Pasco County’s percentage of positive coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases compares favorably to the state’s percentage of positive cases, according to Mike Napier, health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County.
Napier’s comments came on April 24, during a town hall virtual meeting hosted by Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.
Napier said the health department’s epidemiologists work with hospitals, long-term health facilities, urgent care centers, and other medical and testing facilities to identify, monitor and track all positive COVID-19 cases.
Once a positive case is identified, the health department’s epidemiology team contacts the individual and asks about their activities and the people they’ve come in contact with.
“Based on that information, follow-up calls are made to those possible contacts. Information is gathered and recommendations are provided to those individuals, as well.
“A tracking system is used to compile this information and determine trends in our community.
“Normally, this is a 24/7 operation, manned by four staff in the health department.
“However, in the last few weeks, we’ve ramped up and have a total of 25 people working on contact tracing.
“As we know, contact tracing is a huge component in resolving our COVID-19 cases,” Napier said.
“Before we had the self-isolation, you may have been to a neighborhood barbecue. You may have been to your children’s school event. I may have 40 to 50 people.
“Contact tracing is important.
“We contact our positives within the first 24 to 48 hours of the lab getting back to us. Many times, we’re contacting them before the doctors call them.”
“The amount of work is reduced because of the isolation, and the spread is reduced because of the isolation.”
Napier put Pasco County’s percentage of positive cases at 5% of those tested, compared to the state average of 10%.
“Today (April 24), we’ve had nine positive cases; in the past, we’ve been doing pretty well, with four or five cases,” he said.
Of 229 cases, 174 people have been removed from isolation, he said.
As of April 24, Pasco had its highest daily positive count on the first three days of April. The counts on those days were 15, 12 and 16, respectively.
“For this past week, we’ve averaged five cases, so we’re making progress,” he said.
Early on, most of the county’s cases were related to travel from known hot spots.
Then, the positive cases were from exposure to known cases, with a large percentage being from household contact, such as spouses, children and siblings, he said.
He said the health department provides priority testing, based on first responders and health care workers.
He said BayCare also has stepped up with drive-thru testing at its Gulf Harbor location and now at Gulf High School in New Port Richey.
“BayCare has tested more than 2,000 residents that met the screening criteria. I can’t emphasize the importance of the screening criteria — fever, cough, shortness of breath,” Napier said.
The focus has been on testing people who are symptomatic, he said.
The testing will be provided through the first week of May at Gulf High School, said Napier, who also gave a shout-out to the principal, for accommodating the testing.
“These efforts have allowed us to identify and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Napier said, adding that social distancing is working to reduce the spread of the potentially deadly virus.
When employers can find ways for employees to work at home, that helps to limit the spread, he said.
“Pasco County, in general terms, has done very well with the COVID response and has seen less cases and less deaths, compared to similar counties,” Napier said.
He attributes some of that to the health department’s efforts to fight back the Hepatitis A problem that has plagued the county for the past year.
He explained: “COVID-19 messaging is similar to Hep A, in that good hygiene is the No. 1 best way to avoid infection.
“Our hospitals, long-term care facilities, community partners and you, our residents of Pasco County, are making a difference and the data shows. Continue to follow CDC guidance, watch for updates for the governor and when Pasco County begins to get back to business, following their guidance,” he said.
“The Department of Health is working with Pasco County to provide data on case counts and other related information, so that they can make informed decisions on opening the county for business,” Napier added.
He also offered these simple reminders: “The basics of infection control continue to be good hand hygiene.
“Remember,” he added, “the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.”
Published May 06, 2020
