If there was ever a time for voters to consider how their government is doing, it’s during the current coronavirus pandemic.
In this post, I will summarize the current status of COVID-19 and related government actions in Florida and in Collier County. Then I will provide links to underlying sources and trustworthy websites where you can learn more. I hope you find it both helpful and informative.
But first:
Breaking news
Collier County’s total confirmed cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people is about 10.83. By comparison, Miami-Dade and Broward, the two Florida counties with the most confirmed cases so far, have rates per 100,000 people of 12.24 and 15.94, respectively. Alarmed by the county’s rising count of cases, County commissioners unanimously decided at yesterday’s Board meeting:
- Collier County to ask Lee County to join request for authority to possibly close nonessential businesses amid COVID-19 pandemic. Naples Daily News, 3/24/20
Current Status of COVID-19 in Collier County and in Florida
The Florida Department of Health maintains up-to-date detailed information on Florida resident cases at an interactive Dashboard here. As I write, this is the latest:
3/25/20 – 3:00 PM
Governor DeSantis and Cabinet Actions
On March 1, Governor Ron DeSantis issued his first executive order related to the coronavirus. To date, he has signed a total of eight. They are:
Read them here.
Press Coverage of Executive Branch Actions
- Ron DeSantis declares public health emergency after two Floridians test positive for coronavirus. Florida Daily, 3/2/20
- Florida officials waited 24 hours to inform public of coronavirus cases. News-Press, 3/2/20
- Despite 2 coronavirus cases in Florida, governor says threat remains low. news4jax.com, 3/2/20
- Gov. DeSantis requests $25 million in funding for Florida. Naples Daily News, 3/6/20
- Florida Gov. DeSantis activates state’s Emergency Operations Center after deaths. Palm Beach Post, 3/7/20
- DeSantis escalates Florida coronavirus emergency order. Tampa Bay Times, 3/9/20
- Is there community spread of coronavirus in Florida? DeSantis tries to clear it up. Miami Herald, 3/11/20
- Ron DeSantis starts emergency business damage assessment survey for coronavirus. Florida Daily, 3/13/20
- Florida governor activates Emergency Operations Center to highest level as officials plan to feed out-of-school students. Tallahassee Democrat, 3/14/20
- Gov. DeSantis closes bars and clubs statewide for 30 days. Miami Herald, 3/16/20
- DeSantis says K-12 schools must stay closed until April 15, classes to resume remotely. News-Press, 3/17/20
- Florida’s K-12 state exams in reading, math and science will be scrapped because of coronavirus. Florida Phoenix, 3/17/20
- DeSantis activates program to provide loans to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. news4jax.com, 3/18/20
- DeSantis suspends quorum rule for public meetings, allowing for video and teleconferencing. Naples Daily News, 3/20/20
- All 175 of Florida’s state parks close indefinitely to reduce spread of COVID-19. USA Today, 3/23/20
- Gov. DeSantis requests major disaster declaration from President Trump. Press Release, 3/23/20
- DeSantis orders airplane travelers from hotspots to quarantine after arriving in Florida. The Center Square | Florida, 3/24/20
Today, three-and-1/2 weeks since declaring a public health emergency, DeSantis is resisting calls for a statewide shutdown:
“At the end of the day, I can issue a mandate, but if the local communities’ folks don’t want to enforce it, then it’s toothless,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference on Friday. He said he believes smaller measures reached collaboratively with local leaders are more effective than sweeping ones. “If you go too hard, then I think people lose confidence and they rebel against it,” he said.
Governor Ron DeSantis at news conference 3/20/20
- Is ‘shelter in place’ as drastic as it sounds? Will it happen in South Florida? Sun Sentinel, 3/20/20
- Florida partisan divide on coronavirus over shelter-in-place. Tampa Bay Times, 3/23/20
- DeSantis goes his way on coronavirus response despite criticism. Politico Florida, 3/23/20
- Gov. DeSantis bucking advice of health professionals, local and state lawmakers. Tallahassee Democrat, 3/24/20
Florida Legislative Activities
Meanwhile, in the final weeks of its 2020 session, the Legislature suddenly had a new set of uncertainties to be considered.
- Coronavirus emergency presents Florida budget planners with a $200M dilemma. The Center Square | Florida, 3/12/20
- Florida coronavirus update: Legislative leaders bank on reserves to weather storm. CBS Miami, 3/23/20
Related Florida News
- Attorney General Moody activates price gouging hotline amid coronavirus scare. Florida Politics, 3/10/20
- Florida first state to get Medicaid flexibility for coronavirus. News Service of Florida, 3/17/20
- FL CFO Patronis: First responders must be prepared for coronavirus in Florida. Florida Daily, 3/19/20
- Swamped with coronavirus response, DeSantis punts on Florida Supreme Court picks. Orlando Sentinel, 3/20/2
- How will coronavirus, election security worries affect 2020 voting in Collier County? News-Press, 3/21/29
From Florida’s Senators
- Opinion: Coronavirus lays bare China’s power over public health, economy – Here’s what must happen now. By Sen. Marco Rubio and Newt Gingrich via foxnews.com, 3/12/20
- Rick Scott opposes bailouts for big businesses in coronavirus proposals. Florida Daily, 3/18/20
- Marco Rubio, Rick Scott join Ron DeSantis’ call to declare coronavirus major disaster in Florida. Florida Politics, 3/24/20
County and Municipal Government Actions
- Local states of emergency declared for Collier County and City of Naples. Sparker’s Soapbox, 3/16/20
- Local public safety departments attempting to limit exposure when responding to calls for service. News-Press, 3/16/20
- City of Marco Island declares state of emergency, cancels events amid coronavirus threat. Marco Eagle, 3/16/20
- Naples public beaches close to prevent spread of coronavirus. NBC2 News, 3/18/20
- Collier County to close beaches due to COVID-19. Naples Daily News, 3/19/20
- Naples extends state of emergency. Naples Daily News, 3/19/20
- Collier to patrol beaches to enforce closure. Naples Daily News, 3/20/20
- City of Marco Island closes its public beach access. Marco Eagle, 3/20/20
- Naples closes city parks until April 30 due to coronavirus concerns. Naples Daily News, 3/23/20
- Naples fire chief asks governor to act now and issue ‘shelter in place’ order. winknews.com, 3/23/20
Collier County Public Schools Actions
- Collier County public schools remain closed through April 15, move to online March 23. Naples Daily News, 3/17/20
- Here’s where Collier County children can get meals while coronavirus school closures continue. Naples Daily News, 3/16/20
- As students adjust to home, what will online learning look like for Collier County schools? Naples Daily News, 3/24/20
- Collier Superintendent Patton launches weekly video updates for parents and community members. CCPS email, 3/25/20
Where to Go for Objective Information
- Collier County Updates from Commissioner Andy Solis
- Collier County Updates from Commissioner Penny Taylor
- City of Naples COVID-19 Updates
- Collier County Public Schools COVID-19 Updates
- State Government Updates from Sen. Kathleen Passidomo
- Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard
- Florida Department of Health
Local Journalism Supporting Our Community
- Naples Daily News starts public Facebook interest group “Coronavirus questions, answers and info in Naples, Florida.” Facebook, 3/15/20
- Covering the coronavirus: Our team of dedicated journalists are engaged and working for you. Naples Daily News, 3/16/20
- Gannett launches website to help local small businesses hit hard by coronavirus crisis. USA Today, 3/23/20
Please stay safe and monitor the latest COVID-19 news via local online and TV media.