JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Another person has died in Florida as a result of the coronavirus, the Florida Department of Health confirmed on Saturday. This comes a day after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over COVID-19.
The individual was a 77-year-old man in Lee County who was had tested positive a few days ago. It was not travel related.
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Mayor Lenny Curry confirmed there were two more positive cases for COVID-19 in Duval County Saturday night.
I was just informed by Duval Department of Health we have 2 more positives. I have no more information at this time. We will provide updates when we have more information. This reinforces the need for social distancing, hand washing and the measures I’ve asked folks to take.
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) March 15, 2020
.@HealthyFla has confirmed the death of a previously-announced positive Florida #COVID19 case in Lee County. The individual was 77 years old. This was not a travel-related case. For total case count and more important information, visit https://t.co/e1S8bGG26U.
— Florida Dept. Health (@HealthyFla) March 14, 2020
A 68-year-old Orlando-area resident diagnosed with COVID-19 after returning from Asia to California has died, the Florida Department of Health announced early Saturday morning. Hers was the third Florida resident death connected to the virus.
Officials also announced two dozen new positive tests early Saturday, mostly among South Florida residents.
A total of 70 Florida residents have now been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the latest Health Department numbers. They are spread among 19 of Florida’s 67 counties, although half of the cases are in just five counties. In addition, there are seven non-Florida residents diagnosed and in isolation in the state.
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Of the cases announced just after midnight, nine were residents of Broward County and six lived in Miami-Dade County. There were also new reported cases for residents from Orange County (2), Osceola County (1), Manatee County (2), and Palm Beach County (3). All are being cared for and isolated, the Health Department said.
A 29-year old man in Volusia County also tested positive for COVID-19. The man is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. The Health Department said his case is travel-related and is associated with close contact with a traveler.
A 69-year old male, non-Florida resident visiting from Europe tested positive for COVID-19 in Alachua County. It’s the third positive test there.
Of the 25 cases reported Saturday morning, nine were travel-related, the Health Department said. For 13 of the cases, it was “unclear” if it was a travel-related case.
Some of the newly reported cases included young patients, including a 19-year-old male and a 19-year old female in Broward County. Both had recently traveled to Europe.
The Health Department said there are still 221 test results pending and the numbers of people is ramping up as 1,500 test kits purchased by the state are distributed.
Point to shaded counties to see positive cases and details. View full list of new cases on the Florida Department of Health website.
Gov. Ron DeSantis updated Florida’s preparations and response to the coronavirus Friday, telling the state to expect the number of positive cases of coronavirus to continue to grow.
DeSantis and state Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees said the overwhelming majority of the patients in the state are connected to international travel.
Amid the ongoing threat of the new coronavirus, Mayor Lenny Curry on Friday signed a declaration of emergency for Duval County. Earlier in the day, Curry moved to suspend events and gatherings at city facilities in Jacksonville.
The mayor’s decision came just hours after Clay County declared a state of emergency.
A man in Duval County and a man in Clay County were two of the 16 new positive cases that were reported Thursday night by the Florida Department of Health. Curry revealed on Friday that the Duval patient, an 83-year-old man, was living at a senior living facility on the Southside.
Earlier in the week, there was a single confirmed COVID-19 case in both St. Johns and Nassau counties.
