RKMBs Forums .::Important::. Politics and Current Events Coronavirus outbreak in China, and global pandemic

Palm Beach County has declared a state of emergency after two men in their 70s tested positive for COVID-19.

The declaration opens up avenues for the county to get assistance, including money, from state and federal agencies, and empowers the county administrator to require emergency actions such as establishing a curfew and restricting travel. It will last until March 20.

Even as events shut down throughout the county, officials made a case for calm at a news conference Friday in the face of the rising coronavirus threat.

“This state of emergency should not change anything in your life except pay more attention to what’s going on, to be diligent in watching out for our personal health and being even more concerned about not interacting unnecessarily ... with vulnerable people in our community,” County Mayor Dave Kerner said.


The Palm Beach County cases were among 15 new Florida cases announced by the state health department late Thursday, raising the number of confirmed cases in Florida to 42. That includes 11 in Broward County, by far the most cases in the state, and one in Miami-Dade.

>>Coronavirus: What Palm Beach County residents need to know

The county cases involved a 73-year-old man who traveled to Egypt for a Nile River cruise tour and a 74-year-old man who traveled to Europe. Both men have been isolated and will remain in isolation until public health officials clear them, the health department said.
Also, as response to the pandemic intensified, the Palm Beach County School District announced Friday it would cancel classes for next week, the last classes before spring break.

The Palm Beach County cases were among 15 new Florida cases announced by the state health department late Thursday, raising the number of confirmed cases in Florida to 42. That includes 11 in Broward County, by far the most cases in the state, and one in Miami-Dade.

The county cases involved a 73-year-old man who traveled to Egypt for a Nile River cruise tour and a 74-year-old man who traveled to Europe. Both men have been isolated and will remain in isolation until public health officials clear them, the health department said.

Also, as response to the pandemic intensified, the Palm Beach County School District announced Friday it would cancel classes for next week, the last classes before spring break.

The announcements came a day after local officials reported that a man aboard a JetBlue flight from New York to West Palm Beach had tested positive for coronavirus. The man was placed in isolation, health officials said.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said they were “researching” whether there would be public endangerment charges filed against the passenger.

“We’ve looked into this. We’ve contacted (Aronberg) and federal authorities to see if in fact there would be some kind charge launched against him in this particular manner. But as of right now, we’re still in the research phase,” Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw also warned residents to follow quarantine orders issued by the health department if awaiting testing results or having tested positive.

“This is not a casual request, folks. The sheriff’s office is fully capable of enforcing these orders from the health department. Trust me, you want to stay in your residence. You don’t want to stay at my hotel. It’s much more comfortable at home,” he said, referring to the county jail.