Volusia County leaders provide COVID-19 update

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – County officials in Volusia County held a news conference as Floridians prepared to head into the weekend.

The conference coved multiple topics including COVID-19 updates in the county, a status report on hurricane season and include a presentation on the protection of nesting sea turtles on Volusia County beaches.

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Speakers at Friday’s news conference included:

• Jim Judge, Director, Volusia County Emergency Management
• Jennifer Winters, Volusia County Protected Species Manager
• Dr. Margaret Crossman, Chief Medical Officer, Halifax Health
• Holly Smith, Communications Manager/Government Liaison, Florida Department of Health in Volusia County

On Friday the Florida Department of Health reported 49 new cases of COVID-19 to bring the county’s running total to 10,738.

“The good news is that overall the data has remained stable,” Smith said.

”We’re starting to see an increase in emergency room visits for flu like illness,” Smith added. “This is something we expected as we head into flu season, and in Florida, a typical flu season can run from October and as long as into May.“

Officials said with COVID-19 coinciding with flu season getting a flu shot is more important than ever.

In addition to new cases, health officials said 239 people have died from the coronavirus in Volusia County.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Friday that Florida, effective immediately, is moving to the third and final phase of its reopening plan.

DeSantis honed in on restaurants, hinting then that he’d lift capacity limits soon and on Friday, he made that move official. He’s also enacting a measure that will prohibit local governments from capping capacity at anything less than 50%. Statewide, there will be no capacity restrictions.

To read more of Florida’s transition into Phase 3, click or tap here.

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