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Florida Enacts New Rules To Temporary Restrict Visitation At Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis placed limits on who can visit nursing homes and other assisted living facilities in the state, bidding to protect the state's sizeable and vulnerable elderly population from the new coronavirus.

A sign warning people about coronavirus greets visitors to the brand new Belmont Village Senior Living facility in Fort Lauderdale.

"We're being incredibly cautious," said Patricia Will, Founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living.

Belmont Village held an open house Wednesday and plan to open in a few weeks. They've got tight security for all visitors and question guests through a computerized questionnaire about their respiratory health and recent travel history.

When they open, they'll also abide by new temporary state rules enacted Wednesday by executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The rules restrict who can visit nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other senior living homes throughout the state.

"We are asking people to be forthright and honest," Will said. "We can't imagine that anyone would knowingly defy the screens knowing the frailty of the senior population."

The new temporary rules takes effect immediately and restrict visitation to senior living facilities from the following people:

  • Anyone with COVID-19
  • Anyone who has been in contact with a person with COVID-19
  • Anyone who has recently travelled internationally
  • Anyone who has recently traveled on cruise ship
  • Anyone with respiratory symptoms

DeSantis said it's the right thing to do.

"These are important efforts to mitigate the risk to our most vulnerable population to COVID-19," he said.

The governor said Florida is learning from the state of Washington, where a Seattle-area nursing home has been the epicenter of that state's cases.

The governor also disputed that Florida is among those places with "community spread" — despite an earlier assertion by a federal health official naming Florida as one such location.

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During public comments Tuesday in Washington, National Institute of Health infectious disease director Anthony Fauci had included Florida in a list of four states believed to be experiencing community spread.

DeSantis said that all cases in Florida stemmed from either foreign travel, cruise ships or close contact with an infected person, except for one case still under investigation.

"We are not seeing community spread, but this is something we are watching very very carefully," Florida Surgeon Gen. Scott Rivkees said at the news conference.

State health officials said no one is exempt from screening at the facilities.

"The first line of defense is vigilant screening of visitors, vendors and staff," said Mary Mayhew, Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration.

Will said they already take significant precautions for residents and staff during flu season but the precautions and preparations for coronavirus are unlike anything she's ever seen. She said it's necessary.

"The protection of the seniors is the most important thing we can do," she said.

Meanwhile, public universities across Florida — which have some of the country's largest enrollments — will move to remote instruction effective Monday. That step is intended to minimize health and safety risks to students and staff, especially as they prepare to return from spring break.

On Tuesday night, health authorities in Florida announced eight new cases of coronavirus among people who recently traveled internationally, bringing the state's total to at least 21.

All of the new patients were 64 and older, except for one 46-year-old man.

Earlier in the week, DeSantis declared a state of emergency, saying the action would enable the state to better marshal resources and get outside help as it confronts the growing public health crisis.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, but it can cause more severe illness including pneumonia in older adults and people with existing health problems. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus within weeks.

The new patients and the others who have tested positive in Florida are self-isolating for 14 days as instructed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the health department said.

In addition to the 21 cases of Florida residents diagnosed in the state, five other Florida residents are self-isolating out of state after being diagnosed elsewhere. Also, a 22-year-old California woman who traveled to Italy with her sister and is self-isolating with her in Tampa.

Meanwhile, another Princess cruise ship recently was given federal permission to dock in Florida after testing cleared two crew members and U.S. health officials lifted a "no sail" order. A Princess Cruises spokeswoman, Negin Kamali, said in an email Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave permission for the Caribbean Princess to return to port Wednesday.

The CDC has advised all disembarking cruise ship passengers to monitor themselves for 14 days, and immediately self-isolate if they experience symptoms while contacting medical professionals for treatment.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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