COVID-19
Fl Department of Health scales down coronavirus self-isolation directive to international travelers
The Florida Department of Health clarified Monday that only travelers arriving in Florida from the areas abroad most afflicted from the new coronavirus should self-isolate for 14 days. This came around two hours after the agency issued a directive ordering anyone arriving from anywhere overseas to hole up. The initial release, issued at 11:56 a.m., […]
Lawmakers face the coronavirus: FL House Speaker orders members out of the chamber; U.S. Rep. Gaetz has self-quarantined
Update: The five Florida House members who were isolated were allowed to return to the floor shortly before 5 p.m. Rep. Cary Pigman, who is a physician, said based on the guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the members were “at low risk” for carrying the virus. He said they were […]
Conflicting messages from Trump administration about cruise ship safety
The Trump administration is getting its messages mixed regarding whether it’s safe to book a sea cruise amid the coronavirus outbreak. Vice President Mike Pence held a news conference in Fort Lauderdale Saturday to announce plans to develop protocols to render cruises safer for otherwise healthy people. However, this was the message from the U.S. […]
New coronavirus case, in Broward County
The latest update on coronavirus cases in Florida: A 67-year-old male is the latest to contract the China-born illness and is currently under isolation, according to the Florida Department of Health’s latest Twitter feed. The case was reported on Sunday evening, March 8. The department has now reported a total of 12 Florida residents testing […]
From last Sunday to this Sunday, the coronavirus epidemic has quickly taken root in Florida
Last Sunday, Gov Ron DeSantis announced two coronarvirus cases, in Manatee and Hillsborough counties, and moved to declare a public health emergency in Florida. In just one week, the cases rose quickly to at least 11 — with two deaths and three new cases reported Saturday evening by the Florida Department of Health. Those three […]
V.P. Pence negotiating coronavirus protocols with Florida’s cruise industry
Vice President Mike Pence emerged from a meeting in Fort Lauderdale Saturday with executives of Florida-based sea cruise lines to announce plans to protect passengers and crew from infection with coronavirus. The announcement came as state health officials disclosed a new presumptive positive diagnosis of COVID-19, a potentially deadly respiratory ailment caused by the virus, […]
Cruise lines ease cancellation policies amid coronavirus fears; VP Pence expected in FL for meetings
Cruise lines began softening their cancellation policies this week, reflecting consumer concerns about the global spread of coronavirus and a few, high-profile reports of disease outbreaks at sea. Several cruise destinations, including locales in the Caribbean, are refusing to receive certain cruise ships to reduce spread of the virus, according to sources including Cruise Industry […]
Coronavirus: Fourth FL case confirmed while state waits on supply of testing kits
The number of confirmed infections with coronavirus was unchanged in Florida Friday, as compared to the day before, while the number of sick people testing negative for the virus actually increased to 55, according to data released by the Florida Department of Health. The online report confirms, as expected, a fourth positive case reported Thursday […]
Statewide alert: FL nursing homes limit visits; suggest text, Facetime, Skype; suspend large group activities
With mounting fears over coronavirus’ threat to senior communities – including deaths at a Seattle-area nursing home — Florida nursing homes are under a statewide alert, restricting visitors and essentially telling loved ones: don’t come inside. Texting, Skype, FaceTime and other new technologies are better options. “We recognize visitors want to check in with their […]
Gov. DeSantis on coronavirus: We need more testing kits ASAP
Florida does not have enough testing kits to test patients for coronavirus and is asking the federal government for them, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday morning at a press conference in Quincy. “We don’t have them yet. We’d like to get them obviously as soon as possible,” DeSantis said. “To be able to do that […]
Public health monitoring ramps up; efforts to get coronavirus testing info by phone are futile
Three days ago, 184 people in Florida were listed as undergoing public health monitoring for signs of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Now the number is 247, according to statistics published by the Florida Department of Health. And Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday in Orlando that since January, almost 1,000 people have […]
Here’s how some Florida hospitals are preparing for a global epidemic — the coronavirus
At Cleveland Clinic Florida, health care providers are practicing drills, performing exercises on mock patients and using protective garb – preparations for a potential coronavirus outbreak in Florida. The state already has at least three coronavirus cases of the respiratory disease that can be fatal, and Florida health officials expect more to come as the […]