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Sister of Hillsborough County coronavirus patient tests positive

Marks third case in Florida
Posted at 12:58 PM, Mar 03, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-06 12:51:31-05

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday there is another presumptive positive case of the coronavirus, or COVID-19 in the state of Florida.

On Friday afternoon, the Florida Department of Health confirmed the case is positive.

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DeSantis said a woman who is a California resident tested presumptive positive after traveling to Italy and is currently being isolated in Florida.

Florida considers a case presumptive positive based on testing at one of the state's three labs, then awaits confirmation from the CDC.

DeSantis said she traveled with her sister, who is the Hillsborough County resident that the CDC confirmed as one of two positive COVID-19 cases on Monday afternoon.

"She's a resident of California, so technically won't count as a case in Florida, but she is being isolated in Florida," said Gov. DeSantis. "And so it will count on the CDC's statistics as a California positive, but she is currently in Florida under self isolation."

Gov. DeSantis announces sister of Hillsborough coronavirus patient tests presumptive positive

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DeSantis said a roommate of the 20-year-old Hillsborough woman is also being isolated and monitored, but at this time isn't showing symptoms.

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How To Prevent The Spread Of Coronavirus:

The CDC has offered some tips it believes will help prevent the spread of the disease.

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
    • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
    • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
    • 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 if you develop mild symptoms, the World Health Organization recommends staying home.

RELATED: Are you washing your hands properly? This is how the CDC says it should be done