Governor: Florida has two cases of coronavirus

Two people in Florida have tested presumptively positive for the corona virus, including a resident of Manatee County and a resident of Hillsborough County, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Sunday night.

DeSantis said he is ordering a public health emergency in Florida because of the test results.

“…Because of the foregoing conditions, I direct the State Health Office and Surgeon General, Dr. Rivkees, to declare a public health emergency in the State of Florida,”

DeSantis said in a document. “… I direct the State Health office to take any action necessary to protect the public health.”

The Venice Gondolier reported Sunday night that a patient at Sarasota’s Doctors Hospital was being treated for coronavirus. The newspaper said a letter was distributed to hospital patients about the situation. “The letter from Sunday states the hospital was notified by the Centers for Disease Control that ‘we have a patient in our facility who presumptively tested positive for COVID-19,’” the newspaper reported.

DeSantis’ order said the Florida Department of Health will actively monitor anyone considered a “person under investigation” — who will be isolated or quarantined — for at least 14 days.

The emergency order said, “It is necessary and appropriate to take action to ensure that COVID-19 remains controlled and that residents and visitors in Florida remain safe and secure.” The governor will have two press conferences on Monday — at 10:30 a.m. in Tampa and 2 p.m. in Miami.