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Coronavirus Tuesday Update: 6,741 Florida cases, Stetson student positive, local virus timeline and more

Staff Report
The first case of the virus in the United States was reported in January 2020. [Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins University]

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9:39 P.M.: Stetson student tests positive

A Stetson University student who worked the press box and interacted with the crowd during a baseball game March 11 has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the university.

8:21 P.M.: Florida cases: 6,741; 13 new cases in Volusia, 2 in Flagler

The total number of coronavirus cases across Florida increased by 1,037 on Tuesday, according to the state Department of Health.

5:43 P.M.: Deltona commission meeting makes adjustments during pandemic

The Deltona City Commission will meet as scheduled on Monday, but social-distancing guidelines will be followed in chambers, and the public cannot attend in person.

4:15 P.M.: Palm Coast mayor will host first virtual town hall meeting

The City of Palm Coast will host the first in a series of weekly virtual town hall meetings starting Wednesday, April 1, at noon.

4:09 P.M.: NCAA grants extra year for spring athletes, but questions still remain

Spring athletes will get another year after the coronavirus shut down the sports world last month.

2:28 P.M.: DeSantis urged to enact statewide evictions ban

With first-of-the-month payments putting added pressure on financially strapped Floridians, advocates say worries about being evicted is a burden state government could ease.

1:36 P.M.: Volusia firms join battle against COVID-19

A growing number of Volusia County manufacturers are stepping up to make face masks and ventilator parts to aid in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

1:25 P.M.: Flagler County library employees develop coronavirus symptoms, main branch closed

Multiple employees at Flagler County library’s main branch have developed symptoms of coronavirus, according to a press release.

1:17 P.M.: Coronavirus in Florida, Volusia and Flagler: From zero on March 1 to thousands of cases now

From a month of coverage of the pandemic, the News-Journal is able to provide a picture of the often glacial, often incorrect response to the virus, as well as a timeline of how it’s spreading through Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties.

12:29 P.M.: Florida cases surpass 6,000; 6 new cases in Volusia, 1 in Flagler

The total number of coronavirus cases across Florida has surpassed 6,000, according to the state Department of Health Tuesday.

9:49 P.M.: Coronavirus telephone town hall announced

Congressman Michael Waltz is hosting a coronavirus telephone town hall Wednesday afternoon.

7:35 A.M.: Working mom provides stability through crisis

A profile of a mother who is trying to keep up with a small business, and three children, from her house during a pandemic.

6:10 A.M.: Coronavirus’ next casualty: The nation’s biggest story could devastate news industry

On Monday, Gannett, which owns USA TODAY and more than 250 local papers, including The Daytona Beach News-Journal, told employees it would institute a series of immediate cost reductions, including a furlough program in its news division in April, May and June as a result of the economic pressures brought on by the pandemic.

VOLUSIA COUNTY CASES: (as reported by the Florida Department of Health)

Mar. 8: A 66-year-old woman associated with a Nile River cruise and tour in Egypt

Mar. 9: A 60-year-old woman associated with a Nile River cruise and tour in Egypt

Mar. 13: A 70-year-old woman associated with a Nile River cruise and tour in Egypt

Mar. 14: A 71-year-old man who has been traveling in Egypt and Jordan.

Mar. 14: A 39-year-old man who has a recent history of travel to Trinidad and Tobago but was also exposed to someone who currently has coronavirus

Mar. 14: A 89-year-old woman who had close contact with someone who currently has coronavirus

Mar. 15: A 48-year-old woman whose case is still under investigation

Mar. 16: A 37-year-old woman who is in isolation and had close contact with a known coronavirus case

Mar. 17: A 60-year-old woman who had contact with a known coronavirus case

Mar. 20: A 62-year-old man. Not travel related, unknown if she had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 21: A 23-year-old woman who had been traveling in Spain.

Mar. 21: A 32-year-old woman. Not travel related, unknown if she had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 22: A 65-year-old man who had been traveling in Ireland.

Mar. 22: A 66-year-old woman who had been traveling in Ireland.

Mar. 23: A 54-year-old man who does not have a recent history of travel or known contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

Mar. 23: A 71-year-old woman who does not have a recent history of travel or known contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

Mar. 23: A 17-year-old male. Not travel-related, had contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

Mar. 24: A 36-year-old woman, unknown if she traveling or had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 24: A 78-year-old man who was traveling in St. Lucia and was in contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 24: A 49-year-old woman, not travel-related but she did have contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

Mar. 24: A 78-year-old woman who does not have a recent history of travel, unknown if she had contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

Mar. 25: A 53-year-old woman who had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 25: A 48-year-old woman who had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 25: A 53-year-old man who traveled from New York.

Mar. 25: A 68-year-old man who does not have a recent history of travel and it is unknown if they had contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

Mar. 25: A 43-year-old woman, unknown if it’s travel-related but no contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 25: A 42-year-old woman who does not have a recent history of travel and has had no contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 25: A 69-year-old man who does not have a recent history of travel and has had no contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 25: A 53-year-old woman who had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 25: A 45-year-old man who had traveled to Cuba, no known contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 26: A 36-year-old man, unknown if its travel related and no information listed on whether he had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 26: A 25-year-old woman with a recent history of travel to New York.

Mar 26: A 65-year-old man with who does not have a recent history of travel and has had no contact with a confirmed case.

Mar 26: A 28-year-old man with a recent history of travel to Colorado and Florida.

Mar. 26: A 23-year-old man who does not have a recent history of travel, unknown if he had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar 26: A 79-year-old woman who does not have a recent history of travel and has had no contact with a confirmed case.

Mar 26: A 71-year-old man with a recent history of travel to the Cayman Islands and Mexico who also had contact with a known case.

Mar 26: A 71-year-old woman with a recent history of travel to the Cayman Islands and Mexico who also had contact with a known case.

Mar 26: A 73-year-old woman who had traveled to West Virginia, has had contact with a confirmed case. Non-Florida resident.

Mar. 27: A 42-year-old woman with a recent history of travel to Georgia.

Mar 27: a 60-year-old man who does not have a recent history of travel and it’s unknown if he had contact with a known case.

Mar. 27: A 49-year-old woman who had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 27: a 54-year-old man with a recent history of travel to Mexico.

Mar. 27: a 30-year-old woman who does not have a recent history of travel and it’s unknown if he had contact with a known case.

Mar. 27: A 21-year-old woman who had traveled to Tennessee and had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 28: A 69-year-old woman it’s unknown if she has a recent history of travel and it’s unknown if she had contact with a known case.

Mar. 28: A 73-year-old woman with recent history of travel to New York who had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 28: A 62-year-old man who has been traveling in New York, unknown if he had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 28: A 29-year-old man, not travel-related, potential contact is unknown.

Mar. 28: A 35-year-old man who traveled to New York and had contact with a coronavirus case.

Mar. 29: A 79-year-old man, travel and potential contact status unknown.

Mar. 29: A 65-year-old man, travel and potential contact status unknown.

Mar. 29: A 71-year-old man, travel and potential contact status unknown.

Mar. 29: A 47-year-old man, travel and potential contact status unknown.

Mar. 29: A 44-year-old woman, not travel-related, unknown if she had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 29: A 72-year-old man who had traveled to Georgia and had contact with a coronavirus case.

Mar. 29: A 37-year-old man, travel and potential contact status unknown.

Mar. 29: A 75-year-old woman, travel and potential contact status unknown.

Mar. 29: A 66-year-old woman, travel and potential contact status unknown.

Mar. 29: A 33-year-old woman with no history of travel or contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 30: A 67-year-old man with unknown travel history.

Mar. 30: A 70-year-old man with unknown travel history.

Mar. 30: A 32-year-old woman with unknown travel history.

Mar. 30: A 73-year-old woman with a recent history of travel to West Virginia and contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 30: A 67-year-old man who traveled to who traveled to St. Lucia.

Mar. 30: A 26-year-old woman who traveled to South Carolina.

Mar. 30: A 56-year-old woman with an unknown travel history.

Mar. 30: A 27-year-old man, no travel-related but had contact with a known coronaviorus case.

Mar. 30: A 21-year-old woman who traveled to California, unknown if she had contact with a known case.

Mar. 30: A 58-year-old woman who had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 30: A 26-year-old woman with a recent history of travel to South Carolina and Florida.

Mar. 30: A 40-year-old woman. It is unknown if it is travel related.

Mar. 31: A 31-year-old woman. It is unknown if it is travel-related or if he had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 31: A 61-year-old man with a recent history of travel to New Jersey and contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 31: A 75-year-old man with no recent travel history and no contact with a known case.

Mar. 31: A 66-year-old resident whose gender is not listed and whose travel history is unknown.

Mar. 31: A 31-year-old woman. It is unknown if it was travel related.

Mar. 31: A 66-year-old woman who had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 31: A 33-year-old man. It is unknown if it is travel related.

Mar. 31: A 20-year-old woman. It’s not travel related and it’s unknown if she had contact with a confirmed case

DECEASED:(as reported by the FDOH)

Mar. 26: A 65-year-old man with no history of travel or coronavirus contact.

FLAGLER COUNTY CASES:(as reported by the FDOH)

Mar. 22: A 45-year-old man. It is unknown if it is travel-related or if he had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 22: A 59-year-old woman. It is unknown if it is travel-related or if she had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar 22: A 72-year-old woman. It is unknown if it is travel-related or if she had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 24: A 68-year-old man with a recent history of travel to Europe.

Mar. 24: A 63-year-old man. Travel history is unknown but he had contact with a comfirmed case.

Mar. 24: A 65-year-old man. It is unknown if it is travel-related or if he had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 26: A 17-year-old woman who had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 26: A 30-year-old woman whose case is related to travel to New York. It is unknown if she had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 26: A 77-year-old man with a recent history of travel to New Jersey and contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 26: A 55-year-old man with no recent history of travel or contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 26: A 64-year-old woman whose case is related to travel in New York. She is not a Florida resident. It is unknown if she had contact with a confirmed case.

Mar. 27: 39-year-old woman who’s recent travel history is unknown.

Mar. 27: A 64-year-old man. It is unknown if it is travel-related or if he had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 30: A 56-year-old woman who had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 30: A 63-year-old woman with a recent history of travel to Spain.

Mar. 31: A 59-year-old woman. It is unknown if it is travel-related or if he had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 31: A 63-year-old man. It is unknown if it is travel-related or if he had contact with a known coronavirus case.

Mar. 31: A 59-year-old woman. It’s not travel related and it’s unknown if she had contact with a confirmed case.

Important numbers as of Tuesday evening:

Number of positive tests in Florida: 6,741

Number of Florida residents who have tested positive: 6,490

Non-Florida residents who have tested positive in Florida: 251

Number of deaths in Florida: 85

Total number of people tested in Florida: 64,661

Number of positive coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 186,265

Number of deaths in the United States: 3,810

Number of positive cases globally: 855,007

Number of deaths globally: 42,032

*Source: Florida Department of Health

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Nationwide:

COVID-19 Q&A

Q. What’s going on, generally?

After originating in China late last year, the coronavirus has spread globally and now locally.

The first case of the virus in the United States was reported in January 2020. Since then, 60 presumptive positive cases have been reported in Volusia County and thirteen in Flagler, based on the latest data from the Florida Department of Health.

Q. How do you get coronavirus?

Like the common cold and the flu, coronavirus spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) and through respiratory droplets, according to the CDC.

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly from person to person, and scientists are still learning more about how coronavirus spreads.

There's no evidence that the virus can be transmitted through food, according to the CDC.

It is, however, possible that a person can get the virus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own face. There is likely a very low risk of spread from food products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks, according to the CDC.

Q. What are the symptoms of coronavirus

The most common symptoms resemble the flu and include fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some people also develop aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and some people don't have any symptoms at all.

About 1 in 6 people become seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing, according to the World Health Organization. If you experience fever, cough and shortness of breath, call your doctor.

Q. Do Ineed a facemask to prepare for coronavirus

But do take typical flu-season precautions:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Don't touch your eyes, nose and mouth

Cover your cough

Stay home when sick

Clean household objects and surfaces

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds

COVID-19 TESTING Q&A

Q: Are local tests available?

Health Department Administrator Patricia Boswell said that as of Sunday, the health department was going out to individuals who, according to CDC guidelines, are considered high risk of having contracted the virus, conducting the test and sending the specimen to Jacksonville. When available, family doctors and health providers will be able to order the test via commercial labs for those who do not meet the criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Q: Where do I go if I want to be tested?

If you are sick and exhibiting symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), you should seek treatment with your primary care physician or urgent care center. Physicians are stringently adhering to the testing criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if a patient qualifies for a COVID-19 test. A doctor will likely test you for other illnesses, such as the flu, before ordering a COVID-19 test.”

Q: Should I go to the ER if I think I need a COVID-19 test?

Unless you are experiencing severe respiratory distress, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, you should not go to an ER for a COVID-19 test. Physicians can take a collection sample from patients who meet the testing criteria as set by CDC. The emergency department should be used only by those having a medical emergency, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

Q: What should I do if I think I might have COVID-19?

If you have travelled internationally or been on a cruise, you should self-quarantine for 14 days immediately upon returning from your travels, even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms. If you develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath during those 14 days, contact your physician and disclose your travel history. Your physician will advise you of next steps. If you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, go to the ER.

Q: Can I get a coronavirus test if I am not sick?

No. If you’re not sick, it’s unlikely that you have COVID-19. Currently all tests are designated for those who are exhibiting symptoms and meet the testing criteria set by the CDC.

Q: I have a fever and cough. Will I be automatically tested for COVID-19?

No. Fever and cough are common symptoms for other illnesses, including the flu. Physicians will evaluate your symptoms, travel history, potential for exposure and other factors and determine if a test is appropriate. They will also test you for other viruses, including the flu.

Q: How can I be tested?

A physician must order a COVID-19 test, and will only order a test if the patient meets the testing criteria as defined by the CDC.

Q: Where can I be tested?

A physician must order a COVID-19 test. If a doctor deems it appropriate to test you for COVID-19, the sample would be collected in the physician’s office. The test itself is conducted through an AdventHealth lab. (This lab is not the same as the consumer-facing labs where patients go for outpatient bloodwork.)

Q: Are the results instantaneous?

No. Unlike a flu test, which can be administered on-site with quick results, the COVID-19 test takes up to seven days from the time of collection sample to results being shared with the patient. During that time, patients will be instructed to follow CDC guidelines and isolate themselves.

Q: When would I get results from a test?

Up to seven days after administration of the test.

Q: Do hospitals share results with the Florida Department of Health?

Yes. AdventHealth will share positive COVID-19 test results with the Florida Department of Health as required by regulation.

Q: I still have questions about COVID-19 testing. Whom can I call?

Call the AdventHealth’s Coronavirus Information Line at 877-VIRUSHQ or visit CoronavirusSignsAndSymptoms.com.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Casmira Harrison and the Associated Press contributed to this USA TODAY Network report.