Coronavirus: Prime Osborn Convention Center testing site closes early due to inclement weather

NORTHEAST FLORIDA, SOUTHEAST GEORGIA — More than 6,300 people in Florida and 3,000 people in Georgia 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.

Prime Osborn Convention Center testing site closes early due to inclement weather

March 31, 6:10 p.m.: Telescope Health released the following statement:

“Due to inclement weather this afternoon, the Prime Osborn COVID-19 drive-thru test site managed by Telescope Health, Baptist Health and the City of Jacksonville is closed for the evening. For the safety and care of medical staff and resources, patients will not be allowed on the testing site after 5:30 pm. All patients with approved orders for testing after 5:00 pm today will automatically be seen the following day, Wednesday, April 1 at the same appointment time. For questions, patients can call the Telescope Health care coordination team at (904) 373-5304. For media inquiries, please contact me at the below info.”

First COVID-19 death reported in Southeast Georgia

March 31, 5:20 p.m.: The first death associated with COVID-19 has been reported in Southeast Georgia with the Georgia Department of Health’s Southeast Health District.

“The elderly individual was a resident of Ware County and had underlying health conditions,” according to a release from the Southeast Health District.

As of noon Tuesday, there were more than 3,800 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia and more than 800 people have been hospitalized.

Florida governor says state has administered over 60k COVID-19 tests

March 31, 4:30 p.m.: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave an update and shared that the state has surpassed the administration of 60,000 COVID-19 tests. He expects that hospital systems will soon receive 5-minute rapid tests. DeSantis said these tests will help authorities identify “what’s going on in the state of Florida” in terms of coronavirus case numbers.

Florida extends school campus closures through May 1

March 31, 2 p.m.: Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran recommended that all Florida public and private K-12 school campuses extend campus closures through May 1. This recommendation follows President Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) extension of social distancing guidelines until April 30.

The Florida Department of Education has a page dedicated to best practices for distance learning and hundreds of free resources for Florida students, parents/guardians and teachers.

Jacksonville assisted living facility Camellia at Deerwood has had 3 COVID-19 deaths, according to city report

March 31, 12:15 p.m.: A new report from the City of Jacksonville shows a local assisted living facility had had three residents die from COVID-19.

Action News Jax first reported last week that Camellia at Deerwood had at least seven residents test positive.

The facility is waiting on more test results from the Florida Department of Health. Right now, the center on Jacksonville’s Southside is under isolation.

Our cameras were outside last week when a state team sanitized the entire facility.

Putnam County to close parks at 5 p.m.

March 31, 1:20 p.m.: Putnam County Parks and Recreation announced that all county parks, open spaces, community center buildings and playgrounds will be closed to the public until further notice beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

COVID-19 testing at Lot J reaches capacity

March 31, 11:40 a.m.: Acccording to the City of Jacksonville, coronavirus testing at Lot J has just reached capaity. The City asks that those wishing to be tested there tomorrow show up no earlier than 8 a.m.

Clay County District Schools offers breakfast, lunch pickup during distance learning

March 31, 11:30 a.m.: School meals for Clay County District Schools students are available for pickup starting Tuesday, March 31st at 16 school sites. Breakfast will be from 8 - 9 a.m. and lunch from 12 - 1 p.m.

• Charles E. Bennett Elementary
• Clay Hill Elementary
• Coppergate Elementary
• Grove Park Elementary
• Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High
• Lakeside Elementary
• McRae Elementary
• Middleburg Elementary
• Montclair Elementary
• Orange Park Junior High
• Orange Park High
• Ridgeview Elementary
• S. Bryan Jennings Elementary
• Swimming Pen Creek Elementary
• W.E. Cherry Elementary
• Wilkinson Elementary

Coronavirus pandemic: Clay County virtual learning Coronavirus pandemic: Clay County virtual learning

Over 3,600 tested for COVID-19 in Jacksonville; Mayor announces future partnership with VyStar

March 31, 10:08 a.m.: According to the city of Jacksonville, 3,681 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 so far: 2,460 at the Lot J federal testing site near TIAA Bank Field and 1,221 total from Baptist Health and Telescope Health testing sites at Prime Osborn Convention Center.

Mayor Lenny Curry of Jacksonville also announced a future partnership between the city and VyStar, a credit union headquartered in northeast Florida. The partnership will help companies stay in business and keep employees, according to the city.

The city said it is looking at a $20-30 million dollar program focused on relief for small businesses and employee retention.

STORY: VyStar Credit Union offering loan relief programs amid coronavirus pandemic

Over 3,000 tested for COVID-19 in Jacksonville Over 3,000 tested for COVID-19 in Jacksonville

Confirmed COVID-19 case at Waycross seniors facility

March 31, 7:30 a.m.: Action News Jax has learned of a confirmed COVID-19 case at a seniors facility in Waycross, Georgia.

Dr. J. Eric Mathison, President and CEO of Baptist Village Retirement Communities said Monday someone tested positive for COVID-19 at the facility, specifically its J. Olan Jones Health Care Center.

Watch the full statement from Mathison below:

Jacksonville mayor’s executive order regarding hotels goes in effect at 5 p.m.

March 31, 5 a.m.: Mayor Lenny Curry of Jacksonville announced in a virtual news conference Monday he has signed an executive order that prohibits all hotels, motels and commercial lodging establishments from accepting or extending reservations for any person other than essential lodgers effective at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 31.

The City of Jacksonville said the following are considered essential lodgers:

• Healthcare professionals
• First responders
• National Guard members
• Law enforcement
• State or federal government employees
• Airline crewmembers
• Patients
• Patients’ families
• Journalists
• Others responding to COVID-19
• Displaced residents or visitors
• Persons unable to return to their home due to COVID-19 impacts on travel
• Persons who must vacate their home due to exigent circumstances, such as fire or flood
• Persons utilizing hotels as transitional living arrangements
• Persons sheltering in hotels due to domestic violence
• Hotel employees, service providers, and contractors
• Individuals who, for any reason, are temporarily unable to reside in their home

Curry said the order was put in place because some people were not following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Protection.

“I’ve restricted certain businesses and limited social gatherings to slow the spread of this disease and protect Duval County healthcare system and it’s people. Unfortunately, other locations outside of the city have not been as active or as vigilant in enforcing CDC guidance and maintain social distancing,” Curry said.

View the signed executive order below:

Hotel restrictions in Jacksonville go in effect Tuesday, March 31 Hotel restrictions in Jacksonville go in effect Tuesday, March 31

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