TAMPA, Fla. — The State of Florida is now releasing the names of the long-term care facilities that have patients or staff members with COVID-19.
This comes after Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference Saturday evening with "major announcements." He said he wanted to get as much information out as they can.
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“It is necessary for public health to release the names of facilities where residents or staff members had tested positive for COVID-19,” Gov. DeSantis said, during the news conference.
The list was released Saturday evening and contains facilities in 45 of the state's 67 counties. The Department of Health on Sunday reported 1,785 cases and 175 deaths among staff and residents in Florida’s nursing homes and long-term care facilities
As of April 18, there are over 50 long-term care facilities in the Tampa Bay area with patients or staff members that have tested positive for COVID-19.
NUMBER OF FACILITIES WITH COVID-19 CASES IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA
- Citrus - 1
- DeSoto - 2
- Hardee - 0
- Hernando - 0
- Highlands - 1
- Hillsborough - 4
- Manatee - 8
- Pasco - 2
- Pinellas - 24
- Polk - 5
- Sarasota - 10
Families we have spoken to who have loved ones in nursing homes are relieved to know which facilities have confirmed COVID-19 cases, so they can make better decisions regarding the care of their loved ones.
“It puts undue stress. We were without sleep for nights worrying as to what to do. Do we take her, do we leave her, is it safer there or here. And no family should have to do that," said Barbara Namias, whose mother is currently in a rehabilitation facility on the Freedom Square Campus in Seminole.
Barbara said she now plans to take her mother out of the care facility as soon as she can, so that she can take care of her at home, and not risk having her mother contract the coronavirus while at the assisted living facility.
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To view the Florida Department of Health's list of which long term care facilities have COVID-19 cases, click here.
You can watch the full press conference with Governor Ron DeSantis' major announcements on Saturday below:
