By Michelle Mairena

The first two COVID-19 cases in Florida were detected on March 1, 2020. Since then, the number of reported cases across the Sunshine State has continued increasing — and today, Florida has more cases than all but eight countries across the world.

As Floridians now grapple with a growing sense of emergency, residents of the Disneyland state can’t help but ask, “How did this happen?”

Beginning with the first COVID-19 case in the United States, here’s a detailed timeline of COVID-19 in Florida, a chronological attempt into understanding the state’s current COVID-19 numbers based on gubernatorial action and other key events (check out our short, interactive storyline too):

January 21, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 0

The first case of COVID-19 is reported in the United States, in Washington State. The infected individual had recently traveled to Wuhan, China. On this same day, a Chinese Scientist confirms person-to-person transmission.

February 29, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 0

Laboratories in Florida (cities of Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville) gain the capability to conduct COVID-19 tests. Before this date, testing was done in federal labs only.

March 1, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 2

Governor Ron DeSantis announces that two people in the state have tested positive for COVID-19, reporting the first 2 cases in the state. One case came from a 29-year-old woman in Hillborough County, and the other came from a 63-year-old man in Manatee County. A day before this news, the first Coronavirus-related death was reported in the United States.

March 3, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 3

Governor Ron DeSantis announces that a third patient has tested positive in Florida. The third patient is the sister of the 29-year-old woman that tested positive in Hillborough County. The Florida Department of Health sets up a coronavirus hotline for residents to ask questions.

March 4, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 4

At a press conference, Governor DeSantis says that risk of contracting Coronavirus in Florida is low. The Florida Department of Health announces that 5 Floridians contracted COVID-19 while out-of-state and are recovering outside of Florida.

March 7, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 7

The first two COVID-19 deaths are reported in the state. Two men in their 70’s died. These fatalities were the first in the country outside of Washington and California. At this time, the U.S. COVID-19 death toll is 17. Central Florida sees its first case of COVID-19.

March 9, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 12

Governor DeSantis declares a state of emergency allowing medical professionals from other states to work in Florida and pharmacists to issue emergency prescriptions. The order also allows officials to activate the Florida National Guard, purchase more medical supplies, and establish field hospitals.

On this date, 5 Congressional Representatives from the state — Corie Byrd, Byron Donalds, Anthony Sabatini, Kionne McGhee, and Thad Altman — publicly announce they were exposed to COVID-19 too. None of them tested positive.

March 11, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 24

The University of Florida instructs all faculty to move classes online. Classes remain online for the remainder of the year.

March 12, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 30

Florida officials activate the “Bussiness Damage Assesment” survey to measure the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses.

March 13, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 45

Florida School Officials close K-12 public schools and all mass campus gathering is suspended. State officials also announce that all Florida schools will take an additional week off after spring-break.

Governor DeSantis also orders bars and nightcclubs to close for 30 days and directs hospitals to operate at 50% maximum capacity. The “Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program” is also activated to help small businesses. There are now 5 reported deaths in the state.

March 17, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 190

School officials now announce that Florida students will not return to school until Mid-April. On this day, three field hospitals are deployed across the state under direction of Governor DeSantis.

March 23, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 1,227

There are now 18 reported deaths in the state. Governor DeSantis sends an official letter to President Trump requesting that he declare a “Major Disaster” in Florida.

Governor DeSantis orders that anyone traveling from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut need to self-isolate for 14 days.

March 24, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 1,412

Governor DeSantis directs the Department of Children and Families to waive work requirements to allow more participation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) & Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The death toll is 17.

March 25, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 1,682

President Trump declares a “Major Disaster” exists in the state of Florida, and federal assistance to supplement the state’s recovery efforts is sent. There are now 23 reported deaths in the state.

March 30, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 5,743

Governor DeSantis announces a stay-at-home order for the southern portion of the state, including Broward, Palm beach, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties through Mid-May. There are now 63 reported deaths across the state.

April 1, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 6,956

Govenor DeSantis issues a statewide stay-at-home order that will last 30 days starting on April 02, 2020. There are now 87 reported deaths.

April 2, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 9,008

Governor DeSantis issues an executive order to override restrictions put in place by local governments from shuttering churches during the outbreak. He also announces that first responders who are exposed to COVID-19 on the job will be eligible for workers compensation. The death toll in the state is now 164.

April 3, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 10,258

Governor DeSantis orders all foreclosures and residential evictions in the state to be halted for 45 days. He also directs the Department of Children and Families to waive work requirements to allow more participation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) & Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

On this day, registered cases hit a grim record in the state, surpassing 10,000. The Death toll is 163.

April 6, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 13,317

Governor DeSantis issues an executive order on documentary stamps for SBA Loans suspending the assessment and collection of taxes. The death toll in Florida is 235.

April 7, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 14,543

Governor DeSantis announces Project: VITAL to provide elders in assisted living facilities and nursing homes with tablets.

April 17, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 24,755

Governor DeSantis gives the greenlight for some beaches and parks to reopen. Death toll is 726.

April 18, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 25,489

DeSantis announces that Florida schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. In the past 7 days, over 500,000 Floridians have applied for unemployment benefits.

April 20, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 27,056

Governor DeSantis announces the executive committee of the “Re-Open Task Force.” This committee will later organize the re-opening plan for the state. On this day, the death toll is 822.

April 29, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 33,186

Governor DeSantis announces phase one of Florida’s “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step.” Plan for recovery: the statewide stay-at-home order will lift for the majority of Florida apart from the hardest-hit counties on May 4.

The death toll is 1,218.

May 1, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 34,720

Governor DeSantis announces that, beginning on May 4, 2020, State Parks will re-open access to trails and some areas (including beach access with limited facilities). Visitors will be asked to practice proper social distancing and to limit group size to 10.

May 8, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 39,166

Governor DeSantis issues an executive order extending the ongoing state of emergency for another 60 days. Death toll is 1,669.

May 14, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 43,134

Governor DeSantis issues an executive order that extends eviction and mortgage foreclosure relief until June 2. The death toll is 1,875.

May 15, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 44,060

Florida’s “Safe Smart Step by Step” (Governor DeSantis’s reocovery plan) begins. All counties can start re-opening. Shops, parlors, gyms, and bars soon start opening in selected areas. Death toll is 1,917.

May 29, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 54,414

Governor DeSantis announced that the “Florida Division of Emergency Management” (FDEM) has partnered with Home Depot and Publix to establish six additional COVID-19 testing sites across the state. The death toll is 2,413.

June 1, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 56,756

Governor DeSantis announces the extension of his statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures to July 1. The death toll is 2,460.

June 2, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 57,360

George Floyd — #BlackLivesMatter — protests start taking place across the state.

June 3, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 58,675

Governor DeSantis announces bars, tattoo shops, massage parlors, tanning salons, and movie theaters are allowed to open in select areas at half capacity as most of Florida moves into the second of the states three-phase re-opening. The death toll is 2,566.

June 17, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 82,614

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) announced the waiving of service limits and expanding coverage for Medicaid recipients. The death toll is 3,018.

June 25, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 113,88

Governor DeSantis announces $250 million in CARES Act funding for rental and mortgage assistance for Florida families.

June 26, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 122,826

Governor DeSantis orders a state-wide shutdown of bars. Death toll is 3,366. Officials in South Florida announce beaches will remain closed for the Fourth of July weekend.

July 7, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 213,563

Governor Desantis extends “State of Emergency” another 60 days. Death toll is 3,841.

July 11, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 254,511

Two Disney Parks (Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom) re-open for the first time in months. Death toll is 4,197.

July 17, 2020

Number of cases in Florida: 326,858

Governor DeSantis announces that the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) Board of Directors unanimously approved the release of $75 million to local governments to assist Floridians in need of rental and mortgage assistance.