SEMINOLE, Fla. — Dozens of people at a Seminole nursing home have tested positive for the coronavirus.
- Residents, staff at nursing home in Seminole test positive for coronavirus
- 30 positive cases at Freedom Square Seminole Nursing Pavilion
- CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES: In the Tampa Bay area
According to Spectrum Bay News 9's partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, about 30 patients and staff members at Freedom Square Seminole Nursing Pavilion have tested positive. Some of those residents were transported to area hospitals on Tuesday.
The news from Freedom Square comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis announces a new pro-active approach to help residents and workers at assisted living facilities.
DeSantis said he is calling on the Florida National Guard to help strike teams conducting covid-19 tests inside ALFs. The governor is scheduled to discuss his plan in detail on Thursday.
"In a nursing home situation, even if you don't have a major outbreak it only takes a couple cases before that really has a big impact on what's going on there," DeSantis said Wednesday.
The governor also said situations like this is why he locked down nursing homes last month and sent in those strike teams at facilities where residents tested positive.
Meanwhile, at the Seminole facility, residents have been social distancing and there have been no visitors allowed since March 15. Meals are being served in rooms and staff members have their temperatures taken when they arrive for work and wear masks at all times.
More residents are being tested and the facility is being sanitized.
The cases in Seminole have not officially been released by the state.
Democratic state lawmakers are meeting virtually on Thursday to request the governor release information about which nursing homes have coronavirus cases.