Daily Stats (Updated 4/7/2020 at 5:00 pm)
As of today, Lee Health has:
- 51 COVID-19 patients isolated in our hospitals
- Submitted 4,554 specimens for testing
- Discharged 42 patients
- 149 employees quarantined; 17 employees exposed at work and positive with COVID-19
- Click here for graphs showing a running total of specimens sent for testing and positive cases hospitalized.
Today’s News
Lee Health Begins In-House Testing For COVID-19
We are happy to announce that we have started in-house testing for COVID-19 to provide faster results for our community. In-house testing is a valuable tool to help us test more specimens and gain a clearer picture of the spread in our community. Depending on specimen volume, we will also continue to use commercial labs to ensure we process all specimens as quickly as possible.
Use a Cloth Face Mask to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced recommendations that everyone, even people who feel healthy, wear a homemade cloth face mask in public settings. Lee Health is now placing homemade masks on our patients, as well as our patients’ support person in obstetrics and at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
We are accepting donations of homemade cloth face masks as well; please drop them off at the Lee Health Foundation office at 9800 S. HealthPark Dr., Suite 406. Please call us ahead at 343-6950, so someone can meet you. For instructions on how to make and safely sterilize cloth masks, click here.
Thank You, Empire Entertainment & Photo Booths
We are grateful to Empire Entertainment & Photo Booths for projecting uplifting images and messages of appreciation on the side of Gulf Coast Medical Center. This heartfelt recognition put a big smile on our health care staff’s faces. Follow @LeeHealth on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to see the pictures of our team with the inspirational projections.
TALLAHASSEE — To keep Florida residents and visitors safe, informed and aware about the status of the virus, the Florida Department of Health has launched a COVID-19 dashboard that will be updated twice daily. We also encourage all Floridians to take the COVID-19 Community Action Survey by visiting www.StrongerThanC19.com.
Today, as of 6 p.m., there are 14,747 total** Florida cases.
While Florida’s testing has increased over the past week, the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall is 11 percent. Of the 12,004 tests performed on April 6, there were 1,407 positive results, or 12 percent.
Thirteen people have died who tested positive for COVID-19 in Baker, Broward, Clay, Dade, Hillsborough, Manatee, Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties.
New Florida cases include:
- 243 additional positive COVID-19 cases (237 Florida residents and 6 non-Florida residents) reported to the Florida Department of Health.
- There are currently 14,302 positive cases in Florida residents and 445 positive cases in non-Florida residents.
Florida recently partnered with private laboratories around the state to expand COVID-19 laboratory testing capacity. This partnership will increase the number of tests conducted each day and ensure Floridians receive the critical health information they need in a timely manner.
Expansion to private laboratories changes the COVID-19 testing landscape in Florida. Private laboratories are running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners. Testing and reporting times vary among commercial and DOH laboratories. Demographic information may be updated during investigations. These twice daily reports reflect the state’s efforts to accurately and transparently share information.
World Health Organization Update
SITUATION IN NUMBERS total (new) cases in last 24 hours
(last updated 10:00 AM CET 4/7/2020)
3892 deaths (31)
52 809 deaths (3330)
362 deaths (18)
4149 deaths (173)
11 097 deaths (1417)
294 deaths (51)
- One new country/territory/area reported cases of COVID-19 in the past 24
hours: São Tomé and Príncipe. - Today, 7 April, marks World Health Day and this year WHO pays tribute to the
incredible contribution of all health workers, especially nurses and midwives.
Nurses are the largest component of the health workforce and play a
fundamental role in combatting COVID-19 and achieving Universal Health
Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. WHO has published the
first-ever report on the state of the world’s nursing workforce, available here.
It renews calls on governments to invest in nurses. - WHO, Lady Gaga and Global Citizen have announced a concert to air on
Saturday, 18 April 2020 titled ‘One World: Together at home’. This globally
televised and streamed special will highlight unity among all people affected
by COVID-19, celebrate the brave healthcare workers doing life-saving work,
and raise funds for the response. More information is available here. - WHO Director-General Dr Tedros, in a press conference held yesterday,
reiterated concerns regarding the shortage of medical masks and other PPE
and reminded people that masks should be used as part of a comprehensive
package of interventions. WHO has released guidance on the use of masks in
communities, during home care, and in healthcare settings that can be found
here; further advice for the public can be found here. - WHO is improving supply networks and logistics in clinical environments, and
sending equipment and testing kits worldwide. See ‘Subject in Focus’ below.