Department of Health announces two presumptive positive COVID-19 cases in FLORIDA

Risk to Florida Public Remains Low

Tallahassee, Fla. — 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.

Governor Ron DeSantis said, “I have been working with federal partners and our

Department of Health to ensure that communities are ready to handle the challenges

presented by COVID-19. The dedicated professionals at our county health departments,

as well as those working at local medical providers, are well equipped to address these

and future cases. State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees has taken appropriate,

decisive action to help affect the best possible outcomes, and I will continue directing

our state agencies to do whatever is necessary to prioritize the health and well-being of

Florida residents.”

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez said, “Florida is a national leader in public

health, and that quickly became evident as soon as we received information regarding

presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in our state. Public health teams from our

Department of Health have already begun engaging with the impacted individuals and

are quickly working towards identifying and contacting everyone who may be potentially

affected by this virus. Thanks to the extensive preparations and tireless work the

Department’s staff has been undertaking since information regarding COVID-19

became available in early January, our county health departments, medical providers

and all other partners in public health are well prepared to prevent the spread of

COVID-19.”

State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees said, “This is the scenario that we prepare

for every day in public health. The Department is moving forward with the appropriate

plans, and 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. Thanks to Florida’s

integrated public health system, we have been able to proactively engage and plan with

2 our public health partners at every level, enabling us to take these important steps in a

very expeditious manner. Our epidemiological teams are among the best in the nation,

and they 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 did seek 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 COVID19 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.

COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or

mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes. These 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.

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. 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. As a reminder, 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; and

• 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.

Please visit the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage at

www.FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19. This remains the best and most up-to-date resource

for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida.

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 also has a website with information related to COVID-19:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

About the Florida Department of Health:

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works

to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated

state, county and community efforts.