Coronavirus patient being treated at Doctors Hospital

Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in response to two confirmed cases of COVID-19. One case is being treated in Sarasota.

By David Conway
| 10:45 a.m. March 2, 2020

The Florida Department of Health is coordinating emergency response to coronavirus statewide.

Sarasota
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Two southwest Florida residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the Florida Department of Health announced Sunday — including one Manatee County resident who has not recently visited countries where travel has been restricted because of the disease.

One patient is being treated at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s office announced in a release. Buchanan met today with Doctors Hospital CEO Robert Meade and other specialists, who said the situation was “under control” and staff was “taking every precaution possible to limit exposure to others,” according to the release.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed both Florida cases of COVID-19 today.

A letter on a Doctors Hospital letterhead circulating on social media and reported on by the Venice Gondolier on Sunday said one case of COVID-19, the disease caused by a coronavirus that first appeared in late 2019, was being treated at the hospital. Doctors Hospital said on Twitter it cannot provide information about a potential case and referred inquiry to the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County. The Florida Department of Health could not immediately be reached for comment.

Sarasota Military Academy announced on Facebook that a student and his mother were quarantined as a precautionary measure because of the mother’s “contact with a patient” at Doctors Hospital in her "professional role." The post does not specifically mention COVID-19 and says both individuals are not currently showing any symptoms.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital response

Although Sarasota Memorial Hospital had not received official confirmation of a case of COVID-19 being treated at Doctors Hospital as of Monday morning, SMH officials are focusing on ensuring they’re ready to deal with the disease.

SMH spokeswoman Kim Savage said the hospital is “taking all precautions and opperating as if there could be community spread of the disease in our area.” Savage said the hospital has been doing preliminary work for the past month, but it is now working to amplify public outreach and internal preparation efforts related to coronavirus.

The hospital has set up a webpage with information about COVID-19 and intends to have a phone hotline activated by the end of the day.

Savage said one major point of emphasis is making sure people don’t rush to the hospital if they have symptoms related to the disease. Instead, the hospital is advising people to contact their family physician for advice. If symptoms are mild, people will likely be told to stay home and monitor their condition. If the symptoms are severe, the hospital wil attempt to coordinate treatment in a manner that limits the possibility of exposure for others.

“If they have respatory symptoms, they don’t need to panic or race into their doctor’s office,” Savage said. “Chances are they just have the cold or the flu or one of the many other viruses that are circulating this time of year.”

So far, SMH has not had any patients that meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s standards for coronavirus testing.

In a release, the Florida Department of Health said both individuals who had tested positive were in isolation, and “the overall immediate threat to the public remains low.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis directed the declaration of a state of emergency Sunday, designating the Florida Department of Health as the lead agency to coordinate response to the disease.

“This is the scenario that we prepare for every day in public health,” Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees said in a release. “The department is moving forward with the appropriate plans, and we are working directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local medical providers to ensure these individuals receive the proper treatment and that anyone who has come into contact with them is following the necessary protocols, limiting or stopping any further spread.”

Symptoms of the disease include fever, cough and shortness of breath, the Florida Department of Health said. Symptoms can take between two and 14 days to appear after exposure. The department said it is working to isolate and monitor people who may have been exposed to the disease.

The department said the best way to avoid contracting the disease is to avoid exposure, recommending preventative action, including:

Avoiding contact with sick people and staying home when you are sick;
Avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands;
Covering up coughs and sneezes with a tissue, which you then properly dispose;
Frequently washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, “especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;”
Cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces you frequently touch.

More information is available on the Florida Department of Health website.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.