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It is important to know the facts about Coronavirus (COVID-19)
and how to protect yourself.
Monroe
County Information
o There are currently 0
Florida Keys Confirmed Cases, Investigations are being conducted.
o Testing has been
conducted in Monroe County, as of March 12 tests have come back negative.
o For the majority of
people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19
is thought to be low.
o Emergency Management
continues to monitor the situation in conjunction with the Florida Department
of Health and will continue to facilitate weekly conference calls with partner
agencies and the municipalities.
o Monroe County Emergency
Operations Center is activated to level three: heightened monitoring.
o Florida Department of
Health in Monroe County is closely monitoring the outbreak and communicating
with and educating healthcare providers and public health partners about the
current situation.
o The Monroe County School
Board, assisted living facilities, and private care physicians are taking extra
precautions.
o Hospitals have policies
and procedures in place for this type of event and are prepared for an influx
of patients if needed.
Cruise
Ship and Airport Information
o Airports and ports are
open and operational. Each are taking extra precautions. Major airport hubs,
like Miami International Airport, and ALL cruise ship passengers are screened
before they embark on their trip for any communicable illnesses.
o The Port of Key West is
being monitored by the local U.S. Coast Guard station. ALL cruise ships that
enter the Florida Keys originate from a domestic port. The USCG has the
authority to deny entry to the port.
o The USCG and Custom and
Border Patrol review every incoming cruise ship arrival. The cruise ship is
required to report any hazardous issues to the CDC or health dept. The USCG and
CBP are working with the CDC and the Health Department.
Official
COVID-19 Websites
o Florida: Florida Department of Health
o United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
o Worldwide: World Health Organization
Florida
Department of Health Dedicated Hotline
Florida Department of Health established a dedicated COVID-19
hotline at 866-779-6121. The
Call Center is available 24/7
Testing
o The Florida Department of
Health has a team of epidemiologists working in the Florida Keys, available
during normal business hours and after hours. If a doctor suspects a case of
COVID-19, they know to immediately notify their infection control program and
the health department.
o FDOH labs in Miami,
Tampa, and Jacksonville have received CDC-issued laboratory test kits for
COVID-19 and are prioritizing testing for those with symptoms who had close
contact with a confirmed case.
o Testing is also available
in Florida by LabCorp. LabCorp is the only commercial laboratory offering
testing in Florida at this time. You must meet the criteria to be tested and
the test sample must be sent from a physician.
o Due to protecting the
personal information of patients, the Florida Dept. of Health is unable to
breakdown by community the number of individuals who have received a negative
test, have pending test results, or are under public health monitoring.
o The breakdown of the
number of individuals and their location are not disclosed due to patient privacy
laws and to protect personally identifiable health information (PHI) of
Floridians, by law. To view the breakdown of confirmed counties affected,
visit www.floridahealth.gov/covid-19.
o The DOH is following CDC
guidelines for prioritizing testing and criteria to meet that testing. More
information on testing can be found at https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2020/han00429.asp
Monroe
County Emergency Management Social Media Sites
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