Wednesday, May 20

1:06 p.m.

DeSantis Met with Vice President Mike Pence

Palm Beach Daily News, Hannah Morse 

• In Orlando, at an executive round table with hospitality and tourism leaders, Vice President Pence applauded Gov. Ron DeSantis’s protocol and procedure for reopening the state’s economy. 
• Pence donated protective personal protective equipment (PPE) to Westminster Baldwin Park, a retirement community in Orlando. Upon this delivery of this donation, Gov. DeSantis and Vice President Pence met with the Administrator of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Seema Verma. The three of them discussed the actions performed based on statewide data. The actions discussed included requiring all hospital staff to be screened, restrictions for hospitalization and hospitality, the distribution of PPE to long-term care facilities, and implementation of the federal guidelines with isolation. They also discussed the difficulty of the visitor restrictions placed on assisted living facilities. 
  • Vice President Pence said: “It’s been hard for people to forgo seeing their moms, their dads, their grandmother, their grandfather, a loved one,” he said. “We know the steps that people have taken to make sacrifices in the opportunity they have to be with family members, and the steps that seniors have taken, have saved lives.”

Friday, May 22

Resumption Youth Activities 

Live Recording From Wesh 2 News Station

11:05 a.m. 

• During a COVID-19 briefing, Gov. DeSantis announced that youth activities such as summer camps and athletic programming will resume immediately. 

Universal Orlando to Begin Phased Reopening June 5

Information from Universal Orlando

• After Gov. DeSantis approved the phased reopening plan submitted by Universal Orlando, they announced that theme parks will begin reopening. Shortly after, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings also endorsed the reopening plan. Following CDC guidelines, one of Universal’s theme parks, Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s water park, Volcano Bay, will be reopening with their first phase on June 5. 
• All guests will have their temperature checked upon arrival.
• Facemasks are required to be worn and social distancing must be maintained. To ensure social distancing is being maintained, there will also be floor markings 

Florida Cases 

4:13 p.m.

Data from the Florida Department of Health

Reported from The Daytona- Beach News-Journal, Nikki Ross

Total tested: 837,172

Total cases: 49,451

• Residents: 48,150
• Non-Residents: 1,301

Total Deaths: 2,190