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Home My WebLink About03/11/20 - Situational Awareness ReportThis message is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY and serves as an informational, planning, and situational awareness update intended only for government and authorized emergency response officials. Department of Public Safety LUCIE .- Division of Emergency Management g R CCILO1 Ron Parrish, MPA, CFO, EFO, Director # www.stlucieco.gov/eoc 772-462-8100 FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Emergency Management Situational Awareness Report Date/Time: On Call Officer: EOC Activation Level: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 1000 hrs. Gustavo Vilchez Level 3 - Normal Operations Rainfall in St. Lucie County — MTD: Rainfall in St. Lucie County — YTD: Departure from Normal: 0.02" 3.17" -3.36" Situation Summary: COVID-19 Update - On March 10, 2020, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) announced eight (8) new positive cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). FDOH is advising all individuals who have traveled internationally to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention guidelines. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department's dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-(866) 779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours a day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.eov. See attachments for full details. Weather Summary: No significant weather hazards forecasted for the rest of the week. Today there is a slight chance of showers between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mostly sunny with a high near 79 degrees. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. The rest of the week through Sunday, temperatures will be in the range of mid-70s down to mid-60s. For more information go to: http://www.weather.gov/mIb Protective Measures: COVID-19 Prevention and Protection Guidelines for Employees • Protect yourself and your community from the Corona Virus of 2019 (COVID-19). Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol -based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay home when you are sick. • A video on COVID-19 is found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIL5m5XznNY • Stay informed from local and national news, media, and email updates from state and federal partners.: o https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html o www.floridahealth.gov/ o 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) o Florida Department of Health 1-(866) 779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours a day • County departments and divisions, as well as agency partners of the EOC should review their Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan for updated essential functions, essential employees, alternate work capabilities (e.g., telework; alternate schedules), and access to vital records. • See Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 • Contact the FDOH dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-(866) 779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours a day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov. The EOC continues to monitor news, traffic, and local weather for potential hazards. Distribution: County Admin; Commissioners; EM Team; Public Safety; E911 Mgrs+Spvrs, SLC Directors; Attorneys; Directors Executive Assistants; Division Managers; SLC Executive Assistants. Updated on 20200311. Previous obsolete. dEAUh FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 2020 Contact: Joint Information Center on COVID-19 for the State of Florida (850) 815-4940, ESF14(a)_em.myf1orida.com Florida Department of Health Announces New Positive COVID-19 Cases in Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Department of Health has announced eight new positive cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Florida. To keep Florida residents and visitors safe and aware about the status of the virus, the Department is issuing regular updates as information becomes available. New Positive Cases A 68-year old male in Nassau County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel -related case. A 68-year old female Georgia resident who is currently in Alachua County, Florida, has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. The Georgia Department of Public Health is leading the epidemiological investigation for this individual. A 73-year old male in Collier County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel -related case. A 68-year old female in Collier County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel -related case. 1 A 64-year old female in Collier County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel -related case. A 67-year old male in Pinellas County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel -related case. A 64-year old male in Pinellas County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel -related case. A 46-year old male in Pasco County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel -related case. 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 Vnlusia 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 e8 Female Yes 18 Collier 64 Female Yes 19 Pinellas 67 Male Yes 20 Pinellas 64 Male Yes 21 Pasco 46 Male Yes Pj *A known history of exposure to COVID-19 outside of the state. International Travel Advisory The Florida Department of Health is advising all individuals who have traveled internationally to follow the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, summarized below: Level 3: CDC recommends 14-day self -isolation and social distancing upon return to the United States. Social distancing includes avoiding going out in public and close personal interactions. If you become symptomatic, immediately self -isolate and contact your County Health Department (CHD) or health care provider. Level 2 and Cruises: Travelers should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the United States. If you become symptomatic, immediately self -isolate and contact your CHD or health care provider. For more information regarding current CDC travel advisories related to COVID-19, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html Port Everglades Advisory The Department, through an extensive epidemiological investigation, has identified three positive COVID-19 cases associated with Port Everglades in Broward County, Florida. All three cases are connected to or employed by Metro Cruise Services — a company that operates at Port Everglades. The Florida Department of Health recommends all individuals experiencing symptoms who have recently traveled through Port Everglades to immediately contact their CHD or health care provider and self -isolate for 14 Days. The Department also recommends employees of Metro Cruise Services at Port Everglades with any association to these cases self -isolate at home. The Department is working to connect with all employees at Metro Cruise Services who may have come into contact with the three individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to provide the employees with the appropriate guidance and monitoring. The Department is working in close consultation with the CDC on this investigation. 3 • CDC recommends that individuals with recent travel history on a cruise monitor their health for 14 days and, if they develop symptoms, immediately self -isolate and contact their CHD or health care provider Nile Cruise Advisory The Florida Department of Health is advising all individuals who traveled on a river cruise on the Nile River in Egypt in February 2020 to self -isolate for 14 days following their date of return to the United States. Several passengers in the United States recently developed symptoms and have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, including two positive cases in Florida. COVID Public Website and Call Center Please visit the Department's dedicated COVID-19 webpage for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department's dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-(866) 779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours a day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID- 190KIhealth. gov. Department Activities • Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a State of Emergency for COVID-19. • Governor Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to activate to Level II to coordinate the state's response to COVID-19. • Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-51 directing the State Surgeon General to declare a Public Health Emergency. • State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees declared a Public Health Emergency for the novel coronavirus in Florida. Established an Incident Management Team to coordinate response operations. Activated a dedicated incident command post for on -site response activities. :l • Conducted three public health and health care stakeholder conference calls to provide statewide updates on the current outbreak situation, response actions and guidance for pandemic planning. Over five hundred participants joined these calls. Calls are scheduled for each Wednesday at 2:00 EST. Participated with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) on statewide conference calls with nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals. Established a public call center for questions regarding COVID-19. Developed and distributed an updated COVID-19 presentation to CHDs for use at community meetings. Developed and implemented protocols for investigation, surveillance and monitoring for COVID-19 to rapidly detect and contain cases. Established mechanisms for ongoing monitoring and coordination with the CDC regarding epidemiological activities. Distributed CDC Interim Guidance for public health personnel evaluating Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) and asymptomatic close contacts of confirmed cases at their home or non -home residential settings to CHDs. Distributed the updated Clinician Screening Tool for identifying PUIs for COVID-19 and a health care provider letter regarding Enhanced Surveillance and Preparedness for COVID-19 to associations, licensed providers, Health Care Coalitions and CHDs. Implemented testing at all three State Public Health Laboratories. Distributed updated CDC guidance for schools to CHDs and the Department of Education. Distributed updated Laboratory Guidance regarding implementation of testing at State Public Health Laboratories. What you Should Know COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people 5 recover from COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The Department recommends everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of respiratory diseases, including: • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick; • Staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with persons in poor health; • Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; • Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then disposing of the tissue; • Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol -based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty; and • Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe The CDC does not recommend that asymptomatic, healthy people wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility). A person that experiences a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and any other destination under CDC travel advisory should call ahead to their health care provider and local CHD and mention their recent travel or close contact. If a person has had close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from this area or been in contact with a person with laboratory - confirmed COVID-19, they should call ahead to a health care professional and the CHD. 2 The health care provider will work with the Department to determine if the person should be tested for COVID-19. About the Florida Department of Health The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at (a)HealthyFla. For more information please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov. https:Hcontent.govdeliveLy.com/accounts/FLDEMlbulletins/2807354 Keeping the workplace safe Encourage your employees to... Practice good hygiene ■ Stop handshaking — use other noncontact methods of greeting 4) ■ Clean hands at the door and schedule regular hand washing reminders by email ■ Create habits and reminders to avoid touching their faces and cover coughs and sneezes ■ Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails regularly ■ Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning Be careful with meetings and travel Use videoconferencing for meetings when possible When not possible, hold meetings in open, well -ventilated spaces ' Consider adjusting or postponing large meetings or gatherings ■ Assess the risks of business travel Handle food carefully ` Limit food sharing ■ Strengthen health screening for cafeteria staff and their close contacts ■ Ensure cafeteria staff and their close contacts practice strict hygiene Stay home if... ■ They are feeling sick A They have a sick family member in their home What every American and community can do now to decrease the spread of the coronavirus Keeping the school safe Encourage your faculty, staff, and students to... Practice good hygiene ■ Stop handshaking — use other noncontact methods of greeting ■ Clean hands at the door and at regular intervals ■ Create habits and reminders to avoid touching their faces and cover coughs and sneezes C it ■ Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails regularly ■ Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning Consider rearranging large activities and gatherings Consider adjusting or postponing gatherings that mix between classes and grades Adjust after -school arrangements to avoid mixing between classes and grades ■ When possible, hold classes outdoors or in open, well -ventilated spaces Handle food carefully ` Limit food sharing ■ Strengthen health screening for cafeteria staff and their close contacts ■ Ensure cafeteria staff and their close contacts practice strict hygiene Stay home if... j� They are feeling sick A ■ They have a sick family member in their home What every American and community can do now to decrease the spread of the coronavirus Keeping the home safe Encourage your family members to... All households A ■ Clean hands at the door and at regular intervals ■ Create habits and reminders to avoid touching their face and cover coughs and sneezes ■ Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and handrails regularly ■ Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning Households with vulnerable seniors or those with significant underlying conditions Significant underlying conditions include heart, lung, kidney disease, diabetes, and conditions that suppress the immune system ■ Have the healthy people in the household conduct themselves as if they were a significant risk to the person with underlying conditions. For example, wash hands frequently before interacting with the person, such as by feeding or caring for the person ■ If possible, provide a protected space for vulnerable household members ■ Ensure all utensils and surfaces are cleaned regularly Households with sick family members ■ Give sick members their own room if possible, and keep the door closed ■ Have only one family member care for them ■ Consider providing additional protections or more intensive care for household members over 65 YY ) years old or with underlying conditions What every American and community can do now to decrease the spread of the coronavirus Keeping commercial establishments safe Encourage your employees and customers to... Practice good hygiene ■ Stop handshaking — use other noncontact methods of greeting ■ Clean hands at the door, and schedule regular hand washing reminders by email ■ Promote tap and pay to limit handling of cash ■ Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails regularly ■ Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning Avoid crowding Use booking and scheduling to stagger customer flow Use online transactions where possible ■ Consider limiting attendance at larger gatherings For transportation businesses, taxis, and ride shares ■ Keep windows open when possible 0 0 ■ Increase ventilation 0 ■ Regularly disinfect surfaces What every American and community can do now to decrease the spread of the coronavirus