Jacob Ogles
Members of Gov. Ron DeSantis administration say there’s no shelter-in-place order on the horizon for Florida. But the need for one is being re-assessed every day.
In a phone conversation with state lawmakers, Jared Moskowitz, director of the Division Emergency Management, said DeSantis has looked closely at similar orders that were issued in California and New York.
But there’s a progression that would likely occur before a “stay-home” order was issued here. The Governor would likely order only essential businesses could open and put in place a statewide curfew before considering such a step.
“At the moment, there is nothing to announce or on the horizon,” Moskowitz said.
He also said DeSantis is concerned about the mental health toll such an order will deliver. That’s especially concerning as there’s no timeline on how the pandemic will impact the life of Floridians.
“If you close for 14 days, who’s to say it will open again on the 15th day,” Moskowitz stressed
Both Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, and Sen. Lori Berman, a Delray Beach Democrat, said they have received calls from a number of constituents expressing a desire for a shelter-in-place order.
Moskowitz noted that in New York there was a couple days notice before a stay-home order went into effect.
Much of the call with lawmakers addressed the challenging logistics in preparing the state for a rapidly increasing number of positive tests.
On Sunday, the number of positive cases climbed above 1,000 in Florida for the first time.
Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said he can’t give a projection at this rate for how many cases the state will ultimately see. But state officials are preparing for the worst.
The state saw its first positive test on March 1. In the subsequent weeks, the state has monitored exposure and growth rates. But it’s still early to get a handle on growth trends.
The state has prepared for a “medical surge” if necessary. The state has 60,000 available hospital beds, and has purchased 3,000 more. There’s plans being put in motion to establish isolation centers so patients can be kept out of hospitals to reduce exposure for other patients and staff.
The new beds can also be used to utilize wings of hospitals not in use, and officials are exploring how abandoned hospital facilities throughout the state could be used.
Mary Mayhew, Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, said she’s been in regular contact with nursing homes and assisted living facilities statewide about the importance of screening staff and reducing exposure.
The state is expecting a supply of 1,500 collection swabs to come in soon and a similar sized delivery in a week. About millions of new N95 medical masks have been purchased by the state and will come in through the week to help reduce exposure for medical professionals.
44 comments
Marlene
March 22, 2020 at 8:14 pm
Should have been ordered weeks go. The Governor is an idiot and a sycophant.
John Kociuba
March 22, 2020 at 8:33 pm
Oh shut the hell up you filthy lowlife Communist! America has a Constitution and rule of law! Obviously something you know nothing about! Go to California or New York if the Constitution bothers you!
Shut the whole State down? 21.3 million people for 1,000 cases x 3 projected infections? 3,000 people?
TURN YOUR TV OFF!
Maria
March 23, 2020 at 4:32 am
Almost 800 deaths per day in Italy doesn’t make you think? It is better to prevent than to have to live such a horror. You might need to turn on your TV and see the world. Italians have been telling us to not make their mistakes but yes, there are people who don’t listen not because they are deaf but because they don’t want to.
Thomas Knapp
March 23, 2020 at 5:31 am
Yes, Italy makes me think. It makes me think about the facts that their population is four times as dense, has twice the smoking rate, and is six years older at median age than ours, in addition to having worse air quality and a medical philosophy of palliative rather than curative care for elderly patients with multiple conditions.
And it makes me think about the fact that their “lockdown” didn’t work while South Korea’s non-“lockdown” did.
Making yourself feel good that “something was done” is not the same thing as doing the right things.
Shad
March 23, 2020 at 11:43 am
Yes South Korea did it without a lockdown but they were rigourlously testing something we are far behind on. All money is not good money.
PaulDF
March 24, 2020 at 9:34 am
As you well know, the ONLY thing that matters ~ THE ONLY THING ~ is that Trump is blamed for this crisis. Facts do not matter, truth does not matter, absolutely nothing else matters. Trump MUST be blamed for this! Why? Because it’s the ONLY thing that the Socialists have left!
Pissed Off
March 23, 2020 at 12:01 pm
And it’s people like you that will cause this virus to claim more lives. Pull your head out of your ass and pay attention!
V
March 23, 2020 at 12:56 pm
😳
That is really uncalled for…
Kate
March 23, 2020 at 1:55 pm
It seems logical that allowing the virus to spread is Not the answer….so far, 60,000 beds and purchased 3,000 more
Maria
March 23, 2020 at 4:29 am
AGREE HE SHOULD NOT DELAY THIS DECISION!
Be prudent not hysterical
March 23, 2020 at 8:14 am
DeSantis is doing a great job.
Total lockdown will destroy the economy and people’s businesses and lives financially.
Bars and restaurants and beaches are closed. Disneyworld Busch Gardens, Sea World etc.
We are flattening the curb, people are social distancing we need to ride this out. South Korea flattened theirs without a lockdown.
Wash your hands stay away from people and esp who are sick.
Tom
March 23, 2020 at 8:31 pm
So are you
Angry Floridian
March 22, 2020 at 8:29 pm
So, throw all the sick in isolation centers… that’s your answer… all this plan will do is prevent people from getting tested for fear of ending up in one of these “centers.” More sick people infecting the rest. Give the order to shelter in home, you idiot.
John Kociuba
March 22, 2020 at 8:36 pm
Another dummy! So sick of these uneducated CNN/MSNBC couch commandos who despise our Constitution!
Yes! The infected go to isolation centers because that’s how you deal with airborne viruses.
HON. FL. GOV. RON DESANTIS IS AN EXCELLENT LEADER!
Angry Floridian
March 22, 2020 at 8:47 pm
“airborne” who’s the dummy?
John Orriola
March 23, 2020 at 8:58 pm
They are often airborne, falling droplets. Not aerosolized meaning sprayed with some intent like from a can.
Shad
March 23, 2020 at 11:46 am
So if you get sick I assume you are willingly going to go because you are obviously not willing to have a mandate to shelter/stay home. Let’s stop it before we have to make that choice for you.
Christopher Kennard
March 25, 2020 at 7:19 pm
You have got to be kidding . . . yes?
John orriola
March 25, 2020 at 7:38 pm
Do you understand English? GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS The ONE WHO MADE THE PRESIDENT DECLARE FLORIDA AS DISASTER AREA! There have only been 5 declared. You are pulling my leg right? If we don’t control our own behaviors, those isolation centers, the nurses, the cops, the firemen, the doctors will be overrun. You’re gonna make me call you names. If nothing else, just shut up. This is not about political party politics. Are you expecting government to do it all for you? Stand up man, take charge, you can do it. Be a leader. Protect your family and community so those isolation centers on which you seem to depend, don’t get overrun. Even foreign countries like New York and California are showing you the way. Pay attention. Kudlow, Trump, Mnuchin, all agree with me. Not with the dribble you continue to spew. I’m just saying shelter in place, not amputate your head.
Martha R.
March 23, 2020 at 4:34 am
He is worried for the mental health, as if the physical health and deaths were less important… this is unacceptable! The history will judge him badly! The world needs smart caring leaders not slow uncaring people!
V
March 23, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Matriarchal Mother Earth asked for us to listen. For example, Red tide and no action. Patriarchal fellows are getting their butts kicked by the divine feminine. Put us gals in charge and we will make this happen! Let the experts lead, the politicians should go in a room and plan the future.( Good luck “It is the end of the world as we know it!” GA girl come to FL! ) Since our governments at all levels refused to prepare, still appear not to be LEADING it is up to EVERYMAN to step up personal responsibility, increase our compassion, and rely on innovation. This was declared a war by Health experts, we need to start acting that way. Pull the bandaid off and get it over with. Rather lock down for 3 weeks and have a chance at a modicum of success with this deck of cards dealt to get our attention. Today I heard of underground movement of 3D printers, slowly but surely making face shields. Matching the supply with the need via a database. We all have something we can do from a place of love for our planet and fellow man.
Shaman O'Sarcasm
March 24, 2020 at 12:05 am
Honestly, shelter in place is something anyone can do without a government mandate. You don’t need big gov’t to tell you what to do. Just do it yourself. And watch how easily you’ll avoid COVID-19!!! Stop asking the gov’t to be your enforcer and bully. Jackboot gov’t intervention is not good for a free society….
John Orriola
March 24, 2020 at 12:26 am
I like it. Shelter in place is my own business.
Thomas Knapp
March 22, 2020 at 8:45 pm
Let me make this simple:
Floridians have put up with quite a bit of nonsense in humoring our politicians’ attempts to appease the panicked, but we won’t put up with that.
No such order will be obeyed, nor should it be.
It will be ignored.
And if attempts are made to enforce it, then things will get REALLY ugly. Especially for the enforcers and their bosses.
Christopher Kennard
March 22, 2020 at 10:53 pm
We called our local Medicare provider in Marion County, Florida, regarding our symptoms that seemed to track the symptoms that medical authorities around the world have described, including the few who seem to know anything of value in America.
Our guy asked us questions provided by the federal CDC for telephonic “coronavirus exam” that, in truth, seemed to be designed to tell folks they did not have the coronavirus, however we were to consider ourselves on house confinement and to “self isolate” ourselves . . . .
The symptoms that coronavirus create are fever that may fluctuate between a high fever and low to moderate fever. . . coughing . . . fatigue and lastly, great difficulty in breathing . . . an acute shortness of breath, which evidently is the prime “indicator” for having the coronavirus.
To our surprise, without the issue of acute shortness of breath or trouble breathing for those older people past the age of 65, like we are, YOU GOT NO PROBLEM!
You do not have coronavirus, according to the CDC telephone “examination” if you can’t breathe, and the results of these questions asked over the telephone, instead of relying upon a virus test or a physical exam or even being visually “seen” by a physician in Florida, were sufficient for the purpose of definitively determining whether you had coronavirus or not. Go figure!
We are two 68 year olds who now believe we both had the coronavirus, and one 95 year old who has not experienced any symptoms whatsoever, other than sleeping a lot during last couple of days. We were told that people aged 95 do not develop any symptoms, per se but rather immediately suffer dramatic health issues that often may lead to death. This was disconcerting to hear.
So, we asked, what if we do have this virus? Isn’t he in danger, since we all live in the same house?
We were told if he is sleeping a lot, call 911. Otherwise, we did not fit the CDC profile for contracting the coronavirus since we had not recently been on a cruise ship or travelled abroad or directly had contact with someone who had the coronavirus . . . despite having most of the symptoms . . . it could be the flu (which I have not had in nearly 40 years or more).
He concluded that even if we did not likely have the coronavirus, we should consider ourselves to be confined to the house under the order of “self isolation”.
We concluded that whoever we spoke to did not know as much as many of the commentators on TV who have discussed the coronavirus in the last day or two.
We also figure this telephone exam’s primary purpose was to discern those who were on the verge of death and get them out of sight, fast . . . and push the rest of folks off who were asking to have a virus test taken, due to circumstances like ours . . . both of us being ill for several days, exhibiting the bulk of the symptoms, and having a 95 year old living at home with us . . . who hasn’t gotten sick yet!
Nope! No test! Stay at home and best of luck, folks! And no, cannabis may cure cancer, but not the coronavirus, best to our knowledge!
UPDATE!
The best clear and correct “list” of coronavirus symptoms I have read thus far.
I am posting this article so those who may have had personal contact with me can be aware that I have been ill for 10 days thus far . . . and may have been contagious by Monday, March 8th 2020 but certainly by Wednesday, March 11th. I did not have any symptoms or feel I was ill until Friday March 13th.
I have had this coronavirus for the last 10 days, (Friday, March 13th) just before Bernie campaign events began to be cancelled (GVL folks coming to Ocala on Sat. March 14th to canvass & library meeting for 2nd canvass – and Sunday March 15th Bernie library meeting both cancelled on Friday).
Symptoms I have had were: extreme fatigue; headache, sneezed and coughed up a thick white mucus phlegm, had a slight temperature, and slept for a day and half. I remained extremely weak and tired, foggy minded, with a low grade fever and pretty much slept much of the time until Tuesday, March 17th Election Day, when I took Carl (my 95 year old Father-in-Law) to go vote, came back and went to sleep again. Carl has not contracted this virus as yet, five days later, and may not have been contaminated by me, since I was not sneezing or coughing after the first day I became ill. However, he still could develop this virus, since some folks do not come down with it until two weeks later. We are saying our prayers.
Because this coronavirus is having such an impact on our Florida and national Bernie campaign, I posted this article so other folks may have a better idea of what this virus feels like for those with moderate cases of the coronavirus.
If you are not coughing or sneezing, it may be possible not to get other folks sick if you maintain the recommended six feet away from them. The white mucus phlegm is evidently the primary issue regarding the breathing difficult leading to the death of many.
Regarding this article about DeSantis refusing to order everyone off the streets and to stay home until test kits, protective masks, gloves, etc. arrive in the necessary quantities to protect health workers and all Florida citizens, visitors, etc.
Like Trump . . . held back information Floridians should have known without delay; DeSantis risks the health and welfare of all Florida citizens, particularly those who are elderly and/or those who already have other health issues . . . just so he can dog trot behind the “Master”. Hmmm.
If we do not impeach him first . . . since he too, was involved in the 2016 “stolen election” and knew some or all of the Russians involved, as many photos reveal, his next “election” is 2024 . . . millions of us are waiting for the day!
Sonja Emily Fitch
March 23, 2020 at 7:31 am
STAY IN PLACE TIL MAY 1 GOVERNOR DESANTIS. FLORIDA WILL LOOK LIKE ITALY, CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK. PASS THE MONEY FOR AMERICAN POCKETS. COME BACK IN JULY AND DOLLARS FOR BUSINESS.
SIR STAY IN PLACE NOW.]
STFU TRUMP …SELF QUARANTINE AND STOP TWITTER AND LOCK IN A CAGE….STFU TRUMP
DESANTIS I HAD HOPE FOR YOU. STOP WORRING ABOUT THE MONEY AND START REPRESENTING ALL IN FLORIDA. BE A DAMN LEADER.
steve barrett
March 23, 2020 at 4:32 pm
Spoken like a TRUE snowflake
J Feller
March 23, 2020 at 9:44 am
Most of the largest population states have already ordered a shelter in place to stop the spread of the virus. Texas and Florida absolutely must do their part and order a shelter in place. We all must do our part for the greater community. It is selfish not to order or support a manditory shelter policy during this crisis.
suzanne souto
March 23, 2020 at 10:57 am
It is so easy for senior citizens or retired persons to say “shelter in place”. You don’t have a business to run with employees depending on you for a paycheck so they can feed their children. What is your solution for the residents of Florida they do not get a not get a Social Security check or a pension check? I was brought up with the mentality don’t just state the problem work out a solution beneficial for all. Sonja Emily Fitch, Have you spoken with a single mother who works at a restaurant & told her to stop worrying about the money. I have and she is plenty worried !!!! One last note, Florida snowbirds, in the future, please don’t complain not being able to water your grass & it is turning brown & dying when there is a water shortage. Thank you, from a Florida Born & raised American Citizen
V
March 23, 2020 at 12:22 pm
3K in test swabs for a state this size that will likely be worse than NY due to our demographics. I have already been at home for 7 weeks, with a “Flu” that came and then came again. Then bronchitis. I have to care for a immune compromised person with multiple complications, have I been sick with COVID or not ? Paid for a tele doctor like leaders advised, still not 100%. Where do I go to get assistance ? Do I need to waste masks and gloves to care for the at risk person ? Could I volunteer to help since I have formal computer training and once was a phlebotomist ? I gave up social events and paid for tickets while sick. I did my part before there was a part. People this weekend on the beaches when closed, sandbar parties and then they want a government check if they get sick… Come on, the flood is coming where are the lifeboats. Who gets in what boat ? Sick, been sick, not sick we have a right to know. Wasting precious time. Figure out how to assist your citizens now, tomorrow, and in the future…
V
March 23, 2020 at 12:32 pm
BTW I paid for a COVID-19 evaluation with the tele doc. I was reported to the health department for FLU stats. Manatee Co have not contacted me. We had PT 1 in the state of FL… I believe I had COVID at the beginning of FEBRUARY a few days after attending a Super Bowl gathering… You can not ask people to do their part and they give them zero support. Focus on health and the dollars will follow in time. Tourist will return, air travel will resume, our life will become better if we learn but now is time to ACT… Is Florida already in the bidding war for masks ?
John Orriola
March 23, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Empires fall. Heard once lead in ceramic wine goblets help Rome’s decline. Don’t know if it’s true. Thinking/hoping/wishing/praying wouldn’t have helped in the wine story. I know we don’t drink lead anymore. Abundance of caution? What if those who are posting here who are willing to shelter in place but the others who say no don’t? if we all sheltered in place, as suggested by the battle weary Italians, the spread would be more contained but due to our rugged individualism, the governor might have to bring the wood. Some have even suggested to let it run it’s course, then pick up the pieces. This last one is the choice of the rugged individualist, by default. You all have choices, both with and without the government, who will never please or save all of us. Take care of yourself and share with the like minded only because the doors of the un like minded will be closed, so don’t worry about them and don’t hate. In a few months everyone will be on trial at one court or another. There well be reckoning and accounting.
Micky
March 23, 2020 at 2:56 pm
My husband is right this minute quitting his minimum wage job here that we use to supplement our income for retirement. We both have underlying health issues and cannot risk working with the public. Because there has been no shelter in place order by the coward in office, the choice for many is to lose their job or risk getting this very contagious and deadly desease. Many, many employees would chose not to risk contracting this desease by working but are being forced to work or lose their jobs. That is the choice being forced on Floridians by this Governor! I voted for him but I will never do it again!
Thomas Knapp
March 23, 2020 at 3:02 pm
OMG! Forced to work or lose a job? The horror!
John Orriola
March 23, 2020 at 3:13 pm
You seem like a very nice man with nobody with whom to shelter in place. Good rugged individualism. brah.
John Orriola
March 24, 2020 at 4:37 pm
Florida is growing cv19 at 20% per day. Using the rule of 72, gov. DeSantis calculator should indicate that in 3.5 days today’s 1400 become 2800, 3 days later, 5600; 2.5 days later 11000. And it won’t go forever is true, but keep in mind that in 13 days or fewer, at this stage where the virus is hungry and feeding itself, we’re NEW YORK. none of the graphs of any country indicate the contrary. Some of you reading this should use gov. DeSantis calculator. Coincidently, this is around the date of trumps goal of re-opening business. I don’t mind being wrong. I want to be wrong. But just in case, shelter in place and you don’t need anyone’s permission or authorization. Take care of yourself family even neighbors who don’t believe by shutting down. Prayer is optional, do the former first. Think of it like the movie the Blob from the 50s. It was a thick liquid that flowed, through, over, under everywhere. If it touched you, goodbye. If you shelter in place, it can’t feed and it recedes, like a zombie thing it needs us to manifest. covid19 I mean. I don’t remember what happened to the blob. From start to finish, Wuhan was 5 months. They sheltered commie style, but dangerous times call for aggressive measures. It wouldn’t be government intervention if we took on what is our responsibility voluntarily, conscientiously, to protect ourselves our communities even our neighbors who don’t believe. Volunteer.
Thomas L. Knapp
March 24, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Yes, if we take an arbitrary multiplier, scare the bejabbers out of ourselves with it, ignore the differences in temperature, humidity, population density, location, etc., it is possible to construct a fantasy under which we become New York.
In the real world, not that likely.
John Orriola
March 24, 2020 at 5:04 pm
You are very uninformed and most likely have several areas of expertise and knowledge, but this is way out of your league. So we can agree to disagree. But readers beware. In the meantime, sheltering in place conscientiously, by the whole community would help and wouldn’t hurt. Otherwise, you waste a lot of time looking for all those temperatures, levels of humidity and population densities then multiply all those babies and end up at shelter in place or live in the Grand Canyon and shelter in place less (that’s for your population density concerns).
Shaman O'Sarcasm
March 24, 2020 at 8:19 pm
Nice use of hyperbole and hysteria. This post reads like a daytime soap opera scripted by a lonely spinster with more cats than common sense. 11K in 2.5 days? Are you serious or a fatalist and are actively wishing for tragedy to fall on Florida to make the governor look bad in order to puff out your chest and crow about how right you were? Sad, pathetic excuse for a fellow human. When we should be coming together as a nation, you are acting more like the party that is holding the coronavirus relief package hostage in order to push the green new deal package through. Way to go!!!
John orriola
March 24, 2020 at 7:20 pm
Do you realize the president referenced Nebraska as a state of low incidence yesterday in news conference. Good thing for Florida that we’re the mirror spitting image of NEBRASKA. He is acting like this huge assemblage of all kinds of businesses and organizations is about the size of, don’t get me wrong, NEBRASKA. Oh, their cv19 is growing at 20%. Individual cities are working it out, but a protective blanket of real protection from our top boss, leadership, Mano e mano. Dude this is the kick ass state of Florida, the destination of the world, sun, Tom Brady, for goodness sake. What is he doing?
John orriola
March 24, 2020 at 8:37 pm
It would be 11000 the 9th day, 3rd day 2800, or double today. In line with what the very trump government is reporting as well as the rest of the world dealing with and what’s been happening. Unless ALL THISE DEAD ITALIANS, CHINESE, SPANIARDS., NEW YORKERS, Californians ARE JUST LYING TO SPITE YOU while you still think its a hoax. Reading and arithmetic are important. Email me in 10 days, brah. I hope to all you hold dear that I am wrong and out of line. All I’m saying is everyone should shelter in place. You can do what you like but don’t propagate bad information that serves no purpose. I have no idea what the green new deal is other than that I have heard the term, you’re like the third time. I’ll look it up, it may be a good idea, from listening to your version.
John Orriola
March 25, 2020 at 7:03 pm
I am revising, because instead of 3 days to 2800, we will blow past that in 2 days. Today we reached 2000, grew by 500+. This will end but not soon enough. Trump declared Florida a disaster area on DeSantis’ request. We can play political word games another time. Shelter in place, let’s protect ourselves and thereby each other.
John orriola
April 1, 2020 at 4:18 pm
My post of the 24th March indicates that the seven days that have passed since, proves, that dumb ass dude like myself knew where we would be today. Many Florida fatalities are on DeSantis’ head. He should be tried on criminal charges when this all over. I had hopes or him but he drinks the White House bile. Shame on Him, for hiding his head in th we sand. He really SUCKS
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