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DOH-Walton Announces Additional Positive Cases of COVID-19 April 11, 2020 7:30p

By Patricia Roberts

April 11, 2020

April 11, 2020 7:30 PM
DOH-Walton Announces Additional
Positive Cases of COVID-19
Contact:
Patti Roberts, PIO
Patricia.roberts@flhealth.gov
850-401-6353

DeFuniak Springs, Fla. The Florida Department of Health in Walton County announces
additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Walton County. The additional individuals are:

78-year-old female Florida resident

The Florida Department of Health in Walton County is working closely with all individuals, their
close contacts, and healthcare providers to determine what additional COVID-19 testing may be
required. We are also coordinating with local and state officials to ensure proper precautions are
being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. DOH Walton stresses the importance of
following the local, state, federal and CDC guidelines and practicing social distancing to protect
those that are most at risk.
Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-83, directing the State
Surgeon General and State Health Officer to issue a public health advisory to all persons over 65
years of age urging them to stay home and to take such other measures as necessary to limit
their risk of exposure to COVID-19.

The Joint Information Center on COVID-19 for the State of Florida is also issuing regular updates
two times per day. Updated information can also be found at
https://walton.floridahealth.gov/,
www.floridahealth.gov and www.cdc.gov or you can call the COVID-19 Call Center (866) 779-
6121 24/7 or email
COVID-19@flhealth.gov. The Florida Department of Health has launched a
COVID-19 dashboard that will be updated twice daily with specific County information. 30 Walton
County cases include: Laurel Hill (1) DeFuniak Springs (4) Freeport (4), Miramar Beach (3),
Santa Rosa Beach (10), Out-of-state tested in Walton County (8) more information on daily
case by case can be found on daily report
https://floridadisaster.org/covid19/
Expansion to private laboratories has changed the COVID-19 testing landscape in Florida.
Private laboratories are running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners. Testing
and reporting times vary among commercial and DOH laboratories. Demographic information
may be updated during investigations. These twice daily reports reflect the state’s efforts to
accurately and transparently share information.

Testing

If a person thinks they have COVID-19, they should call their health care provider
before going to their office so the provider can take precautions to prevent
exposing other people.
Review your signs, symptoms and travel history with your
physician. If you are without health insurance or a health care provider, please contact the
Walton County Health Department at
(850) 401-6453 so we can coordinate your medical
evaluation and testing. Once you have been tested for COVID-19, self-isolate for 14 days
or until you receive the results from your test and further guidance from your health care
provider.
Most people with confirmed COVID-19 infection reportedly have mild to moderate
respiratory illness and can be managed at home in coordination with your provider and
your local health department. Persons with severe illness may be hospitalized. Contact

tracing is done for many diseases including tuberculosis, vaccine preventable diseases
like measles and pertussis, sexually transmitted diseases and now COVID-19. Contacts
of a case of COVID-19 are placed in self-isolation for 14 days from their last date of
exposure. These individuals monitor themselves for symptoms of fever, cough, shortness
of breath. Public Health personnel stay in touch with the contact throughout the entire
isolation process. DOH-Walton provides the individual with a phone number to call if they
think they are getting sick. If a contact gets sick with symptoms consistent with COVID-19,
that person will be tested. If that person comes back positive for COVID-19, then contact
tracing begins again. If the contact of a COVID-19 case completes the 14-day isolation
period without illness, they are cleared to return to their daily activities.

What you can do to protect you and your family at Home

Continue to practice good hand washing. Cover coughs and sneezes. Stay
  home from work if you are sick and keep children home from school when sick.
Remind family members not to touch their faces.
Disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, tables and handrails.
Open windows or adjust air conditioning to increase ventilation.
Treat vulnerable family members, such as those over the age of 65 or with
  chronic medical conditions, as though others are a threat to them. Practice
  good hygiene when caring for them. If they are sick, provide them with their own
  room, and keep the door closed.

What you can do at work
Good hand hygiene is as important at work as it is at home. Encourage
  employees to clean hands at the door and send email reminders to clean
  hands throughout the day.
Stop shaking hands. Use other, non-contact methods of greeting customers
  and coworkers.
Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Open windows or adjust air conditioning to increase ventilation.
Consider videoconferencing for meetings whenever possible. When not
  possible, hold meetings in open, well-ventilated spaces.
Assess the risks of business travel.
Handle food carefully and limit food sharing.
Ensure cafeteria staff and their close contacts practice strict hygiene.
Allow employees to stay home if they are sick or have a sick family member.

Businesses

Encourage employees and customers to:
Stop shaking hands. Use non-contact methods of greeting.
Clean hands at the door and send employees email reminders to clean hands
  throughout the day.
Promote tap and pay to limit handling of cash.
Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Open windows or adjust air conditioning to increase ventilation.
Avoid crowding by booking appointments to stagger customer flow.

Public Transportation Businesses

Open windows whenever possible.
Increase ventilation.
Disinfect surfaces regularly.

                                               ###
To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, please visit the
Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage at
https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/ and COVID-19 dashboard.

For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, please visit the travel advisory website at
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html/.

For other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department's
dedicated COVID-19 Call Center at 866-779-6121. The line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

About the Florida Department of Health
The department, 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.

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