HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - Florida Department of Health officials have confirmed two new cases of coronavirus in Broward County.
Officials said on Friday that the Broward patients are a 75-year-old man and a 65-year-old man. Both of them are in isolation.
Saturday morning, Broward officials addressed the county’s cases of COVID-19.
“I understand this news is concerning, but this is what we have been getting ready for,” said Dr. Paula Thaqi, director of the FDOH in Broward.
Related Stories:
- Sources: NY man diagnosed with coronavirus went to Bal Harbour, Surfside
- Calle Ocho, Ultra Music Festival cancelled amid coronavirus concerns
Officials said the patient in a third case also announced on Friday, in Lee County, has died.
A presumptive positive is when a state health lab has a positive test without confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The Department of Health is working closely with potential contacts and taking the necessary action,” said Thaqi.
Saturday afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined state and national health officials at a news conference held at Port Everglades.
“The Department of Health is working closely with potential contacts and taking the necessary action,” said Dr. Shamarial Roberson with the FDOH.
In a tweet posted Saturday, Broward Commissioner Michael Udine said that the Broward patients may have contracted the virus through travel and one may be connected to Port Everglades.
The Florida Department of Health continues to monitor 278 people and two people have died of COVID-19 in Florida as of Saturday.
The second death stemmed from a previously announced case in Santa Rosa County.
During Saturday’s news conference, DeSantis provided new details on these deaths.
“The two fatalities that we’ve seen in Florida thus far were both elderly folks with serious underlying medical conditions,” he said.
Officials said both patients were 70 years old.
Two coronavirus deaths in Florida according to Dept. of Health:
-a previously announced patient in Santa Rosa County has died, following an international trip.
-a new individual in their 70s that tested presumptive positive in Lee County has died, following an international trip.— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) March 7, 2020
The Lee County patient was tested for the virus before they died but did not come back as a presumptive positive until after they died.
Throughout the day on Saturday, FDOH reported three other presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Charlotte, Okaloosa and Volusia counties.
As the number of cases continue to rise, federal and state leaders are working to prevent a larger spread. They urge people to practice good hygiene.
“Wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with people who are sick,” said Dr. Shamarial Roberson with the FDOH.
Officials advised anyone who believes they have coronavirus should not go to a hospital.
If you have questions or would like more information, the Broward Department of Health has set up a hotline: 954-412-7300.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.