How Iceland Dramatically Cut Down COVID-19 Deaths

LABELLE, FL. -- The country of Iceland with a populations of 135,000 has managed to keep the death toll from the coronavirus to an amazing low nine people.

"The response to the pandemic by Icelandic health authorities has focused on early detection and contact tracing and social distancing measures such as a ban on assemblies of more than 20 persons. As a member of the Schengen area, Iceland is restricting unnecessary travel by persons who are not citizens of the EU, the United Kingdom or the EFTA countries into the area but has not made other formal restrictions against international or domestic travel," reports the Wikipedia article on the country's response to the pandemic.

Health authorities have tested about 1 in every 8 people in the country, compared the the U.S. testing of about 1 in 87 people. As a result of extensive testing in Iceland, 1,760 were tested positive, or about 1 in 208 Icelandic residents having COVID-19, but of those, only three were classified serious or critical, and 1,291 have recovered, and only nine died or 1 in 38,461 people.

This compares to the death rate in the U.S. at 1 death for every 8,547 cases.

So what to be learned is: early detection though testing and tracing all contacts, combined with social distancing and bans on assemblies of groups are probably the best methods to reduce deaths and most likely reduce greatly serious and critical illness in the general public.

Hendry Drive-Thru Testing Restricts Who Gets One

LABELLE, FL. -- The Florida Department of Health in Hendry County has partnered with Quest Diagnostics to be a collection site for COVID-19 testing. The testing through Quest in Hendry and Glades Counties begins Tuesday, April 21st.

UPDATE: A press release from the Health Department, Saturday, April 18 now says "There are no restrictions for being tested." Note the previous release says "If the resident meets the testing criteria," which indicates that there are at least those restrictions, whatever they may be, for getting tested. We are awaiting a response to if testing criteria must be met and what that criteria may be.

The process to get a test is still very restrictive in that residents must first meet testing criteria as judged by their doctor or healthcare provider. If they meet that criteria they then call the Health Department for an appointment for a drive-through test available only for two hours a week in Clewiston and two hours a week in LaBelle. Note that only 262 tests have been given so far in Hendry county or about 1 in 153 Hendry residents.

· Residents from Hendry and Glades Counties will contact their healthcare provider.
· If the resident meets the testing criteria, the provider will enter an order into their Quest Diagnostics account to create a "requisition" (Not a prescription).
· The requisition will be given to the client.
· The client must call the Health Department for an appointment to be tested.
· Appointments at the Clewiston Health Department will be available on Tuesdays from 10am until noon. (1100 S. Olympia Ave, Clewiston. Phone (863) 983-1408.)
· Appointments at the LaBelle Health Department will be available on Fridays from 10am until noon. (1140 Pratt Blvd, LaBelle. (863) 674-4041)
· Sample collections will be completed confidentially at curbside. (Clients will remain in their vehicles during the sampling process)
· The sample will be sent to a Quest Diagnostics laboratory.
· Test results will be sent to the client's healthcare provider.
· The client will be notified of their test results by the healthcare provider.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, please remember:

· Stay at home while you wait for your test results
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
· Cover your coughs and sneezes
· Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces

Daily Updates On Florida's COVID-19 Cases

LABELLE, FL. -- Here are the updates from Wednesday though Saturday evening on Hendry county coronavirus cases.

Bookmark this daily link for automatically updated statistics at noon for Hendry/Glades and Florida: https://swflorida.blogspot.com/2020/04/hendry-county-fl-cases-covid-19.html


UPDATE: Saturday, April 18, there are now a reported 39 positive cases in Hendry, 51% males and 49% females after 273 total test so far. 67% are black, 31% white, 3% no data aged 11 to 101. 1 in 1,055 people in the county now have the virus. (1 in 65 have the virus in New York City)

Eight additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Hendry County, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Hendry County to 39.

The latest confirmed cases are as follows:

· 24 year old male resident of Clewiston
· 58 year old male resident of Clewiston
· 96 year old male resident of LaBelle
· 101 year old male resident of Labelle
· 53 year old male resident of LaBelle
· 45 year old male resident of Clewiston
· 38 year old female resident of Clewiston
· 37 year old male resident of Clewiston

32 of the individuals who have tested positive in Hendry County are currently under isolation. 7 individuals have recovered and been cleared by the Florida Department of Health and are no longer required to be under isolation.

The Health Department reports that in Hendry county, COVID-19 cases among staff and/or patients have been found at Clewiston Nursing and Rehabilitation and Oakbrook Health and Rehabilitation Center in LaBelle

UPDATE: As of Wednesday, April 15, three additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Hendry County, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Hendry County to 26. 22 are from Clewiston, 4 from LaBelle.

The latest confirmed cases are a 61 year old female resident of LaBelle, a 47 year old female resident of Clewiston and a 38 year old female resident of Clewiston.

19 of the individuals who have tested positive in Hendry County are currently under isolation. 7 individuals have recovered and been cleared by the Florida Department of Health and are no longer required to be under isolation.

1 in 1,592 people in Hendry have the virus so far. 234 persons have been tested.

UPDATE: As of Thursday, April 16, the latest confirmed case, the 27th in Hendry, is a 48 year old male resident of Clewiston. 23 are now from Clewiston, and 4 from LaBelle.

20 of the individuals who have tested positive in Hendry County are currently under isolation. 7 individuals have recovered and been cleared by the Florida Department of Health and are no longer required to be under isolation.

UPDATE: As of Friday at 6 p.m. four additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Hendry County, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Hendry County to 31. 262 people have been tested.
The latest confirmed cases are a 40 year old female, a 19 year old male, a 33 year old female and a 41 year old female; all individuals are residents of Clewiston. 

24 of the individuals who have tested positive in Hendry County are currently under isolation. 7 individuals have recovered and been cleared by the Florida Department of Health and are no longer required to be under isolation.

1 in 1,327 Hendry county persons now have the virus. By comparison 1 in 69 residents of New York City have COVID-19, 1 in 848 Floridians, and 1 in 529 people in Broward county, Florida.

Susan Irene Porter Dies At 58

Susan Irene Porter, 58, a resident of LaBelle, FL and a native of Newfield, NY passed away Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Hope Hospice in Lehigh Acres, FL with her fiancé, David Welstead by her side after a long battle with cancer. 

Susan was born September 1, 1961 in Ithaca, NY to Richard and Ida (Jackson) Porter. Susan was a graduate of Newfield Central School and was well known by her classmates and friends for being crowned Miss Newfield in 1978. 

She will be remembered by her beautiful long hair and contagious smile. Susan followed in her mother's footsteps and spent many years of her life taking care of others as a Certified Nursing Assistant in private home care and nursing homes. 

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of West Danby, NY and began raising her family in Newfield, NY. The summer of 1995 she moved her family to Fort Myers, FL to be closer to her father. Susan had a beautiful voice and spent much of her time bringing joy to others singing in her church choir, at many family celebrations and local karaoke events. 

Susan loved to bake and made the best apple pies each Thanksgiving. 

She is survived by her fiancé of 9 years David Welstead, two loving daughters Kaleigh Rodden and Keonna Yorkey both of Fort Myers, FL. Four siblings David Porter, Ric Porter, Patricia Burke and Daniel Porter. She is also treasured by her two grandchildren Rosalie and Nolan Lawrence. 

She was preceded in death by her mother Ida Jackson Haynes of Spencer, NY and her father Richard Porter of LaBelle, FL. 

Due to the current environment in our country a Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a future time.

Burn Ban In Glades County

MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- The Glades County Board of County Commissioners determines that emergency conditions exist in Glades County, which warrants the banning of all outdoor burning as a result of extreme drought and other weather conditions.

The suspended/banned outdoor burning includes burning yard waste, the private use and discharge of fireworks and sparklers, and the use of any other outdoor ignition source.

This burn ban is in effect until cancelled by the Glades County Board of County Commissioners.

You are allowed to BBQ in a grill or container and have small recreational or camp fires if it is in a container as well. Please be aware of your surroundings and environmental factors (wind, dry ground, brush, etc…) and use caution at all times.

 Note: This Ban does not affect fires authorized and permitted by the Florida Forest Service. The Florida Forest Service number for burn permits is 863-467-3221.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT BURNING OR WHAT YOU CAN BURN PLEASE CALL GLADES COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY AT 863-946-0566.