NORTHEAST FLORIDA, SOUTHEAST GEORGIA — More than 19,800 people in Florida and 12,500 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 and Georgia cases of the coronavirus LIVE on FOX30 and CBS47. Click here to watch.
UF Health Jacksonville changes COVID-19 testing site for later this week due to weather
April 13, 7:30 p.m.: UF Health Jacksonville said its testing site for this week, which was originally set to be Brentwood Villages, will now be done at Twin Towers Senior Independent Living Community.
Twin Towers is located at 617 W. 44th Street, Jacksonville, 32208. The testing will take place on Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Senior Community will be offered door-to-door testing and UF Health will have a team outside available for any walk-up clients and any senior that prefers to do the test outside.
If the rain gets heavy or lightning is present, the walk-up testing will be discontinued and all staff will concentrate on the door-to-door process.
Lot J COVID-19 testing site closing again due to weather
April 13, 2 p.m.: The City of Jacksonville announced that the Lot J COVID-19 testing site is closing again due to inclement weather.
We apologize for the inconvenience but due to sporadic rain showers, Lot J is closing again for COVID-19 testing. It’s unlikely to reopen today but testing will resume tomorrow at 9 a.m., weather permitting. We appreciate your patience.
— City of Jacksonville (COJ) (@CityofJax) April 13, 2020
Lot J COVID-19 testing site to reopen at 2:30 p.m.
April 13, 2 p.m.: The city of Jacksonville announced that the Lot J COVID-19 testing site will reopen at 2:30 p.m., after being temporarily closed due to severe weather earlier in the day.
UPDATE: The Lot J testing site will re-open at 2:30 this afternoon. It was closed for a period of time this morning and afternoon due to severe weather in the area.
— City of Jacksonville (COJ) (@CityofJax) April 13, 2020
Thank you and be safe @JaxReady pic.twitter.com/gz65vr0X1k
Memorial Health Jacksonville’s affiliated practices offering Telehealth
April 13, 1:30 p.m.: In an effort to keep patients safe, Memorial Hospital Jacksonville’s affiliated practices are now offering Telehealth. Patients can have a real-time visit with their provider by using a mobile device.
Depending on their needs, a provider will determine whether a patient can be seen virtually - either via a phone encounter or a full video interaction. At this time, platforms included in the telehealth program are Healow (part of Memorial Health Jacksonville’s secure patient portal), Apple FaceTime, Google Duo and WebEx Meetings.
Jacksonville mayor: State of Emergency Declaration for Duval County extended
April 13, 12:05 p.m.: Mayor Lenny Curry announced in a video-conference Monday he is extending the State of Emergency Declaration he issued on March 13 to continue for another 30 days.
Mayor Curry: “I know many people are antsy and want to get back to work and get their lives back to normal. While data suggests we are doing better than neighboring communities, we are still in the midst of this very real public health crisis...” (1/2)
— City of Jacksonville (COJ) (@CityofJax) April 13, 2020
Curry also stated three firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19 at the same fire station. A total of 77 people are under self-isolation.
During the video-conference, Jacksonville Fire Rescue Chief Keith Powers said that firefighters responded to 436 overdoses in March. According to Powers, this is a 20% increase from February.
Sad statistic just announced: @JFRDJAX Chief Keith Powers says firefighters responded to 436 overdoses in March -- that’s a 20% increase from February @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) April 13, 2020
Another Jacksonville fire station shift quarantining amid COVID-19 concerns
April 13, 11:30 a.m.: Sources tell Action News Jax another Jacksonville fire station shift is self quarantining a shift amid coronavirus concerns.
- City officials plan to address the new isolation in a noon news conference.
- This comes after another 3 shifts at fire Station 28 were ordered to self quarantine after a firefighter there tested positive for coronavirus last week.
Lot J COVID-19 testing site closed due to severe weather
April 13, 10:26 a.m.: The Lot J COVID-19 testing site is closed due to severe weather, the city of Jacksonville says. There is the potential that the site will reopen Monday afternoon.
Due to severe weather, testing at Lot J is temporarily closed. When conditions improve, we will reopen. (Possibly this afternoon.) Check here for updates throughout the day. Thank you and be safe. @JaxReady
— City of Jacksonville (COJ) (@CityofJax) April 13, 2020
State to take over operations at COVID-19 Lot J testing site
April 13, 5:55 a.m.: The Florida National Guard is set to take over operations at the Lot J federal testing site in Jacksonville this morning.
The state is partnering with private laboratories to increase the number of test done each day, and make sure Floridians receive the results back sooner. Private laboratories are running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners.
Anyone who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 can be tested at Lot J without showing symptoms.
Health leaders say the availability of testing and how quickly it’s done is directly linked to how fast we can return to our regular routine.
In addition to the expanded criteria and the Florida National Guard coming to relieve some of our local first responders from @JFRDJAX and @JSOPIO - There will be 150 more tests administered every day, bringing the total number of tests to 400 per day at this testing site.
— City of Jacksonville (COJ) (@CityofJax) April 13, 2020
THIS MORNING | @FLGuard is taking over operations at the Lot J #coronavirus testing site, formerly federally run. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/ar7E1m8OVA
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) April 13, 2020
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