2 new COVID-19 cases in Alachua County

March 17, 2020

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

The Florida Department of Health COVID-10 Dashboard is showing two new cases in Alachua County; according to County officials, they are travel-related. Governor DeSantis also announced that 4 UF students have tested positive. Across the state, there are 31 new cases.

Even county officials aren’t quite sure who is included on the dashboard’s list. There were 4 official cases in the county as of yesterday, and 3 of them were non-Florida residents. The dashboard doesn’t count non-Florida residents, so it should have shown one case, but it showed two. This morning it shows four cases. Previously, the age range was 24-64, but today it is 21-64.

Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton says there are 5 known cases in Alachua County. Three of them are the ones we already knew about: a 65-year-old woman from Georgia, a 24-year-old male UF student, and a 69-year-old male visiting from Europe. (The reported case of a visitor from New York was incorrect.) We have two new reports today, but we don’t have demographic information. All cases are travel-related.

Those with questions or concerns about COVID-19, including testing, should call the Alachua County Health Department’s call center at 352-334-8810. Operators are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (after hours call 352-334-7900). The County’s 311 hotline is also available to answer questions.

For current Coronavirus (COVID-19) information, visit the Alachua County Coronavirus website, the Alachua County Facebook page, call the Coronavirus Information Line at 866-779-6121, visit the Florida Department of Health website, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).