Broward Has Fourth Coronavirus Case, Three Cases Connected To Port Everglades
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- The Florida Department of Health has confirmed another case of coronavirus in Broward County, bringing the county's total number to four.
Three of those cases are connected to Port Everglades, officials said.
Tuesday morning, it was confirmed that a 69-year-old female from Broward, tested positive for the disease. The woman has since been isolated and will remain isolated until cleared by public health officials.
The Florida Health Department released a statement stating, "Three of the cases are connected to or employed by Metro Cruise Services."
Metro Cruise Services is a company that operates in Port Everglades and is responsible for guiding people off the ships.
"We were unaware that any of our part-time employees were sick until we were notified by the authorities," said Metro Cruise Services President Anthony Newman. "We then immediately notified all of our Port Everglades employees that one of their associates had tested positive and advised them that, if they have any symptoms, they should seek medical assistance and not report to work. We are assisting all relevant governmental agencies with their inquiries and instructions. The health and safety of our workforce and those they encounter remain our top priority. We will be making no further statements at this time."
Winsone Dixon, an operator for cruise shuttles, who has transported passengers and crews from the port said she is frightened.
"I feel you know scared. I take precautions. I spray my bus with Lysol before they come in and I use my hand sanitizer each time I make contact with a person," said Dixon.
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The Health Department has been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They recommend employees of Metro Cruise Services at Port Everglades to self-isolate at home, if they have had any contact with any of the three individuals.
Health officials also recommend any person who is experiencing symptoms and has traveled through Port Everglades to immediately contact their physician and self-isolate for fourteen days.
It is still unknown how the employees may have contracted the disease.
In other cruise-related news, on Wednesday morning, the Caribbean Princess cruise ship will be allowed to return to Port Everglades after time spent just off the coast.
The ship was under a no-sail order after two crew members from the Grand Princess were transferred to the ship. Twenty-one people on board that ship, including 19 crew members, tested positive for coronavirus. Those two crew members tested negative and the ship will return to port.
On Monday evening, CBS4 News spoke to Broward resident and retired Broward Sheriff's Office Sergeant Mike Kallman.
He and his wife, Kathy, were stuck on the Grand Princess in California for days. They feel healthy and they did get some good news on Tuesday. They were finally able to leave the ship.
Kallman told CBS4 News that they were on a plane late Tuesday night headed to an Air Force base elsewhere in the U.S. for testing.
