This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribu)MIAMI – Universal Studios announced on Thursday night the Universal Orlando Resort will close on Sunday. Hourly employees will be paid for any work scheduled through the end of March, a company spokesperson said in a statement. Universal Orlando’s hotels and Universal CityWalk will remain open. Here is the company’s statement:Out of an abundance of caution and to assist with our nation’s preventive efforts, Universal Orlando Resort will temporarily close its theme parks. Hourly team members will be paid for any work scheduled through the end of March.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Superintendents announced Thursday afternoon public schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will remain open even amid COVID-19 pandemic. Broward Public Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie and Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho disagreed on after-school activities. Carvalho and Runcie said there are no COVID-19 cases linked to either of the school districts. “Speak with your children about what this virus is; what it isn’t,” Carvalho said, adding “some degree of social isolation” is important. The Florida Department of Education is working with the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor public schools.

Parodi, 35, then found himself confined for days on board the Asara, where 12 Egyptian crew members had just contracted the virus. The Nile cruiser has become the epicenter of the virus outbreak in Egypt’s crown jewel of tourism. When passengers learned about the cases reported from their ship, Parodi said confusion quickly struck. “Some of the worst thoughts go through your head,” said Parodi, who is traveling with his cousin and mother from Miami. A 60-year-old German tourist from another Nile cruise died late Sunday, marking the country's first and only fatality so far.