ORLANDO, Fla. _ The Florida Department of Health is asking people who have traveled to China, Iran, Italy and South Korea to stay home for 14 days following their return, mirroring the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The health department is also advising people who have traveled to Japan and have gone on cruises to monitor their health and limit their interaction with others for 14 days after returning to the U.S.
The department originally said that all people returning from international travel needed to self-isolate, but shortly after updated and narrowed its recommendations.
The agency is also advising anyone who traveled on a river cruise on the Nile River in Egypt in February 2020 to stay home for 14 days from the date of their return to the United States, because several passengers on that cruise have tested positive for COVID-19, including two individuals in Florida.
Self-isolation means not going out and not having any visitors. The goal is to reduce the spread of the virus if you're infected.
If you start showing symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath, contact your local health department for advice before going to the doctor or the emergency room.
Over the weekend, the U.S. State Department advised Americans against traveling on cruises, due to the higher risk of person-to-person transmission of the virus.
So far, there have been 12 cases of COVID-19 in Florida, four of which have no known travel history. Three of those are in Broward County.
Two people have died.
In total, 115 tests are pending results, 140 are negative and 302 people are being monitored.
COVID-19 spreads like the flu, via droplets from coughing and sneezing. The droplets can land on objects and people can get infected if they touch those surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.
Symptoms appear between two to 14 days after exposure.
"It's fair to say that as the trajectory of the outbreak continues, many people in the United States will at some point in time, either this year or next, be exposed to this virus, and there's a good chance many will become sick," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, said during a press briefing on Monday. "But again, based on what we know about this virus, we do not expect most people to develop serious illness."
To avoid getting infected wash your hands frequently and don't touch your face. Avoid hand shakes and people who are sick. Cover your cough and sneeze. If you're sick, stay home. If you don't have symptoms, you don't need to wear a mask.
