Jacksonville-area coronavirus updates: City says you no longer need a fever to be tested at Lot J

More than 2,900 people in Florida -- including nearly 86,000 people in the United States – have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise. Officials are attempting to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia as schools, businesses and public events are closed or canceled.

Action News Jax has the very latest information on Florida cases of the coronavirus LIVE on FOX30 and CBS47. Click here to watch.

City says you no longer need a fever to be tested at Lot J

Starting Saturday at the federal COVID-19 testing site at Lot J, patients will no longer need to have a fever of 99.6° or higher to qualify for testing. Patients must be experiencing respiratory symptoms or be first responders or healthcare workers who have direct contact with patients.

City says COVID-19 pre-screenings are now $0 at Prime Osborn site

March 27, 3:30 p.m.: The city of Jacksonville announced that as of Friday, COVID-19 pre-screenings on the Telescope Health app are now $0 for Duval County patients at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center site. You must enter promo code HERE4YOU at the payment screen AND be a Duval County resident to receive a $0 COVID-19 pre-screening.

If you are not a resident of Duval County, or are not using Telescope Health services for COVID-19, regular charges will apply. Those who previously paid to be screened on the Telescope Health app for COVID-19 will be reimbursed.

Gov. Ron DeSantis directing DCF to increase SNAP benefits

March 27, 3 p.m.: Gov. Ron DeSantis said he is directing the Florida Department of Children and Families to increasing SNAP benefits for families from $449 to $509 a month. He said this will help thousands and thousands of Floridians.

DeSantis also said he will expand his order for screening and 14-day self-quarantine to include people coming from New Orleans and Louisiana, including checkpoints on the roads. So far, he says, 3400 travelers from New York have been screened per his original order.

Nassau County latest’s COVID-19 case is travel-related

March 27, 12:14 p.m.: There are now a total of six COVID-19 cases in Nassau County. The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said a 63-year-old man recently tested positive for the coronavirus and is currently in isolation. The Sheriff’s Office said it is a travel-related case. To view the latest Northeast Florida cases, click here.

Jacksonville mayor provides website listing resources to help citizens

March 27, 11 a.m.: Mayor Lenny Curry provided a website the city of Jacksonville created for people who are looking for financial recovery resources, mental health resources, resources for children, etc. Click here to view website.

Nassau County leaders propose restrictions for travelers from certain states entering Florida by car

March 27, 7 a.m.: Nassau County leaders are taking steps to keep out visitors who could spread the coronavirus to local Florida families by proposing restrictions for travelers who are driving from three states.

At the state line, they’re seeing more plates from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut crossing into the state of Florida.

Action News Jax reported earlier this week when visitors flying from the tri-state area were ordered to self-isolate for 14-days when they arrived in Florida. This happened shortly after a shelter-in place mandate was issued in New York.

STORY: Jacksonville mayor says you can now access coronavirus results online

State lawmakers say they’re seeing less air travel which is raising concerns people arriving via car and other modes of transportation.

If approved, the order proposed by Nassau County would apply to drivers from New York, Conneticut and New Jersey. It would require them to self isolate for 14-days and they must let the health department and hotels know before they arrive.

City of Waycross issues a Declaration of Local Emergency

March 27, 6 a.m.: Waycross has issued its own curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. effective immediately. During the curfew, residents must remain in their homes or on their property during the curfew period.

The following people are considered exempt: those individuals engaged in the provision of designated, essential services, such as fire, law enforcement, medical and hospital services, including veterinary services, military services, utility emergency repairs, persons seeking emergency medical services or hospital services, individuals traveling to and from their jobs with appropriate identification and persons traveling to medical facilities, individuals engaged in the delivery of food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel including, but not limited to, the re-stocking of grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores, news media employees, designated employees or agents of businesses designated by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency as essential, persons providing necessary care of companion animals in the custody and care of an animal shelter, boarding facility, or kennel and persons walking personal animals and critical infrastructure businesses and employees as designated by the Governor or identified by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The City Commission of Waycross issued a Declaration of Local Emergency in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus.

Starting at 8 a.m. Friday, March 27, the following in Waycross, Georgia will not be allowed for the next 30 days:

• No public gatherings at any property owned or controlled by the city. The city defined a public gathering as the organized gathering or assembly of ten or more people at a specific location.
• That includes parks, public square, public space, playground, recreational area, or a similar place of public gathering. An exception has made for Ware County Board of Education and any non-profit organization to use Memorial Park, Pernell Roberts Park or E.E. Moore Park to give food to citizens and children but must practice social distancing and ensure that no more than ten people are gathered.
• All public and private gatherings of more than ten people cannot occur outside of a home or living unit.
• Restaurants and other eating and dining establishments where food is served cannot offer dine-in services. Customers may still order food via delivery, drive-through or for take-out.
• A restaurant that is licensed to sell beer and wine for on-premises consumption only, can now sell unopened bottles or cans of beer or wine for take-out consumption off-premises, during the effective dates of this ordinance only. Malt beverages, beer and wine may be sold as an accessory to a food sale for take-out or pickup.
• Gyms, fitness centers, pools, social clubs, amusement facilities, bowling alleys, pool halls, theaters, massage parlors, nail salons, and any other similar facility, any facility used for an activity that involves prolonged physical proximity of individuals, and any facility used for entertainment, social, grooming, or general health and wellbeing purposes, must close and remain closed for the duration of this emergency.
• Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other businesses will remain open during the emergency but they must post signs on entrance doors telling customers to maintain at least six feet of personal distance between themselves and others as much as possible.

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