Pence, CDC director, Florida leaders address coronavirus, cruise industry

Vice President Mike Pence was joined by the Florida governor, both Florida U.S. senators, cruise industry leaders, the CDC director and other top officials to address coronavirus in Florida from Fort Lauderdale Saturday during two public press conferences.

Main focuses of the public addresses related to the role the cruise industry plays in the outbreak, the impact on the cruise industry and how cruise lines will help in the response to COVID-19.

The vice president responded when asked about who is most vulnerable to the virus.

“According to our best analysis … those who are most vulnerable to the coronavirus … are the elderly who have serious underlying health conditions,” Pence said. “As we deal with the spread of the coronavirus, it’s very important if you have a family member or are yourself a senior citizen with a serious underlying health condition, this would be a good time to practice common sense and to avoid activities, including traveling on a cruise line that might necessarily expose one to the coronavirus.”

Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spoke at the conference.

“At this time, the risk to the American people is low in most of the United States,” Redfield. “We are tracking to see where the cases are confirmed.”

Redfield said the real risk of coronavirus are for elderly individuals with significant, chronic medical conditions. He added some basic, preventative principles that continue to be shared with the public.

• Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap an water
• Cough into elbow
• Use a tissue and dispose of it
• Keep hands away from face
• Those who are sick should stay home

“There’s a personal responsibility,” Redfield said. “We’re all in this together”

Redfield said the CDC and the cruise industry have endured a long partnership to protect public health.

And Redfield encouraged Americans to go about their daily routine while being educated about preventative measures against illness. Pence and Redfield echoed each other during their live statements.

“We want to be clear that it is safe for healthy Americans to travel,” Pence said.

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Gov. DeSantis, Vice Pres. Pence hold news conference in Fort Lauderdale

Gov. Ron DeSantis, Vice President Mike Pence and other state officials, including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, held a press conference in Fort Lauderdale Saturday acknowledging the continued effort to combat coronavirus (COVID-19) and respond to current cases in Florida.

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The Florida Department of Health has opened a 24-hour COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.