Florida’s COVID-19 Update 4/14/20

FL DEPT OF HEALTH – The State of Florida is responding to COVID-19. In an effort to keep Florida residents and visitors safe and aware regarding the status of the virus, the Florida Department of Health will issue this update every day, seven days per week.

Governor Ron DeSantis is in constant communication with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz and State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees as the State of Florida continues to monitor and respond to the threat of COVID-19.

Today, Governor DeSantis announced that there have been 52,021 Paycheck Protection Program Loans approved for small businesses throughout the state of Florida totaling over $12.5 billion.

Governor DeSantis also announced the Division of Emergency Management received 800,000 N-95 masks from the federal government, which the Division will immediately distribute throughout the state.

Finally, the Governor announced Floridians can text “FLCOVID19” to 888 777 to receive the latest updates on Florida’s fight against COVID-19.

Recent actions the State has taken to respond to COVID-19:

1. Today, the Florida Division of Emergency Management received 800,000 N-95 face masks from the federal government and will receive an additional 200,000 to distribute to hospitals and health care workers statewide.

2. The Division is making a major push of PPE to support hospitals, First Responders and health care workers across the state. These supplies will be distributed over the next 36 hours. This includes:

3. 800,000 N95 masks,

4. 2 million procedure masks,

5. 100,000 face shields,

6. 500,000 gloves,

7. 60,000 containers of hand sanitizer,

8. 35,000 gowns.

9. With this week’s push, the Division has sent out:

10. 8 million masks, including N-95, procedure and surgical masks

11. 5 million gloves,

12. 564,000 shoe covers,

13. 615,000 face shields,

14. 300,000 gowns,

15. More than 100,000 containers of hand sanitizer,

16. 47,000 goggles

17. 22,000 coveralls

18. Per the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) request, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved Florida’s waiver to permit the state to launch a pilot project that will allow families to purchase groceries online with their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. DCF will continue to work closely with the USDA and participating retailers to implement this project by April 21, 2020.

19. At the direction of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has issued an Emergency Order extending all Florida driver licenses, commercial driver licenses and identification cards that expire March 16 through April 30, 2020.