additional sites at the Miami Beach Convention Center and Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah.
Two drive-up sites in Broward County, CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines and the War Memorial in Fort Lauderdale, will close along with two walk-up sites, Mitchell Moore Park and the Urban League.
Read more at our news partner the Miami Herald.
-Daniel Chang, Ben Conarck and Alex Harris
