Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference on Thursday, updating the public on the dreaded coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 80,000 people, the vast majority in China.
Appearing alongside Florida’s Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees and Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Shamarial Roberson in Tallahassee, reassured the public that Florida was prepared to combat the virus, noting, however, that here have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state.
“First and foremost, there are still no cases of coronavirus in Florida,” DeSantis said to start the presser. “This is a rapidly evolving situation. We’re carefully monitoring in conjunction with the federal Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and Department of Health and Human Services.”
“The state of Florida is doing everything we can to prepare, obviously if there is and we don’t have any identified cases, it would be something we immediately notify the public about,” DeSantis continued.
The governor went on to say that the state has a coronavirus Incident Management Team in place, and is getting multiple daily updates from the CDC on the spread of the virus that has claimed more than 2,800 people worldwide.
During the public appearance, DeSantis also directed Floridians to special website set up by the Florida Department of Health.The webpage will publish new information on the epidemic. The state, however, says they will not reveal how many people in Florida have been tested for the virus.
When questioned about the omission, DeSantis said state law prevents him from doing so, but made it clear that those who have been tested have been negative.
When asked by reporters if anyone in the state had been stated, Rivkees said law states the following criteria:
“Someone has to be highly infectious by nature. At the present time coronavirus is viewed moderately infectious. Second there’s no risk of public spread. You can only get coronavirus from someone who has coronavirus. Third, if a person has COVID-19 and you can’t identify their contacts.”.
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