"We're the epicenter"
Two weeks ago, experts looked at Florida as the new epicenter for the coronavirus pandemic. With cases continuing to rise, the state is now one of three.
“There’s Texas and Arizona. We are the epicenter for the Southeast. There's no question about that,” Dr. Jay Wolfson with the University of South Florida Public Health said.
“We've sent almost 100 people out at various times to help the state and local health departments do contact tracing,” Dr. Janice Zgibor said.
The virus detectives could be what saves Florida from shutting down once again. They're finding who has the virus and tracking where they've been. The only problem, Florida may have too many cases to track.
Florida among "red zone" states being tracked by Coronavirus Task Force
The White House Coronavirus Task Force also has its eyes on Florida and three other states.
During a press conference Wednesday, Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, shared that in Florida alone they are watching COVID-19 activity in 10 counties, including the large metropolitan areas of Jacksonville (Duval County) and Tampa (Hillsborough County).
States with counties in the "red zone," as Birx put it, are asked to have residents wear face masks, including Florida.
- Florida confirms another 9,989 COVID-19 cases in one day, reports 48 more deaths
- Bradenton men charged, accused of selling toxic 'miracle' bleach to cure COVID-19
- Florida man fired after having meltdown over mask rules at Costco
- Record-setting Tropical or Subtropical Storm Fay likely to develop
- Thieves take livelihood from Zephyrhills pitmaster
- Walt Disney World reopening: What to know before you go
- High levels of COVID-19 have been found in Florida sewage, but a local spill hasn't been tested
- Doctors rank which activities create the most risk for getting COVID-19
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