The U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirmed Monday that two Florida residents had contracted the disease caused by coranavirus.
The state of Florida had listed them as “presumptive positive” cases, while awaiting confirmation from the CDC, which was announced Monday afternoon by the Florida Department of Health.
The confirmation came as state leaders moved to bolster defenses against coronavirus after the detection of the illness over the weekend in two state residents.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees announced several steps to contain the disease, including expanded testing at hospitals, protective measures for health workers and self-isolation for anyone returning from high-risk countries. State health workers are also tracking and attempting to isolate anyone who had contact with the two people who contracted the illness.
Florida’s first two cases of coronavirus were announced Sunday, prompting DeSantis to declare a public health emergency. He said Monday that he expected more cases to be detected but that the overall risk remained “low.”
So far 23 people in Florida have been tested and 184 are being monitored. Eight test results are pending.
One of the confirmed cases involves a Manatee County man in his 60s who is hospitalized, Rivkees said. It’s not known how he contracted the virus. The other case involves a woman in her 20s in Hillsborough County who recently returned from a trip to northern Italy, one of the high-risk regions. She is isolated at home and is in stable condition.
Here are the major steps announced Monday:
Anyone returning from high-risk regions, such as China, Iran, northern Italy and South Korea, is asked to self-isolate for 14 days. If they develop symptoms such as fever, a cough or shortness of breath, they are asked to first contact the state health department or county health department before going to the doctor or hospital.
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Hospitals are asked to expand testing for coronavirus to patients with lower respiratory tract problems that may not have a known cause, such as a visit to a high-risk country. Hospital workers should take protective measures in such cases.
Nursing homes and similar facilities were asked to review visitor policies to protect residents, since the illness is most dangerous for those who are elderly or have existing health problems.
Colleges and universities were asked to assist students returning from high-risk regions with the 14-day self-isolation.
Two people tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus, the governor said about 9:30 p.m. Sunday. “Because of the foregoing conditions, I direct the State Health Officer and Surgeon General, Dr. Scott Rivkees, to declare a public health emergency in the State of Florida,” DeSantis’ order said. “The State Health Officer is authorized and directed to use his judgment as to the duration of this public health emergency.”
Florida also has eight additional test results pending. Of people already tested for the virus, 15 have tested negative for the new coronavirus.
An additional 184 people in Florida are being monitored for risk of having been exposed to the virus.
Florida is working to validate COVID-19 test kits and is expected to begin testing this week at the Department of Health labs in Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa. By testing locally rather than sending samples to the CDC lab in Atlanta, Florida will be able to get results faster and more easily track cases in the state.
Health officials are now saying 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. National health officials have asked Americans to begin to prepare and practice good hand washing.
Although the United States now reports 80 cases, including two deaths, most people recover from the COVID-19 without needing treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
Florida Department of Health will be the lead agency coordinating emergency response activities for COVID-19.
The Health Department will monitor and quarantine anyone believed to have the virus for at least 14 days, the order said.
The order from Gov. DeSantis came the same day New York reported its first case and Washington state reported its second death, also the second death in the U.S.
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo confirmed the state’s first case of coronavirus Sunday night, announcing that a woman in her late 30s contracted the virus after traveling to Iran, the Washington Post reported. President Donald Trump on Saturday extended a travel ban on Iran to apply to any foreign nationals who had been in that country over the past 14 days.
The novel coronavirus has probably been spreading undetected for about six weeks in Washington state. Washington state now has 12 confirmed cases.
The global death toll is climbing toward 3,000 on four continents.
State and local authorities stepped up testing for the illness as the number of new cases grew nationwide, with new infections announced in California, Illinois, Rhode Island, New York and Washington state.
The number of coronavirus cases in the United States is considered small. But convinced that they will grow, health agencies are ramping up efforts to identify those who might be sick.
To achieve more rapid testing capacity, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an accelerated policy Saturday enabling laboratories to use tests they develop. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said his agency is “rapidly responding and adapting to this dynamic and evolving situation.”
DeSantis scheduled two news conferences at health department offices on Monday, one in Tampa and one in Miami.
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Information from The Washington Post and the Associated Press was used in this report. Sun Sentinel staff writer Cindy Krischer Goodman contributed to this report.