Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Florida on March 28
We’re keeping track of the latest news regarding the coronavirus in South Florida and around the state. Check back for updates throughout the day.
Florida breaks past 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases
7 p.m.: Florida is now at 4,038 cases, which represented an increase of 275 cases between Saturday’s morning and evening reports from the Florida Department of Health. Two more deaths were also reported since the morning — 10 more since Friday — raising the death toll to 56.
A total of 840 new cases were reported overall on Saturday, the most in a single day since the pandemic hit Florida.
More than half of the 4,038 confirmed cases — 2,281 — are in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties, making South Florida the state’s epicenter of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Miami-Dade government carries on during coronavirus crisis
6 p.m.: The largest local government in Florida faces its steepest challenge ever in trying to keep its workforce healthy as a virus sweeps through the Miami-Dade population and faces global competition for the supplies needed to protect workers.
Most county services remain available, even as Miami-Dade is losing workers to quarantine and facing daunting challenges in how employees do their work.
5 p.m. coronavirus headline roundup
5 p.m.: Miss any of our stories? Here are some of the latest
▪ Florida issues its first statewide coronavirus text alert. This is what it means
▪ How a Florida school is using a 3D printer to make hospitals safer for medical staff
▪ Key West airline travelers are few and most are leaving amid COVID-19, officials said
▪ Fate still unknown for cruise ship with 4 dead and dozens of sick passengers
Miami’s III Points fest rescheduled
3:15 p.m.: III Points music and arts festival has been rescheduled for Oct. 16-17, making the event the latest Miami gathering to be disrupted by the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Organizers of the event, originally scheduled for May 1-2, announced the postponement Saturday as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Florida and across the U.S. The festival’s founder, David Sinopoli, told the Miami Herald he was able to secure commitments from more than 95 percent of the artists to play the new October dates, including The Strokes, Wu-Tang Clan and Robyn. Very few couldn’t make the change, including one headliner, Disclosure. New artists to join the lineup include Rufus Du Sol, Artbat and Peaches.
Seven Florida Department of Corrections employees test positive for COVID-19
3:10 p.m.: Seven Florida Department of Corrections employees who work at separate facilities across the state have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, agency officials said late Friday.
Agency officials would not release the positions held by the infected prison workers, but in a statement said the employees either worked for the corrections department or one of its contractors at five prisons and two probation offices.
Saying goodbye to a loved with with COVID-19
2:50 p.m.: Three weeks ago, 69-year-old Tom Sheehan was boarding the Costa Luminosa in Port Everglades with his wife, excited for a grand adventure cruising to Italy, Spain and France. But even from the beginning, coronavirus loomed over their trip.
When the Luminosa, owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp., arrived in Puerto Rico three days later, an elderly Italian couple was rushed from the ship to a hospital. Both tested positive for COVID-19. The woman, Puerto Rico’s first case, has since died.
Passengers said the cruise officials didn’t let them know about the sick people until they were out at sea again the next day.
Sheehan has since contracted the virus and is now at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he is on his deathbed.
His family had to say goodbye to him over speakerphone.
An update on the Florida Keys’ checkpoints
2 p.m.: With much fanfare, Monroe County Friday morning opened two checkpoints to keep tourists from driving into the Florida Keys.
Later that afternoon, Keys officials in several cities, who lobbied for the checkpoints to block the spread of the novel coronavirus through the island chain, learned the roadblocks could come down Sunday night, and they are angry.
“All incorporated areas are pissed,” a city official who did not want to be named said Saturday.
565 more confirmed cases in Florida
12:30 p.m.: There are now 3,763 confirmed positive cases in Florida of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to the Florida Department of Health’s noon update on Saturday. That’s an increase of 565 cases from Friday night.
More than 2,000 of the confirmed cases in the state come from four South Florida counties: Miami-Dade (1,003), Broward (814), Palm Beach (292) and Monroe (20).
The state now also has 54 deaths, 11 of which are in Broward.
Jackson Memorial ICU nurse dies
12:05 p.m.: A longtime nurse at Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital who worked in the hospital’s intensive care unit died this week due to complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“Our Jackson Health System family is mourning the death of longtime Jackson nurse Araceli Buendia Ilagan, who recently died from complications of COVID-19,” the hospital said in a statement. “Araceli dedicated nearly 33 years of her life treating some of our most critically ill patients.”
Immigration groups sue President Trump to close courts
11:25 a.m.: Six nonprofit organizations that provide legal services to immigrants and practice in the immigration court system sued members of the Trump administration — including President Donald Trump — for keeping immigration courts open during the coronavirus pandemic.
The suit contends that by keeping the immigration courts open and forcing attorneys, judges and those fighting their immigration status to appear in person at the court, the federal officials have turned the court system into a “public health hazard.”
Miami VA patient dies from COVID-19 complications
11:05 a.m.: A veteran in their 90s died at the Miami VA Healthcare System this week due to complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The veteran, who was not identified, is one of nine VA patients across the country who have died as of March 27 after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Miami VA has reported four veterans who have tested positive for COVID-19 to date, including one who is hospitalized and three who are recovering at home. The center reported its first positive patient on March 18.
Miami man gets star treatment from Pro-Trump media after saying unproven drug helped him beat COVID-19
9:45 a.m.: Life took a surprising turn for Miami Shores resident Rio Giardinieri after he says he almost died of a case of COVID-19.
He’s been interviewed on Fox News wearing a hospital gown and broadcasting from what he believes was nearly his death bed. News outlets across the country have run stories on his recovery. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump even tweeted a New York Post article about him.
The reason?
Giardinieri says he was cured after being prescribed the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, which Trump has touted as a “game changer” when used with antibiotics to fight the coronavirus and secondary bacterial pneumonia.
“I’m not a doctor. I’m not a scientist,” Giardinieri said in an interview with the Miami Herald Friday. “I’m just glad I got dosed.”
Catch up to start the day
9 a.m.: Here are the coronavirus headlines to catch you up on what’s happening around South Florida and the state as Friday begins.
▪ Miami-Dade’s first coronavirus death, a 40-year-old man: ‘He fought to the end’
▪ Miami’s under curfew, but its residents took their partying to their balconies
▪ Miami doctor tests homeless for coronavirus while volunteers deliver food, clothes
▪ Coronavirus crisis prompts Barry University to graduate medical students early
▪ Relief. Recovery. Rise Up. How South Floridians are helping those hit hard by coronavirus
▪ Amid crisis, computer access has become essential. In Miami, not everyone has it.
▪ Coronavirus is killing South Florida businesses. But some are busy — and hiring.
▪ Food shortages, a decrepit economy, and now the coronavirus: harder times ahead for Cuba
