While new cases of COVID-19 continue to show up across southwest Florida, the rate of increase seems to have settled at a pace that’s currently not overwhelming hospitals.

On Thursdays we typically focus on the local arts scene. But, during these times of social distancing most of it is on hold, and our entire station is working remotely, so for the time being we’ve been broadcasting episodes of the WGCU podcast Three Song Stories: Biography Through Music . We use the way songs connect us to our memories and lives as a means of getting to know our guests in a more intimate way.

For the past four years Southwest Florida-based photojournalist and artist Lisette Morales has been documenting the lives of women who work and live in Immokalee.

According to Gene McAvoy from UF/IFAS normally this time of the year about 15 million pounds of produce leaves Immokalee every single day. And this year had been a good one for south Florida farmers. But, that number has been reduced by about 80% since mid March when social distancing guidelines went into place.

We’re almost a month into most schools and restaurants being closed and cruise ships sitting empty, and travel restrictions have slowed tourism to a trickle. All of which is happening at the height of harvest season here in south Florida. With orders for fresh produce down by up to 80%, that leaves producers large and small looking for alternative ways to get fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers.

We continue our weekly COVID-19 update by checking in with NCH Healthcare System’s Chief Nursing Officer, Jon Kling, and Lee Health's Chief Foundation and Development Officer Chris Simoneau. We'll also learn about a new Mayo Clinic convalescent plasma study that Lee Health is participating in beginning Monday, April 20. They are seeking local donors from people who tested positive for COVID-19 and have recovered. Click HERE to learn more, or send an e mail to [email protected] (email

Normally on Thursdays we focus on the local arts scene, but with most of it on hold, and with the entire WGCU radio team working from home, for now we’re broadcasting episodes of the WGCU podcast Three Song Stories . This week we're listening back to episode 46 with Bill Metts .

One way social distancing guidelines are affecting people is not being able to be with someone when they pass, and not being able to hold memorials or funerals right now. Our guest is Angela Melvin , founder and CEO of Valerie’s House in Fort Myers. Its mission is to help children and families work through the loss of a loved one. She joined us via Skype to talk about how social distancing is changing how they fulfill that mission.

As we continue covering the local impact of the new coronavirus today we’re highlighting some amazing work by local documentary photojournalist Kinfay Moroti that captures intimate moments of some of the people who are working around the clock with Covid-19 patients in area hospitals.

As we continue to collectively respond to the new coronavirus we’re exploring mental health counseling during a time of global pandemic.