State to give $500K to help fight coronavirus

Floridian tests positive for virus in Washington state

Florida will get $500,000 to help with the state’s response to the coronavirus, federal officials announced Wednesday, as Gov. Ron DeSantis said a Floridian in Washington state tested positive for the virus.

Aside from the latest case in Washington — a 64-year-old man — three people in Florida have tested positive for the virus. DeSantis did not share any other details about the Washington case. The other three cases have been in Manatee and Hillsborough counties. One of those is a Californian who was diagnosed in Hillsborough County.

During a visit to Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando on Wednesday, DeSantis said the risk in Florida — and the United States — remains low.

“We are not advocating any disruption to daily life,” he said. “And obviously, we’re working with the CDC, if that guidance were to change.”

He added that the elderly or people with underlying conditions are most at risk.

“And so we have been working closely with our nursing homes, assisted living facilities, providing them with kind of guidance to limit access if somebody is showing symptoms to those,” he said.

On Wednesday, federal health officials said they’re providing Florida with $500,000 to help with the state’s response to the virus.

“The Trump Administration is acting swiftly through every avenue we have to ensure state and local governments have the support they need to combat this outbreak,” said Health and Human Secretary Alex Azar in a news release.

The initial funding is meant to help states and local jurisdictions who need immediate assistance for activities such as monitoring of travelers, data management, lab equipment, supplies, shipping and staffing, officials said.

Meanwhile, President Trump said on Tuesday that he was donating his $100,000 quarterly salary to HHS to help with coronavirus response.

Nationally, Capitol Hill negotiators have reached agreement on an $8.3 billion measure to battle the coronavirus outbreak that’s spreading and threatening a major shock to the economy and disruptions to everyday life in the U.S.

On Wednesday, Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshall Jimmy Patronis made a stop at Orlando’s Emergency Operations Center as part of a state-wide tour to speak with first responders about coronavirus. He said that first responders in Florida are ready and up-to-date.

“We’re more battle-tested in the state of Florida than any other state,” Patronis said.

Orange County and Orlando fire-rescue officials said they’re reminding first responders to wash their hands, decontaminate their trucks and equipment after calls and wear protective equipment such as respirators, masks, goggles and gloves on calls that involve suspected coronavirus cases.

For such cases that come through a 911 call, the fire department will dispatch only two people instead of the usual five or six, to reduce exposure.

Officials said all area hospitals are prepared to receive suspected coronavirus cases.

Orlando fire chief Ben Barksdale said he has ordered 7,000 N95 masks and expects to receive them in one or two weeks.

There have been more than 95,000 coronavirus cases around the world and 3,200 deaths.

There have been at least 148 cases in the United States and 11 deaths so far.

In Florida, 247 people are being monitored, according to the Florida Department of Health website, which was last updated at noon on Tuesday.