People just like you get COVID-19. See the stories and information most relevant to you
The science around COVID-19 is constantly evolving, and the coronavirus has become wildly politicized but one thing is certain: Without a vaccine, the virus will disrupt all our lives for months to come.
Since March, COVID-19 has sickened Floridians of every age group, race and region. More than 9,000 have died. But the way the disease affects people is not uniform. Everything from your age and the state of your health, to where you live and work, can affect your risk of contracting the disease as well as the likelihood of serious complications and even death.
Some advice — like wearing masks and social distancing — is recommended for everyone, regardless of personal risk. But there are specific guidelines that apply only to certain people and not others, and it can be difficult for individuals to know where they fall on that spectrum.
By filling out the following questions, you can customize this article to see how the virus has affected people just like you — and what you need to know to continue navigating the new normal of life during a pandemic.
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Resources
Recommendations for staying safe from COVID-19 seem to change daily as scientists catch up with the novel coronavirus. So does guidance on the current state of the pandemic. For the most up-to-date information, you can consult the following resources:
Footnotes
“A pandemic of historic proportions”: https://madison.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/covid-19-is-a-pandemic-of-historic-proportions-expert-says-as-cases-climb-in-the/article_66846f33-ebbd-5017-86e5-30492c3ea227.html.
COVID-19’s death rate: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/virtual-press-conference---2-july---update-on-covid-19-r-d.pdf?sfvrsn=6e095b7e_0.
More contagious: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm#:~:text=For%20both%20COVID%2D19,is%20still%20under%20investigation.
Growing evidence: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/health/coronavirus-aerosols-indoors.html.
Not true for the flu: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu.
Severe, long-term complications: https://www.vox.com/2020/5/8/21251899/coronavirus-long-term-effects-symptoms.
Cardiac injuries: https://www.statnews.com/2020/07/27/covid19-concerns-about-lasting-heart-damage/.
Blood clots: https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2020/07/what-is-known-about-covid-19-and-abnormal-blood-clotting.
Others have experienced:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/19/health/long-covid-italy-uk-gbr-intl/index.html.Survivors of SARS: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41413-020-0084-5.
Those without symptoms: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/06/health/coronavirus-asymptomatic-transmission.html.
People with even mild symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html.
Aerosol transmission: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/health/coronavirus-aerosols-indoors.html.
A rare disorder called multi-system inflammatory syndrome: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article243892967.html.
Fewer than one in 1,000: http://ww11.doh.state.fl.us/comm/_partners/covid19_report_archive/pediatric_report_latest.pdf.
At least as much of the virus: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/health/coronavirus-children.html.
In Israel, authorities have blamed a new surge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israelis-fear-schools-reopened-too-soon-as-covid-19-cases-climb-11594760001.
Florida’s top teachers’ union: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article244350157.html.
Martin County class to quarantine for 14 days after student shows COVID-19 symptoms: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/education/2020/08/12/one-day-after-schools-reopened-students-one-classroom-quarantine/3357722001/.
Miami-Dade schools: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article244187087.html.
Broward Schools: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-broward-schools-reopening-final-20200810-xy4ybatduzfkhmadcwfjay5pme-story.html.
In Georgia: https://www.ajc.com/education/covid-cases-reported-as-schools-reopen-in-georgia/EDLZC5UF45CFZBJNGNCTIIUOS4/.
One school district: https://www.newsweek.com/georgia-school-district-quarantines-over-850-students-teachers-after-reopening-six-days-1524339.
Hospitality worker job losses statistic: http://lmsresources.labormarketinfo.com/library/press/release.pdf.
Florida’s broken-down unemployment system: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article243052056.html.
State officials refused to provide information: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article242844471.html.
4,562 Florida healthcare workers contracted the virus prior to May 14: A Miami Herald analysis of confidential Florida Department of Health data.
Even as those workers make up less than three percent of the population: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.html.
Saying it doesn’t maintain such statistics: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article244582087.html.
CDC recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/A_FS_HCP_COVID19_PPE.pdf.
PPE shortage: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-31/nurses-pleas-spur-u-s-pledge-to-tap-44-million-mask-stockpile.
Still giving workers loose-fitting surgical masks: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/health/coronavirus-masks-ppe-doc.html.
Low-wage healthcare workers: https://www.brookings.edu/research/essential-but-undervalued-millions-of-health-care-workers-arent-getting-the-pay-or-respect-they-deserve-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/.
Free testing: https://floridadisaster.org/covid19/testing-sites/#wmiamidade.
Guidance for restaurants and bars: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/business-employers/bars-restaurants.html.
Guidance for healthcare workers: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing.html.
- OSHA guidance: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: https://www.osha.gov/pls/osha7/eComplaintForm.html.
National Council for Occupational and Safety Health: https://www.coshnetwork.org/contact.
Inmate statistic: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/05/01/a-state-by-state-look-at-coronavirus-in-prisons.
The Miami-Dade jail: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html.
Visitors banned from LTCs: https://s33330.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DEM-ORDER-NO.-20-006-In-re-COVID-19-Public-Health-Emergency-Issued-March-15-2020.pdf.
Outbreaks in nursing homes: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article243545317.html.
Nursing home workers must be tested every two weeks: https://ahca.myflorida.com/docs/59AER20-5_Mandatory_Testing_for_Nursing_Home_Staff.pdf.
COVID still getting into nursing homes: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article244401817.html.
Floating the idea: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article244714307.html.
COVID-19 is sickening Black and Latino communities in Florida: https://www.miamidade.gov/releases/2020-04-24-sample-testing-results.asp and https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200605/florida-coronavirus-rates-twice-as-high-in-black-hispanic-areas-internal-state-data-shows.
Miami Herald reporter Samantha Gross contributed to this story.
This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 2:52 PM.
