As Sebastian Daily reported last night, the coronavirus has reached Florida. Two people are presumptive positive and are both isolated at this time.
Florida residents should stay calm and take preventative steps to reduce their risk of exposure. At this time, most people in the United States will not have an immediate risk of exposure to coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
“This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation,” the CDC said in a statement.
“The fact that this disease has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread is concerning. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic,” the CDC added.
Residents are asked to take coronavirus preventive measures. The Florida Department of Health is encouraging everyone to wash their hands often with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, especially before eating, after going to the restroom, coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
- When water and soap and are not available, it is best to use hand sanitizer with an alcohol-base that has a minimum of 60% alcohol.
- They are asking that everyone stay home when they are sick and avoid close contact with anyone under the weather.
- Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Symptoms of the coronavirus can appear within 2 – 14 days after exposure.
Governor Ron DeSantis addressed concerns about Florida not being able to test for the virus locally.
“We’ve been able to manage it. Everything goes to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and back, but to the extent that this becomes a bigger problem, we want to be able to do local testing, and I know they’re working on that,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said.
There’s no need to panic, just take preventative measures.
