Gov. Ron DeSantis

In a press conference on Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami will be among the first hospitals in the state to receive new commercial test kits for COVID-19.

This post covered South Florida coronavirus news updates from March 10 through March 15. Because of the swift and frequent changes in this ongoing story, WLRN has--for the moment--decided to start a fresh roundup each day. To find today's Coronavirus Live Update, click here. 

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attempted to reassure his state Thursday that health officials are deep into preparations to stave off a potential outbreak of a new virus that has killed thousands worldwide, saying there were no confirmed cases — yet — of infections from COVID-19.

Gov. Ron DeSantis called coronavirus a “significant public health threat” and said Florida officials have been monitoring its spread.

“We have had a number of people who have been in that area of China and had some concerns about whether they had contracted the coronavirus,” he said at a Monday afternoon event in Boca Raton. “Everybody to this date who has been tested has come back negative. We do not have a confirmed case in the state of Florida.”

The Florida Supreme Court has sided with Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republican-dominated state legislature on a question that could impact the voting rights of an estimated 800,000 Floridians with felony convictions.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for teacher raises, the eradication of Burmese pythons in the Everglades and a new law to force girls to get their parents' permission before getting an abortion during his State of the State address on Tuesday.

TALLAHASSEE — A Tallahassee research group wants state lawmakers to temper a trend of tying the hands of city and county officials by “preempting” local regulations.

The non-profit group Integrity Florida issued a report Monday raising concerns that lawmakers, with the backing of powerful lobbying groups, are strategically attacking home-rule authority on issues ranging from sunscreen bans to regulating businesses.

In response to the ongoing spate of fatal accidents along the Florida East Coast rail corridor, Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault to look into the issue.