Tracking Coronavirus: Florida deaths rise by over 70; More beaches reopen

article

ORLANDO, Fla. - Below is a log of the day's events as it relates to the global coronavirus pandemic.

5:00 a.m. -- The Florida Department of Health says there are 36,897 cases of coronavirus in the state. The death toll is at 1,399 as Phase 1 of Governor DeSantis' reopening plan begins.

5:30 a.m. -- Cinco de Mayo is today and is traditionally a big holiday for bars and nightclubs, but the coronavirus pandemic has dealt those establishments another blow.

7:30 a.m. -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday ordered an investigation into how the state ended up with a faulty unemployment website that he has previously described as a clunker. Details HERE.

9:00 a.m. -- Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to give an update on the coronavirus response at 11:30 a.m. You can watch it live HERE.

9:35 a.m. -- To thank grocery store employees for working hard during the coronavirus outbreak, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) will be providing hundreds of workers with lunch this week.

10:30 a.m. -- The latest numbers from state health officials show that there have been 37,439 cases of COVID-19 in Florida, resulting in a death toll of 1,471. That is an additional 542 cases and 72 deaths since Monday morning. Read more HERE.

1:30 p.m.-- Nearly 400 employees at a Missouri pork-processing plant have been diagnosed with coronavirus — though all are asymptomatic. Read more HERE.

1:45 p.m. -- Governor Ron DeSantis recently gave the green light for some beaches and parks to reopen if it can be done within CDC social-distancing guidelines, and some north Florida beaches became among the first to allow people to return since closing to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

5:00 p.m. -- Disney reported a steep decline in profit as many segments of its media and entertainment offerings ground to a standstill during the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, the company said costs related to COVID-19 cut Disney's pretax profit by $1.4 billion.

6:00 p.m. -- The Florida Department of Health says there are 37,439 cases of coronavirus in the state. The death toll is at 1,471 as Phase 1 of Governor DeSantis' reopening plan begins.