TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis banned most visits to nursing homes statewide as he acknowledged the coronavirus has likely spread into the general population, the Florida Department of Health announced 25% more people in the state have test posited for COVID-19.

As of 1:45 a.m. Sunday, DOH said there are 106 cases identified and three deaths in the state attributed to the disease.

The 29 newest cases overnight include three more in Duval County, two of which Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry tweeted about Saturday evening, two more in Clay County and a second case in St. Johns County.

According to the limited DOH data released, the three additional cases in Jacksonville were men. Their ages were not provided and the source of their infection is under investigation. The two Clay County cases include a 70-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman, with the source listed as under investigation. A 64-year-old woman in St. Johns becomes the second case in that county. Her case is also under investigation.

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After health officials on Saturday confirmed the death of a 77-year-old Lee County man who previously tested positive for COVID-19, they acknowledged he likely acquired it through the community.

A fourth Floridian died in California after being diagnosed after returning from Asia. The state said seven Floridians with COVID-19 are in isolation outside the state.

Community spread?

In the first days and weeks that coronavirus cases showed up in Florida, almost all were connected to international travel. Half of the additional cases reported overnight indicated the source of the infection was under investigation.

During a Saturday afternoon news conference at the state’s Emergency Operations Center, DeSantis said three infected Broward County residents also have no known connection to a virus source such as travel to China or Europe or contact with someone who just returned. That means they, too, likely acquired it in the community, although the governor said a final determination hasn’t been made.

“We’re still going forward as if there are pockets in the community because I think that it is the only responsible thing to do when you have a virus that is highly contagious,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis banned most visits to nursing homes statewide as he acknowledged the coronavirus has likely spread into the general population.

DeSantis and Health Care Secretary Mary Mayhew said while it will be frustrating for relatives not to visit loved ones in nursing homes, the ban is needed to prevent the virus’s spread among the frail and elderly. Exceptions will be made for visitations to patients who are near death.

The new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, for most people, but older adults and those with existing health problems can develop severe complications, including pneumonia.

The ban on visitation “is being done because of our love and compassion and concern,” Mayhew said.

Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees also announced the state is working with its universities to organize epidemiologists on their staffs to work temporarily for the state to bolster its efforts at tracking the disease. He said exact plans are being worked out.

Large gatherings, sporting events, concerts and worship services are canceled as a precaution. All public schools in the state were also given an extra week of spring break to encourage.

Earlier Saturday, state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced the state plans to keep providing free and reduced-cost meals to 2 million low-income students while the state’s schools are closed.

Because of recommendations that people not congregate in large groups, some districts might choose to let children pick up their meals at school and take them home or may even drop meals off near their homes using buses. Districts that can might give students up to a week’s worth of food at once to minimize contact.

Fried said it is important that the program continue while schools are closed because “for many (children), these meals are the only meals they can count on.”

Concentration in South Florida

More half of Florida’s known cases are in five counties in South Florida, according to the health department data. There are 36 cases and one death in Broward County alone -- many of them connected to Port Everglades -- and 13 cases in neighboring Miami-Dade County.

One of those who tested positive was Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who said he was in the same room with the Brazilian president’s press secretary, who tested positive, after also being in close proximity to President Donald Trump at the president’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Suarez said he has shown no symptoms

Miami Beach Police ordered hundreds of spring breakers and other tourists off South Beach late Saturday to avoid large group gatherings that could spread the disease. South Beach is a popular party spot for college students and others from around the world.

Elina Cummings, a student from Clark Atlanta University, called the closure “bittersweet” because she spent hundreds of dollars for her first spring break, but she also doesn’t want to get the virus.

“My health and safety come first,” said Cummings, a resident of Trinidad and Tobago

More testing, changes announced

DeSantis has activated the National Guard and the state is purchasing 625,000 testing kits. Most in-person court proceedings have been suspended for two weeks, although judges can choose to conduct some by video or phone where legally allowed.

Publix, the state’s largest grocery store chain, announced that it would close its stores daily at 8 p.m. — three hours early for most. The company said that would give its employees more time to fully clean stores and restock shelves.

Walmart announced all its stores -- many of which are normally open 24-years a day -- will close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The company said the shortened hours will help employees restock shelves overnight and clean stores.

Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have all announced they will be closed starting Monday. Disney said it will keep its hotels and its Disney Springs shopping area open, however. All major cruise ship lines have also suspended operations.

A coronavirus section has been created on News4Jax.com for all articles related to COVID-19.