Jacksonville-area coronavirus updates: Amazon worker in Jacksonville tests positive for COVID-19

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — At least 381,000 people worldwide -- including more than 46,000 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.

Amazon worker in Jacksonville tests positive for COVID-19

March 24, 5:30 p.m.: Amazon has confirmed one of its Jacksonville employees tested positive for coronavirus.

The person works at the fulfillment center in North Jacksonville. The last time the person worked at the center was March 18.

Amazon said that it has made its employees aware and the company said it is taking extra steps to sanitize work spaces.

Amazon also said it is asking employees to sanitize their workspaces thoroughly before and after they begin their work.

The company has also asked anyone who was in close contact with the diagnosed individual to stay home with pay for 14-days in self-quarantine.

A family member of a person who works at the facility is worried that they might be exposed through their family member.

“She is very fearful, I am as well because again, she is in and out of my household, I’m babysitting one of her children, so she’s coming in contact with them,” they said.

They have put some other safety measures in place -- they’ve moved chairs and spread out tables in their break room, shift start times and break times are being staggered to promote social distancing.

Amazon sent the following statement:

“We are supporting the individual who is recovering. We are following guidelines from local officials and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site.”

President, White House Coronavirus Task Force to give COVID-19 update

March 24, 5:30 p.m.: President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force are set to provide a COVID-19 update.

St. Johns County Emergency Management provides COVID-19 update

March 24, 4 p.m.: St. Johns County Emergency Management gave an update saying there is now an emergency COVID-19 hotline available 24/7 at (904) 824-5550.

Jaguars Owner Shad Khan donates $1 million COVID-19 response

March 24, 3:15 p.m.: Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Shad Khan committed $1 million in support of northeast Florida’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. The donation is designed to provide essential support to local organizations focused on the immediate health and well-being of First Coast residents.

The commitment includes allocations to the following organizations:

• Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund will receive $400,000, which will in turn lift up a range of nonprofits to ensure immediate support for children, families, seniors and veterans struggling during this time. Originally established in 2016 in response to Hurricane Irma, Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund is a partnership between The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida, United Way of Northeast Florida and United Way of St. Johns County.
• Feeding Northeast Florida will receive $75,000 to support their work in bringing meals to local citizens experiencing food insecurity during the crisis.
• The Clara White Mission will receive $75,000 to provide food and care for the homeless population of downtown Jacksonville.
• The Jacksonville Public Education Fund will receive $50,000 to provide needed supplies and technology to students and teachers as they make the transition to digital home learning.
• The local chapter of the American Red Cross will receive $50,000 in support of Anheuser-Busch’s initiative to support the continuation of blood drives throughout the country.

Florida governor gives COVID-19 update; urges people 65+ stay home

March 24, 3:15 p.m.: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave an update from Tallahassee. He said he plans to sign an additional order Tuesday which mandates that anyone traveling from New York to Florida, or who has traveled from New York to Florida recently, needs to self-isolate and report contacts to people in the state of Florida. These travelers should also notify the people who they have been in contact with.

DeSantis said that, per Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees’ guidance, another health advisory applying to those age 65 or older will be issued Tuesday to encourage them to stay at home for the next 14 days to minimize exposure.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Citizens 65 and older being asked to stay home for 14 days amid COVID-19 outbreak Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Citizens 65 and older being asked to stay home for 14 days amid COVID-19 outbreak

Camden County restaurants to discontinue onsite food, beverage consumption

March 24, 8:38 a.m.: All restaurants in Camden County will temporarily discontinue onsite food and beverage consumption starting at noon on Tuesday, March 24, according to the Camden County Board of Commissioners.

It will remain in effect until noon on April 6. Officials said it could be terminated earlier in conjunction with the termination of Governor Kemp’s State of Emergency. Kemp also signed an executive order to close all bars in Georgia starting at noon Tuesday, March 24 until April 6.

Businesses and other establishments cannot allow more than 10 people to gather, if it requires people to stand or be seated with six feet of another person.

Read full statement below:

Jacksonville mayor mandates citizens work from home if they’re able

March 24, 8 a.m. Effective today at 8 a.m., an executive order from Mayor Lenny Curry of Jacksonville mandates that anyone who can work from home should do so.

“The executive order requires employers to let employees work from home IF the job duties they have can be performed at home,” Curry said in a social media post.

Those who do not follow the order could face fines and citations from the fire marshal. READ THE ORDER BELOW:

Executive order mandates Jacksonville citizens work from home if able to Executive order mandates Jacksonville citizens work from home if able to

Florida governor issues executive order for people flying into Florida

March 24, 12 a.m.: Effective today, anyone flying to Florida from an area with a major outbreak of COVID-19 is directed to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The order mandates those flying in from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will be screened and forced to self-quarantine for 14 days. Those who do not self-quarantine could face up to 60 days of jail time or pay a $500 fine, or both.

Those who work for an airline or are performing military, emergency or health responses will be exempt.

The executive order can be viewed below.

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