Second Manatee County resident tests presumptive positive for coronavirus, state says

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A second Manatee County resident has tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coranavirus.

The Florida Department of Health announced the case late Saturday.

The patient is an 81-year-old woman who had traveled overseas, according to a health department news release.

“This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. She has a history of recent travel outside of the United States,” the health department said.

“The Florida Department of Health is working closely with the patient, potential close contacts of the patient and health care providers to isolate and monitor persons who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and implement testing of anyone who may develop COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough or shortness of breath.”

The first patient was hospitalized at Doctors Hospital last month, and was released from the hospital on Friday.

The Health Department says there have been 11 COVID-19 cases in Florida, and two patients have died.

Five presumptive positive cases for COVID-19 in Florida were announced Saturday by the Florida Department of Health.

In addition to the Manatee case, the others were in Lee County, Charlotte County, Okaloosa County and Volusia County. The

Presumptive positive means the test results have not yet been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 100,000 people in more than 70 countries, including the United States. There are 340 confirmed cases in the United States, according to John Hopkins University, which is tracking the cases globally.

As of Saturday, 16 Florida residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including five Florida cases that have been repatriated from elsewhere and a non-Florida resident, according to Florida’s Department of Health website.

The department also said 88 tests are still pending while 100 have delivered a negative test result, as of Saturday afternoon.

The Miami Herald contributed to this story.

This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 10:46 PM.