Nassau County leaders address positive case of COVID-19

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida of Department of Health confirmed a 68-year-old man in Nassau County tested positive for the coronavirus.

• The Health Department said this is a travel-related case.
• The man is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials.
• The Health Department tracked the people who came in close contact with the patient by a process referred to as a ‘contact tracing.’
• Those who were identified through the contact tracing were notified, evaluated and educated by the Health Department, and are self-quarantining.
• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, prevents health officials from releasing certain patient information to protect their privacy. To protect the patient’s identity, Dr. Seidel could not discuss the severity of the man’s case, when he contracted the virus, his travel history or how many people were identified through contact tracing.
• Dr. Sunil Joshi, the Duval County Medical Society Foundation president, said it’s a fine balance between protecting the patient’s privacy and protecting everyone in the community. “I think part of what they’re trying to do is not cause mass hysteria,” Dr. Joshi said.

In a message to the public, Dr. Seidel encourages anyone who may have traveled to impacted areas with widespread community transmission, or come in close contact with a positive COVID-19 case, to contact the Health Department, their health provider and to self-isolate.

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