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After much criticism, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced during a press conference Saturday that Florida will be releasing the names of nursing homes and long-term care facilities with Covid-19 cases.
It is necessary for public health to release the names of the facilities where a resident or staff members tested positive for Covid-19,” DeSantis said.
There are 1,627 cases of coronavirus at these facilities, including both residents and staff, per DeSantis.
At the onset of the pandemic, DeSantis said he prohibited visitors and ordered anyone entering nursing homes be screened. To help prevent outbreaks at these facilities, DeSantis said he has sent “strike teams” into nursing home facilities across the state to do spot testing for the virus to identify asymptomatic staff members who may be infected.
DeSantis says he has asked Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees to compile the information and release it to the public. Management at nursing homes are already required to notify residents, staff and families when cases of Covid-19 arise, DeSantis said.
The names of patients or people who have died from Covid-19 will not be released, DeSantis said. According to the governor, between 90 and 100 deaths from coronavirus in Florida were related to nursing homes or long-term care facilities.
DeSantis has another pressing decision to make on nursing homes: Will he release them from liability?
The Florida Health Care Association, a federation that represents 600 long-term care centers, has asked DeSantis for immunity for workers.
Democratic state Sen. Gary Farmer told reporters during a conference call last week that if DeSantis gave nursing homes immunity, the move would be “outrageous,” “unprecedented” and “unconstitutional.”
During a press conference Friday, DeSantis said he has not made a decision on the issue.
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