Broward County Takes Steps to Keep Coronavirus Out

BROWARD, Florida – Broward Mayor Dale V.C. Holness held a joint news conference on March 6 to update the community on proactive steps being taken by Broward County to safeguard residents and visitors.

Joining him were community partners from the Health Department, Sheriff’s Department, Broward County School Board, Memorial Healthcare, and several Broward municipalities. Mayor Holness emphasized that there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Broward County at this time and no plans to close schools or cancel public events.

“Today, we’ve brought together some of the teams of people who are working to keep our County safe, and to help you separate fact from fiction,” said Holness. “This should be a period of calm and readiness as we rely on the strong collaborative partnerships we have locally to meet these challenges.”

Even though there are no reported cases, Mayor Holness said the County is ready to support the community should any challenges arise. County buildings, particularly in areas serving the public like the Airport and Port and Broward County Transit buses, have stepped up cleaning. Public health information provided by the Centers for Disease Control is being posted in all County buildings.

The County’s transit fleet is being thoroughly disinfected on an ongoing basis as buses return for the evening and workers are cleaning high touch areas more frequently, including on our Paratransit buses and vehicles.

Health officials warned residents to look out for symptoms similar to the seasonal flu and to stay home if you have symptoms. Experts say take the advice of your health care provider, and avoid close contact with anyone showing respiratory symptoms.

“The best prevention is still washing your hands frequently for 20 seconds or using a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue then immediately discarding the tissue, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces,” said Dr. Paula Thaqi, Director of the Florida Department of Health – Broward County.

The County has introduced a website on the Coronavirus with information on health tips, travel restrictions, and other important updates for the community.