Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Jefferson County reported its first COVID-19 death on Sunday, April 12.
According to the Florida Department of Health in Jefferson County (FDOH-Jefferson), it received confirmation that a 93-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with the disease had died.
“We would like to express our condolences to her family and loved ones,” Pam Gilleland-Beck, operations manager for the FDOH-Jefferson, emailed. “The cause of death is pending review by the medical examiner.”
As of 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, Jefferson County had 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19, ranging in age from 22 to 95 and consisting of 11 residents and two nonresidents. Men represented 62 percent of the cases and women 38 percent, with three of the individuals hospitalized.
Statewide, the count was 21,367 confirmed cases and 524 deaths, with Miami-Dade and Broward counties leading with 7,555 and 3,243 cases, respectively.
The FDOH-Jefferson continues to emphasize the importance of everyone practicing social-distancing and staying at home other than for essential and necessary activities.
“Social distancing is one thing that we all can do to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and prevent deaths, particularly in the more vulnerable populations such as in persons over the age of 65 or persons with underlying medical conditions,” Gilleland-Beck emailed.
In keeping with the CDC guidelines, the FDOH-Jefferson also recommends that individuals wear cloth face coverings in grocery stores and pharmacies and other areas of public interaction, where social-distancing public health measures are difficult to follow.
The department urges anyone who thinks they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, which can mirror illnesses such as influenza (high fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.), should contact their healthcare provider. Individuals who don't have a healthcare provider or health insurance should contact the FDOH-Jefferson at (850) 342-0170.
For the latest information on the pandemic in Florida, visit floridahealthcovid19.gov and follow the prompts to the dashboard and detailed report.
In other COVID-19 related news, Gov. DeSantis late last week directed the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to begin developing a plan to implement an online purchasing program for recipients of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
At the same time, the DCF requested a federal waiver that would allow Florida to launch a pilot project allowing families in the program to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to buy groceries online.
Federal regulations currently prohibit SNAP recipients from using their EBT card to purchase groceries online.
For more information on the program, visit myflfamilies.com/covid19/access.shtml or call (850) 300-4323.