logo

Stew Lilker’s

Columbia County Observer

Real news for working families.  An online news service

Florida News

Corona Virus (COVID-19) In Florida

Image of inside blood vessel with copy: corona virus in Florida
Observer graphic | Photo: Arek Socha

From:  FL Dept. of  Health News Releases

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida Department of Health (Department) has announced there are two presumptive positive cases of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Florida. Both individuals remain in isolation at this time. Despite these cases in Florida, the overall immediate threat to the public remains low.

State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees said, "We are working directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local medical providers to ensure these individuals receive the proper treatment and that anyone who has come into contact with them is following the necessary protocols, limiting or stopping any further spread…Our epidemiological teams are right now aggressively pursuing every potential lead during these critical early moments of this outbreak in Florida.”

The first patient is an adult Manatee county resident without travel history to countries identified for restricted travel by the CDC. This person sought health care, is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials.

The Florida Department of Health is working closely with the patient, their close contacts and health care providers to isolate and monitor persons who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and implement testing of anyone who may develop COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

The second patient is an adult resident of Hillsborough County with a history of travel to Italy. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials.

Spreading the Virus

COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, and when an individual coughs or sneezes.

Droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptons

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath.

 Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure.

While most people recover from the COVID-19 without needing special treatment, the elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

The Department always recommends everyday preventive actions to help impede the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;

• Staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with persons in poor health;

• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;

• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then disposing of the tissue;

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;

• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty;

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

The CDC does not recommend that asymptomatic, healthy people wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

A person that experiences a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and any other destination under CDC travel advisory should call ahead to their health care provider and local county health department (CHD) and mention their recent travel or close contact.

If a person has had close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from this area or been in contact with a person with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, they should call ahead to a health care professional and the county health department. The health care professional will work with the Department to determine if the person should be tested for COVID-19.

Department's dedicated COVID-19 webpage is the best and most up-to-date resource for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida. www.FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19.

For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department's dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov. The Call Center is available Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

The CDC website with information related to COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Comments  (to add a comment go here)

This work by the Columbia County Observer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

 
 

Make a comment • click here •
All comments are displayed at the end of the article and are moderated.

 
 
 
_