20 More Cornavirus Cases; FL Governor Urges Limits On Gatherings

MIAMI, FL — Twenty more new coronavirus cases were reported in Florida Thursday, including six additional cases in Broward County, two in Palm Beach and Sarasota counties as well as one each in Miami-Dade Hillsborough, Alachua, Volusia County, Duval, Clay, Lee and Seminole counties. The new cases were announced as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for limits on mass gatherings.

"I am recommending to local municipalities and private entities to strongly consider limiting or postponing mass gatherings in the state of Florida," the governor said at a news conference at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

"If a mass gathering is not canceled — I don't have the authority as governor to order all mass gatherings canceled — but, if it's not, you need to have organized screening measures in place," the governor warned.

Stores around the Miami area and in other parts of Florida emptied out of water, paper towels, toilet paper and disinfectant wipes in a scene Floridians typically see only during approaching hurricanes.

DeSantis said he also suspended out-of-state travel by Florida's 90,000 employees and directed state agencies to maximize the use of telecommuting among workers while suspending visits at all state prisons for 30 days.

Speaking at the same news conference, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said all senior centers will be closed in Florida's most populous county starting Monday and certain services, such as meals, will be delivered to homes. He also said the county is working to suspend all evictions in the county during the emergency.

Gimenez said Miami International and Port Miami will remain in full operation but he has ordered a postponement of large events under his emergency declaration for the county, including the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair, the Miami Open Tennis Tournament, Take Your Kids To Work Day, a 5K run at Miami International Airport and all events at AmericanAirlines Arena. A March 22 race at Homestead Speedway has been postponed but NASCAR could decide to hold the race without fans.

"This is not just an exclusive list," Gimenez said one day after learning of the county's first confirmed case, a 56-year-old man who traveled to Iran. "We will be adding to this list as time and days go by."

Gimenez also called for flights to be suspended from nearby Cuba, which reported its first cases.

"Life is going to be a little different for all of us in the weeks ahead," the mayor said before placing himself in self-quarantine. "I urge everyone to be patient as we adjust to these temporary changes."

In Tampa, the Hillsborough County School District announced that Farnell Middle School would be closed on Thursday and Friday.

"A person regularly on Farnell’s campus had recent contact with someone who is positive for coronavirus," the district said.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said he had no immediate plans to close any of the schools in the nation's fourth-largest school system.

"We see no reason at this point to shut down a single school in Miami-Dade, much less the school system," he said. "There isn't a single confirmed or presumptive case that is directly or indirectly connected to the school system."

That changed early Friday morning when the district shut down its first school after an aftercare worker in Bay Harbor Islands tested positive for the new coronavirus.

A passenger aboard JetBlue flight 253 from John F. Kennedy International to Palm Beach International Wednesday night tested positive for COVID-19 and other passengers were told to monitor their health, according to the Associated Press.

The additional cases announced Thursday include a 57-year old man in Lee County who is isolated and will continue to remain so until cleared by public health officials.

"It is currently unclear whether this was a travel-related case," according to state health officials. "The epidemiological investigation is ongoing."

A 65-year old man in Broward County also tested positive for COVID-19.

"He is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. It is currently unclear whether this was a travel-related case; the epidemiological investigation is ongoing," state health officials said.

A 61-year old man in Broward County became the county's seventh case.

"He is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel related case and is associated with Port Everglades," state health officials said.

Five of the Broward cases were linked back to Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades.

Health officials also announced the first case in Seminole County involving a 68-year old man, who is isolated.

"This is a travel-related case and is associated with a Nile River cruise/tour in Egypt," Health officials said.

A 73-year-old man in Palm Beach County tested positive for the illness after traveling on the Nile Rive cruise. He too is isolated.

A 74-year-old man in Palm Beach County tested positive for the illness after traveling to Europe.

A 50-year-old man from New York was isolated in Sarasota County with the illness but it was unclear how he got it.

A 70-year-old man from Massachusetts man was also isolated in Sarasota County but it was unclear how he acquired the virus.

A 24-year-old woman in Alachua County tested posotive for the illness. after traveling to Europe. She too was isolated.

A 70-year-old man in Volusia tested positive after taking the Nile River Cruise.

An 83-year-old woman in Duval County has been confirmed to have the illness but officials do not know how she got it.

A 57-year old man in Clay County tested positive for COVID-19 but it was unclear how he got it.

A 28-year-0ld woman in Broward County was isolated after testing positive but health officials do not know how he acquired the illness.

A 25-year-old woman in Broward County tested positive after traveling out of the country.

A 20-year-old woman from Texas is isolated in Broward County after traveling to Europe.

A 68-year-old woman in Broward County tested positive after being exposed at Fort Lauderdales' Port Everglades.

A 36-year-old man in Broward County tested positive after traveling outside the country.

A 49-year-old woman from Hillsborough County was isolated after traveling to Europe.

A 77-year-old man in Lee County tested positive but it was unclear how he acquired the illness.

A 42-year-old man in Miami-Dade County tested positive after coming in contact with an international traveler.

DeSantis' news conference in Miami came one day after the governor signed an executive order restricting visitors to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family care homes, long-term care facilities and adult group homes.

"These are important efforts to mitigate the risk to our most vulnerable population to COVID-19 which is our elderly population and particularly those who have serious underlying medical conditions," DeSantis said Wednesday.

The governor ordered all nursing homes and related facilities to temporarily ban any person infected with COVID-19 who has not had two consecutive negative test results at least one day apart; any person with signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection; any person who may have been in close contact with an infected person with COVID-19 who has not tested negative for 14 days from the date of contact; any person who has traveled outside the United States within the previous 14 days; any person who traveled on a cruise ship within the previous 14 days; anyone who has been in a community with community spread within the previous 14 days and anyone who lives in a community with confirmed community spread.

The governor has said next week's presidential primary in Florida would continue as planned, but polling sites that are located in assisted living facilities would be discouraged from allowing the general public to vote at those locations.

State universities have directed returning students from spring break to wait two weeks before returning to class. Schools that have already returned from spring break were instructed to encourage returning students to stay home for at least two weeks.

As of Thursday night, there had been a total of 128,343 confirmed cases of the illness and 4,720 deaths around the world, with the vast majority in Hubei, China, according to information compiled by Johns Hopkins University. A total of 68,324 people have recovered from the illness. Don’t miss updates about precautions in Florida as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

The governor said earlier that 11 of the state's total cases have been linked to a Nile River cruise that took place in February or March. Health officials confirmed the Seminole County case after the governor spoke.

State health officials are asking Florida residents to self-isolate if they took the Nile River cruise between Feb. 4 through Feb. 18 from the date of their return.

The new cases bring the total number of Florida residents with the illness to 45 plus one person from California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas and two from New York, according to the Florida Department of Health. See county-by-county breakdown at the bottom of this story.

DeSantis said there has not been any community spread in Florida. He declared a state of emergency Monday that freed up additional resources to respond to the virus and allow physicians from other states to practice in Florida for the duration of the order. See Florida Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Coronavirus

Florida's first two deaths from the new coronavirus were reported Friday involving elderly patients in Santa Rosa County and Lee County, both of whom suffered from serious underlying conditions. See: Interactive Map: Latest US Coronavirus Cases

Five of Florida's confirmed cases involve people who traveled to China and were placed in quarantine by federal officials in other states.

A New York attorney who tested positive for the new coronavirus also traveled to Miami in early February — days or weeks before he became ill. He is not counted in the total because he is a resident of New York. See New York Coronavirus Patient Had Traveled To Miami In February and Coronavirus Outbreak: Tips To Prepare At Home

While spring break has already sprung in parts of Florida, the spread of the new coronavirus has taken its toll on this year's annual rite of passage with a greater number of cancellations and fewer breakers thus far this season to fill the hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. See New Coronavirus Hits Florida's Spring Break

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said Thursday his city has declared a state of emergency and was attempting to limit the volume of visitors by canceling performance at the Fillmore, Colony Theater and New World Symphony as well as postponing nearly every major festival.

"To the extent that anyone can declare spring break over, it is over this year," the mayor said.

COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when someone coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract the virus by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Health officials said there haven't been any asymptomatic transmissions of the illness, meaning that people can only acquire COVID-19 from somebody who has the illness. 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. Most people recover from COVID-19 without special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems, obesity and diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness, the health department said.

Public Health Guidance On Virus Prevention:

• Do not go to an emergency room unless absolutely essential. Those with symptoms including a cough, fever, or other respiratory issues are advised to contact their regular doctor first.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• Commit to excellent personal hygiene, including regular hand-washing, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Monitor the latest information on COVID-19 in Florida and across the United States:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Florida Department of Health

What is the new coronavirus?

The symptoms of the new coronavirus are similar to seasonal influenza, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Both are infectious respiratory illnesses, but they're caused by different viruses.

Both cause fever, cough, body aches and fatigue, and both can result in pneumonia. Both illnesses can sometimes cause vomiting and diarrhea and can be spread from person to person by sneezing, coughing or talking.

Common good-health practices such as frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and staying home from work or school if sick, can help control both illnesses.

Neither respond to antibiotic treatment, but both may be treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever.

There are some distinct differences between COVID-19 and the Flu: Flu is caused by several types of viruses, while COVID-19 is caused by the new coronavirus, which is also called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.

Johns Hopkins said there is some evidence COVID-19 could be airborne "meaning that tiny droplets remaining in the air could cause disease in others even after the ill person is no longer near."

There is no vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus as there is against influenza. Scientists around the world are racing to find a vaccine for the new coronavirus, although none currently exists.

A company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has shipped vials of its novel coronavirus vaccine to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease for further research.

Here is a county-by-county breakdown of the new coronavirus cases involving Florida residents and people visiting Florida:

Patch Editor Deb Belt and Megan VerHelst, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.