Rep. Mucarsel-Powell to self-isolate after visiting an unsafe area in nursing home
Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell said Thursday she will selfisolate until she receives the result of a COVID-19 test after visiting a nursing home on behalf of constituents in the Florida Keys.
Mucarsel-Powell said she visited the Crystal Health and Rehab Center in Tavernier on Tuesday after hearing from the family members of residents who were upset that the facility did not immediately disclose that 15 residents and six staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
After calling the facility and getting no answer, Mucarsel-Powell said she drove there and met with the facility director, who assured her that their meeting area was safe.
“After a brief meeting, the director made a commitment to me that families of residents would begin receiving more complete and more prompt information,” MucarselPowell said in a statement. “I was later notified that this area was unsafe and that I was possibly exposed to COVID-19, which validates my constituents’ serious concerns with this facility. I will be working from home, and my family and I are not exhibiting symptoms.”
A Crystal Health and Rehab Center employee said the manager who met with Mucarsel-Powell was not working on Thursday, when a Miami Herald reporter called.
The congresswoman said she went inside the nursing home and spoke with the home’s director in a “safe zone” while wearing a mask. Later, MucarselPowell said was told she shouldn’t have been invited inside because that violates current state guidelines prohibiting visitors at nursing facilities.
“Out of an abundance of caution and following the advice of healthcare professionals, I will be getting tested for coronavirus, and will remain in self-quarantine until I have the test results back and my doctor says it is safe for me to leave my home,” Mucarsel-Powell said.
Mucarsel-Powell is in her first-term as a member of Congress, representing parts of Miami-Dade County and the Florida
Keys and will likely face Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez in the November general election.
BLIMP WILL HONOR FRONT-LINE WORKERS
With most live sporting events canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the iconic Goodyear Blimp has been grounded for months.
But that’s about to change.
On Friday and Saturday, the blue, white and yellow Wingfoot Two aircraft — which is almost as long as a football field and taller than eight pro-basketball players stacked — will fly over 11 Florida hospitals from Miami Beach to West Palm Beach to thank healthcare workers for being on the front line fighting the virus. On Sunday, the blimp will provide aerial coverage of the Champions for Charity celebrity golf match in Jupiter, which is raising money for COVID-19 charities.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing work and sacrifices of the COVID-19 essential healthcare personnel,” said Jeff Capek, Goodyear’s chief pilot of Wingfoot Two, in an email. “We wanted to mark Wingfoot Two’s first flight since February by paying tribute to these brave heroes with a heartfelt ‘thank you’ message and hopefully provide a small bright spot amid these unprecedented times.”
The blimp’s LED screen will display a “Thank you” message about hospitals including Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood and St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
This is not the only skyhigh tribute to front line workers. On Saturday, in honor of Memorial Day, there will be a “Salute Flight” as part of The National Salute to America’s Heroes, presented by Hyundai, along with the Homestead U.S. Air Force base and the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami.
SIX CHILDREN HAVE ILLNESS
Florida’s surgeon general is asking doctors to notify the health department of any suspected cases of children with an inflammatory illness believed to be connected to COVID-19. At least six children in South Florida are hospitalized for the “rare complication.” Two of the kids are being cared for at Holtz Children’s Hospital in Miami, part of Jackson Health System, and are “receiving appropriate treatment in the pediatric intensive care unit, and are showing signs of improvement,” Jackson Health System said in an emailed statement to the Miami Herald Tuesday.
Two others are receiving treatment at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital near South Miami and two more at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, part of Memorial Healthcare System. All three hospitals declined to give details about the patients or when they were hospitalized.
VIRUS NUMBERS
Florida’s Department of Health on Thursday morning confirmed 1,204 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total of known cases to hit and surpass 48,000. The state now has a total of 48,675 confirmed cases.
There were also 48 new deaths announced, raising the statewide death toll to 2,144.
Thursday’s daily total of newly confirmed cases is the highest the state has seen since April 17, when the state was still providing updates twice a day and reported 1,413 additional cases.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Twitter that Thursday’s spike in cases is because the state “received another big dump” of “more than 50,000” test results.
More than half of the new cases and new deaths were in South Florida:
Miami-Dade County reported 333 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 13 new deaths. The county’s confirmed total is now at 16,367 with 602 deaths, the highest in the state.
Broward County reported 107 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one new death. The county’s confirmed total is now at 6,514 with 286 deaths.
Palm Beach County saw 192 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 17 new deaths. The county’s known total is now at 4,968 with 308 deaths.
Monroe County did not confirm any additional cases of the disease and no new deaths. The Keys death toll remains at three.
FIU CLOSES TESTING SITE
The COVID-19 testing site staffed by Florida International students and faculty on the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition grounds had to close Thursday for disinfecting after an asymptomatic member of the site management team tested positive, FIU spokeswoman Maydel Santana said.
FIU could not say when its site will reopen. The site opened on April 8 and has tested 10,000 people ages 12 and older whether they had symptoms or not.
Appointments for COVID-19 tests are available daily at several locations by calling 305-499-8767. The call center opens at 9 a.m. and takes appointments for the following day until slots are filled.