There have been no documented cases of COVID-19 in St. Johns County but officials are preparing for the possibility.
The county announced Friday it is following recommended CDC guidelines and is in touch with the Florida Department of Health as the lead agency, Flagler Health+, the St. Johns County School District, St. Johns County Emergency Management and Medical Services, the City of St. Augustine, and the City of St. Augustine Beach.
The county is currently reviewing and updating its emergency management plans.
Related: More Local And State Coverage Of The Coronavirus
“Should there be a confirmed case of coronavirus in our county, local health officials will provide guidance for any necessary response. St. Johns County has an emergency management plan in place and is confident in local first responders and the medical community’s ability to respond to the virus, should the need arise,” the county said in a statement emailed to WJCT News.
St. Johns County officials are recommending residents and visitors follow basic infection prevention guidelines, including washing hands often, avoiding contact with sick people, cleaning high-touch surfaces, and staying home when sick.
Health News Florida reported at last check the total number of Florida-related coronavirus cases totaled nine, while Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday the federal government is sending “tens of thousands” of testing kits to Florida as soon as possible.
St. Johns County is encouraging residents that need more information to take advantage of the following resources:
- Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Call Center: 1-866-779-6121
- St. Johns County Department of Health
- Florida Department of Health
- Centers for Disease Control
- Florida Department of Health Email
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
