March 14, Evening Update: 77 Yr Old Lee County Man Died From COVID 19 – No Reported Polk County Cases At This Time

TALLAHASSEE — The State of Florida is responding to COVID-19. In an effort to keep Florida residents and visitors safe and aware regarding the status of the virus, the Florida Department of Health will issue this update every day, seven days per week.

The Florida Department of Health has confirmed an individual who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 has died. The individual was a 77-year old male in Lee County.

Governor Ron DeSantis is in constant communication with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz and State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees as the State of Florida continues to monitor and respond to the threat of COVID-19.

During a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center Saturday, the Governor provided several additional updates on Florida’s efforts to respond to COVID-19:

• Governor DeSantis requested that Health and Human Services send home the 61 Floridians that were previously aboard the Grand Princess cruise line, home from isolation from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.
• Governor DeSantis has directed the Department of Health to hire additional epidemiologists from university health programs to help with workload.
• Governor DeSantis has directed the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to extend all existing nursing home and ALF licenses for 90 days to remove distraction from patient care.
• Governor DeSantis directed Director Moskowitz to expand his emergency order and prohibit all visitation to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family-care homes, long-term care facilities and adult group homes to all visitors for the next 30 days.
• Governor DeSantis directed the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to suspend drivers’ license renewal requirements for 30 days.
• Governor DeSantis directed all agencies to suspend for 30 days licensing and registration renewal requirements for existing processional licenses (e.g. realtors).

Governor DeSantis has recommended that local authorities strongly consider canceling mass gatherings and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. CDC has issued recommendations for implementation of mitigation strategies in Florida, including recommendations to cancel large gatherings of more than 250 people and smaller gatherings that may bring persons together from multiple parts of the country.

Florida Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has provided strong recommendations for extending spring break following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issuing guidance specific to COVID-19 in Florida. In addition, the Department of Education announced that the start of state testing will be delayed by a minimum of two weeks.

On March 9, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-52, declaring a State of Emergency for COVID-19. By declaring a State of Emergency, Governor DeSantis is ensuring that state and local governments have the resources and flexibility they need to prepare and respond.

COVID-19 Cases

Florida Residents Diagnosed in Florida
	County	Age	Sex	Travel Related*
1	Manatee	63	Male	No
2	Hillsborough	29	Female	Yes
3	Santa Rosa	71	Male	Yes
4	Broward	75	Male	No
5	Broward	65	Male	No
6	Lee	77	Female	Yes
7	Lee	77	Male	Yes
8	Charlotte	54	Female	Yes
9	Okaloosa	61	Female	Yes
10	Volusia	66	Female	Yes
11	Manatee	81	Female	Yes
12	Broward	67	Male	No
13	Volusia	60	Female	Yes
14	Broward	69	Female	No
15	Nassau	68	Male	Yes
16	Collier	73	Male	Yes
17	Collier	68	Female	Yes
18	Collier	64	Female	Yes
19	Pinellas	67	Male	Yes
20	Pinellas	64	Male	Yes
21	Pasco	46	Male	Yes
22	Miami-Dade	56	Male	Yes
23	Broward	70	Male	Under Investigation
24	Broward	61	Male	Yes
25	Broward	65	Male	Under Investigation
26	Lee	57	Male	Yes
27*	Seminole	68	Male	Yes
28	Palm Beach	73	Male	Yes
29	Palm Beach	74	Male	Yes
30	Sarasota	50	Female	Yes
31	Miami-Dade	42	Male	Under Investigation
32	Alachua	24	Male	Yes
33	Volusia	70	Female	Yes
34	Duval	83	Male	No
35	Clay	57	Male	No
36	Broward	27	Female	No
37	Broward	25	Female	No
38	Hillsborough	68	Female	Yes
39	Broward	36	Male	Yes
40	Broward	49	Female	Yes
41	Lee	77	Male	No
42	Orange	41	Male	Under Investigation
43	Osceola	54	Male	Under Investigation
44	Miami-Dade	51	Male	Under Investigation
45	Manatee	67	Female	Yes
46	Manatee	62	Female	No
47	Volusia	29	Male	Yes
48	Palm Beach	59	Female	Yes
49	Palm Beach	65	Male	Yes
50	Miami-Dade	42	Male	Under Investigation
51	Miami-Dade	77	Female	Under Investigation
52	Broward	59	Male	Under Investigation
53	Miami-Dade	37	Male	Yes
54	Miami-Dade	39	Female	Under Investigation
55	Broward	20	Female	Yes
56	Broward	83	Female	Under Investigation
57	Broward	41	Male	Under Investigation
58	Broward	20	Female	Yes
59	Broward	19	Female	Yes
60	Broward	22	Female	Under Investigation
61	Broward	19	Male	Yes
62	Broward	58	Male	Under Investigation
63	Miami-Dade	43	Male	Under Investigation
64	Palm Beach	37	Male	Under Investigation

*A known history of exposure to COVID-19 associated with travel outside of Florida.