Two patients in Broward County test positive for novel coronavirus, state officials say
Florida health officials late Friday night announced that two older male patients in Broward County have tested presumptive positive for novel coronavirus, marking the first two cases in South Florida after a week of ramped-up testing.
The health department also announced the deaths of two patients who had suffered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. One was a man in his 70s in Santa Rosa County, a case the governor announced Thursday, and the other case, which had not yet been announced, was in Lee County. Both people had made international trips, according to a statement from the Florida Department of Health.
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The health department described the Broward County patients as a 65-year-old man and a 75-year-old man. Both are in isolation.
The state did not offer any information about the Lee County case other than to say it was an “individual in their 70s.”
Two sources with knowledge of Broward Memorial Healthcare System told the Miami Herald that a patient had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Broward Memorial’s spokeswoman declined to comment, saying that all information about the case would be handled by the state.
With the Santa Rosa County man’s death, there are now two known patients in Florida who have tested positive for the virus. Another Florida resident has tested positive in Washington. Officials say they’re monitoring dozens more potential cases.
In addition to those cases, the Florida Department of Health reported 55 negative test results and 51 pending results as of Friday. The agency said it is monitoring 264 people for potential COVID-19 symptoms.
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 10:29 PM.
