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After weeks of Floridians waiting and watching from afar as coronavirus spread worldwide, the deadly health epidemic has arrived in America’s third most populous state and it has brought with it a torrent of public concern and questions about the state’s preparedness.

a glass with a blue background: In this Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, photo released by Xinhua News Agency, nurses work at an ICU ward specialised for patients infected by coronavirus in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province. The fresh national figures for the disease that emerged in China in December came as the number of viral infections soared mostly in and around the southeastern city of Daegu, where they were linked to a local church and a hospital. (Xiao Yijiu/Xinhua via AP) © Xiao Yijiu, AP In this Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, photo released by Xinhua News Agency, nurses work at an ICU ward specialised for patients infected by coronavirus in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province. The fresh national figures for the disease that emerged in China in December came as the number of viral infections soared mostly in and around the southeastern city of Daegu, where they were linked to a local church and a hospital. (Xiao Yijiu/Xinhua via AP)

Here's information on what's happening around the state and where you can find out what officials are doing on the Treasure Coast.

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Health Departments

There are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Florida and one test that came back as "presumptively positive," as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Florida Department of Health.

There are five Florida cases "repatriated" and isolated out of the state, where they'll remain until health.

Test results for another 38 people are pending. The two confirmed cases in the state were two adults, one in Manatee County and the other in Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County woman’s sister has tested positive as well. She also traveled to Italy. She is a California resident but is being isolated in Florida.

A presumptive positive case has tested positive by a public health laboratory and is pending confirmatory testing at CDC.

A total of 253 are under public health monitoring. 

The number of people under public health monitoring includes those at risk of having been exposed to novel coronavirus who are monitoring their health under the supervision of public health officials. This number includes close contacts of laboratory confirmed cases, as well as people who have returned from China in the past 14 days.

More: Coronavirus in Florida: What you need to know and what you should do

More: Florida officials waited 24 hours to inform public of coronavirus cases

The state Department of Health and local health departments are intended to keep people informed.

Treasure Coast school districts

Treasure Coast school districts are increasing their efforts to prepare for the coronavirus after Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a public health emergency Sunday.

Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties have been working with local health departments to remain up-to-date with information, district officials confirmed. The CDC has issued a series of guidelines K-12 schools can follow to prepare for possible community transmission of the virus. 

More: Schools following Health Department recommendations for coronavirus plans, preparations

Here's information about the virus from each county:

Hospitals

More: Treasure Coast hospitals preparing for, monitoring coronavirus

Hospitals across the Treasure Coast are preparing in the event patients with coronavirus or symptoms of the illness are encountered, health officials said Tuesday.

Of the seven main hospitals in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, representatives for six responded to inquiries Tuesday. 

Not addressed were specific questions about quarantining, testing or whether their facilities had received any suspected cases of coronavirus.

Interactive map: Tracking coronavirus

Scott Samples, of the Cleveland Clinic hospitals on the Treasure Coast, said in an email clinicians and other workers have held “regular, multidisciplinary planning meetings for more than a month.”

Tiffany Woods, spokeswoman for St. Lucie Medical Center and Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute, both in St. Lucie County, said in an email they are working to ensure they are “prepared for issues related to identifying those at risk of coronavirus.”

Sebastian River Medical Center in Indian River County reports that for the past month,  its staff members have met regularly in preparation for the possibility that a patient or patients comes in with symptoms of COVID-19, according to Andrea Lundquist, interim marketing director.

If patients come in with “signs of respiratory issues,” masks are placed on them. They are assessed, given the appropriate level of care and screened.

Sebastian River Medical Center follows a special algorithm from the Health Department.

“If the patient meets the criteria for COVID-19, we immediately notify our infection control personnel at our health care facility and the Indian River County Health Department,” Lundquist said in an e-mail.

Government offices

Treasure Coast officials on Monday said they were more aware of the spreading virus and the importance of basic precautions, such as encouraging staff, City Hall visitors and residents to wash their hands more frequently. 

Some said they would be holding meetings later in the week to discuss further planning.

Martin County and Stuart city officials, however, elevated their response to coronavirus Monday. 

More: Treasure Coast governments taking precautions now, considering plans for coronavirus

Entertainment venues

The coronavirus outbreak isn’t affecting fun yet on the Treasure Coast, but event organizers are ready to adjust if necessary.

More: Keep plans but wash hands at county fairs, local theaters after coronavirus outbreak

County fairs, including the St. Lucie County Fair happening now, already have precautions in place to fight contagious illnesses, said manger Jeanne Keaton.

“We have hand-washing stations,” Keaton said, “and we have hand-sanitizer things connected to almost all the buildings.”

For the upcoming Firefighters’ Indian River County Fair from March 13-22, organizers are standing by if case anything needs to change in the next couple weeks, according to general manager Wayne Howard.

Daily coronavirus updates: Get them in your email. Sign up here

What are the symptoms?

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.

More: Coronavirus in Florida: What you need to know and what you should do

Most people recover from the COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems — such as high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes — are more likely to develop serious illness.

Suggested precautions you should take

There currently is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Take these everyday preventive actions to help impede 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;

How to wash your hands properly

  •  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

Make your own hand sanitizer

  • Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

What if I have those symptoms or know someone who traveled to those areas?

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A person who 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 county health department 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 county health department.

The health care professional will work with the state Department of Health to determine if the person should be tested for COVID-19.

a screenshot of text: Novel Coronavirus Outbreak © CDC Novel Coronavirus Outbreak

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Coronavirus in Florida: What Treasure Coast officials are doing to prepare

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