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Jacksonville-area coronavirus updates: Mayo Clinic cutting pay, furloughing employees during COVID-19 pandemic

NORTHEAST FLORIDA, SOUTHEAST GEORGIA — More than 17,000 people in Florida and 10,500 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.

Mayo Clinic cutting pay, furloughing employees during COVID-19 pandemic

April 10, 3:26 p.m.: Due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mayo Clinic has announced they will be furloughing employees and making salary reductions after April 28, according to a spokesperson with the medical facility.

In a statement, the Mayo Clinic said it "is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of these circumstances, including a financial impact that requires significant adjustments to our operations.”

The facility was able to protect full pay and benefits to its employees through April 28th.

For more on this and the full statement, click here.

Florida governor to give COVID-19 update in Jacksonville today at noon

April 10, 9:43 a.m.: Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference today at noon at the Lot J testing site at TIAA Bank Field. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz and Florida National Guard Assistant Adjutant General John will also be the at news conference.

Confirmed coronavirus case on Jacksonville University campus

April 10, 7:30 a.m.: Jacksonville University has a confirmed coronavirus case on campus, as it learned an Aramark employee working at Riverview Cafe on campus tested positive. The person last worked in the cafe last Saturday, April 4th.

There are about 175 students still living on campus, many who are international student and cannot return home. JU says a small number of essential personnel are working on campus to support these students with services like dining.

Dining facilities only offer "take away" meals and single-serve plates and cutlery. Indoor tables and seating areas where diners can sit together in groups are off limits.

Riverview Cafe will close today, as Aramark professionally cleans and sanitizes the facility. JU and its dining services are working to identify anyone who may have been in close contact with the employee recently.

On April 5, Jacksonville University confirmed its first case of COVID-19: a graduate student that was living off campus. The student was isolated off campus for at least two weeks and has not been on university grounds since March 21.

COVID-19 testing to resume at Emmett Reed Community Center today

April 10, 6 a.m.: If you couldn’t make it out to the testing on Wednesday, University of Florida Health will be back at the Emmett Reed Community Center today from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Testing at Emmett Reed Community Center is a partnership of UF Health with Gov. Ron DeSantis to make this testing site accessible to lower income people especially those who may not have transportation.

That’s why they made it a walk-in site.

Health leaders are asking that people 65 years or older come to the testing site since that group is at higher risk, but they said they won’t turn anyone away that wants to be tested and you don’t need to have any symptoms.

Additional testing will take place Wednesday through Friday the week of April 13, rotating through the following communities: Brentwood, 761 Village Center Dr.; Hogan Creek, 1320 N. Broad St.; Twin Towers, 617-621 W. 44th St.; and Centennial Towers, 230 E. First St.

Dates and locations are subject to change based on weather and availability of testing materials. Residents can call (904) 244-4420 to confirm details.

Watch video below from Wednesday’s testing for more details: