Several readers have asked us to plot the numbers for specific areas in the Keys that are seeing the largest number of positive novel coronavirus cases. These areas are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 compared with other areas of the Keys for different reasons. Key West, of course, with its larger population and which had thousands of visitors coming in daily by air, car and boat would be expected to have the largest share of positive cases and does. But the Upper Keys areas of Key Largo and Tavernier have a relatively high percentage of cases compared to other islands.

Monroe County Mayor Heather Carruthers conducted another Facebook Live COVID-19 Q&A today. She address many resident concerns and spoke specifically about when and how the County will make decisions on “opening up” the Keys. You can watch the full video above. We have also transcribed a good portion of what was said for you below: 

We hear it every day. “Social distancing is working. We’re flattening the curve!”

We’ve been keeping a spreadsheet with all the Monroe County coronavirus case and testing data that the Florida Department of Health provides each day. It’s now been 26 days since the first COVID-19 case was officially reported in the Keys (on March 20th). We were curious to see what those numbers would look like when we plugged them into graphs. What does “our curve” look like?  Is it indeed flattening as a result of all our efforts at social distancing?

The April 21st Key West City Commission meeting will be conducted virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. 

Here’s how you can participate in the meeting which begins at 5 p.m.:

The good news is three of the seven Florida Keys residents who have been hospitalized at some point during their illness have recovered.

If you are interested in viewing/listening/participating in the Wednesday April 15th Board of County Commissioners meeting here’s how:

On April 7th County Commissioner Heather Carruthers held another Facebook Live Q&A session. She addressed important questions about screening incoming passengers at Florida Keys airports, tougher measures for businsess that are still operating as essential, Covid-19 testing, and much more…

Both the City of Key West and Monroe County officials enacted heightened protective measures for open businesses this week in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Anyone going out to pick-up essential items must now wear a nose and mouth covering before being allowed to enter any business.