Standing at yet another drive-thru COVID-19 test site in Florida -- this one at a Central Florida retirement community where people can drive up in their golf carts -- Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday again urging Floridians to stay home and not panic about the spread of the novel coronavirus.
According to Florida Department of Health update at 11 a.m. Monday, nearly 1,200 people across the state have tested positive for coronavirus and 14 have died.
Recommended Videos
Nearly half of the state’s positive cases are in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, but the caseload statewide has grown ten-fold in one week.
Despite the growing numbers, DeSantis said that he wants to avoid imposing a statewide lock down like many other states have done, saying he still believes targeting the counties hardest hit by the coronavirus for the most extreme measures is the preferable path.
DeSantis said about a third of Florida's 67 counties have no confirmed cases and another third have few, so he doesn't yet see the need to impose a near shutdown on their businesses that have been imposed in large counties such as Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach where the disease has spread into the community. Most of the counties with few or no infections are smaller ones along the state's northern borders or surrounding Lake Okeechobee.
DeSantis has ordered such statewide closures as bars and gyms and limited restaurants to takeout and delivery and some counties have gone farther, closing not only nonessential businesses but also beaches, marinas and parks. State parks have been closed.
But DeSantis has not imposed a near-total statewide shutdown of nonessential businesses and bans on social gatherings that have been imposed in California, New York, Illinois and elsewhere.
He said he doesn't want to cause unnecessary financial hardship or create unintended consequences such as people fleeing the state and spreading the disease.
“In New York (City), when they did the stay-at-home order, what did people do? A lot of people fled the city and they are going to stay with their parents or fly (out),” DeSantis said during the morning news conference. “We are getting huge amounts of people flying in. We are looking at how to address those flights.” He said he talked to President Donald Trump on Sunday night about that issue.
As of Monday morning, more than 1,100 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Florida and 13 have died.
Some Florida Democrats are calling on the Republican governor to impose a statewide stay-at-home order. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat elected statewide, said in a statement that she understands DeSantis is in a tough spot, but any delay will lead to further spread of the disease.
“A piecemeal approach of closing certain communities and businesses risks sowing further confusion. I encourage the governor to take this decisive action today to save lives and preserve Florida’s economy for our shared future,” Fried wrote. “I will stand by the Governor should he make this difficult decision, and I implore him to do so now.”
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a Republican, has called a city commission meeting Wednesday by video call to discuss a possible citywide stay-at-home order and curfew.
DeSantis said one of the biggest problems statewide is people who “put themselves first” by refusing to follow mandates and recommendations to avoid large crowds. He said no mandates are needed for seniors like those in The Villages: “They will do what's right.”
Elsewhere, “you have another class of people that is just selfish. If you shutdown the bar, they go to a house party. You have no beach, so they go to a sandbar, which is technically not the beach. I would say for those folks, you need to cool it. ... The more stuff you are doing, the more difficult and longer this may go," DeSantis said.
DeSantis also said he is leery about closing the state's daycare centers because that will affect medical personnel and others who must work and need someone to look after their children.
“It is something we are looking at, but I don't think it is as easy as saying, ‘Shut all this down and things are going to work out,’" DeSantis said.
The virus causes only minor flu-like symptoms in most people, who recover in a matter of weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health problems. Severe cases are often only able to breathe with respirators.
Over the weekend, students at multiple Florida colleges were found to have the virus. Ten students and one employee at the University of Florida in Gainesville, six students at the University of Tampa, and one student at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg all tested positive, the schools announced. The University of Miami also said a student had the virus.
In addition, a fourth TSA worker at Orlando International Airport has tested positive, officials said. The Transportation Security Administration said the screening officer, last worked March 16 and is quarantining at home.
The Villages testing site that opened Monday is being run by the University of Florida. They need to prequalify and have an appointment.
“Anyone who is 65 and over who is displaying symptoms of Coronavirus," DeSantis said. “That’s things like a cough, a fever, shortness of breath. And, if that is you we want you to be able to come in here and get a test.”
UF researchers are also conducting voluntary testing using supplies and test kits provided by the University of Florida Infectious Disease Lab for which FDA approval is pending.
Officials said results will be available within 2-3 days.
Around the state, the virus rippled through communities -- figuratively, if not literally. Boat ramps were closed, more businesses were shuttered, and officials warned that residents should brace themselves for difficult times ahead.
"I want everybody to get mentally and emotionally prepared,'' he said.
During a news conference Sunday, Orange County Mayor Val Demings said the county would offer rental assistance for those who have lost jobs.
The virus causes only minor flu-like symptoms in most people, who recover in a matter of weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health problems. Severe cases are often only able to breathe with respirators.