The Florida Department of Health is reporting a surge of more than 500 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in one day, bringing the current total number of cases in Florida to 1,977. The death toll has increased to 23 people. The South Florida Counties of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach remain the epicenter of the outbreak in the state accounting for more than half of all cases in the state.
President Donald Trump approved Governor Ron DeSantis's Major Disaster Declaration request, Wednesday, and has ordered Federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas affected by the coronavirus. According to a White House statement, the action makes Federal funding available for crisis counseling for affected individuals in all areas in the State of Florida.
It also makes federal funding available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations, for emergency protective measures for all areas in the state impacted by COVID-19.
Gov. DeSantis said, Wednesday, the biggest issue facing Florida’s health care system right now is a lack of protective equipment, like masks, gowns and gloves. At a press briefing in Orlando, DeSantis said the state has ordered 7.8 million N95 masks that will arrive in the next few weeks. He says Florida has also asked the federal government for another two million N95 masks from the strategic national stockpile.
DeSantis said health care workers need the N95 masks because without them, they will have to self-isolate if they get exposed to COVID-19. “Not just that, but anyone they had close contact with, particularly their co-workers, will have to self-isolate for 14 days,” said DeSantis.
“So, a lot of hospitals are rightfully concerned about ending up with a lot of their key people ending up in self-isolation.”
Florida Disaster Response officials say the state is working to fill 5,000 requests from hospitals, health care facilities, and police and fire departments for protective equipment. DeSantis said some facilities only have enough equipment to last a few days.
The Florida Department of Health begins screening passengers arriving at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers this morning as a way to mitigate spread of COVID-19.
Following an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis targeting airline passengers coming to Florida from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, screenings began at five other airports in Florida on Tuesday - Those include the Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale airports.
DeSantis' executive order requires travelers arriving in the state from the New York Tri-State area to isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Florida and to be prepared for additional monitoring by health officials.
The News-Press reports travelers will be required to fill out an airport traveler form. Failure to complete the form or to comply with isolation or quarantine orders is a violation of Florida law.
Lee County Commissioners held an emergency meeting, Wednesday, to discuss the county’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Lee Health CEO Larry Antonucci explained that models they’ve seen make it clear that county residents need to social distance to the highest degree in order to not overwhelm the healthcare system.
Commissioners say they are putting in place a social media and advertising campaign to discourage people from visiting the area until the crisis is over. Park rangers will remind people not to gather in groups and to keep their distance. Lee County Commissioners plan to meet again Monday to determine whether they need to take more drastic policy action.
The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County opens a drive-thru coronavirus testing site this morning at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. The testing will be free, but in order to get tested people need a valid photo ID, proof of Manatee County residency and a prescription from a health care provider.
The health department has 200 testing kits to be used over the course of four days of collecting specimens between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Results are expected to take about four days.
Under a federal coronavirus relief measure passed last week states have been given the authority to extend Medicaid to help pay the costs of COVID-19 testing for uninsured residents. However, it's unclear whether Florida will take advantage of the new policy, which would allow the full costs of testing uninsured adults to be borne by the state Medicaid program.
Florida is one of 14 states that did not expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act. As such, Florida has roughly 800,000 residents who are in a coverage gap because they earn too little to qualify for subsidies on the federal health-insurance exchange but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.
Governor Ron DeSantis said Florida will make sure people can get free tests, but that the policy discussion needs to be saved for later. “We will make sure that people have access to that test and then if they need access to care we’ll figure out a way to pay for it,” said DeSantis.
During this year's state legislative session Florida lawmakers authorized the Florida Department of Health to spend $52.5 million to respond to the coronavirus, $27 million of which is federal funding.
Meanwhile, the recently passed federal law also increases the federal contribution used to fund Medicaid by 6.2%.
Publix grocery stores are going to start installing plexiglass partitions in all stores to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. The partitions will be at registers, customer service desks and pharmacies. Instillation is expected to be finished within the next two weeks.
Publix stores are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for senior shoppers 65 and older, and store hours have changed to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to give employees time to sanitize and restock shelves.
