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Orlando, FL – As we continue to learn more, a new report shares that the coronavirus was likely spreading in Florida in December. That is approximately 3 months earlier than the first reported case on March 1. The story was initially ran in the Miami Herald.
The story follows along as data was removed from the state website about potential coronavirus cases in January and February before tests were available. It also follows along other states who are now reporting cases were here much earlier than initially believed.
The Miami Herald article describes several cases where people had coronavirus symptoms long before testing was available. One case was described in which someone believed they had the coronavirus and later tested positive for the antibodies.
That case was from late January. The individual described becoming sick after a stop for food at a local restaurant and the spread to other family members. In the following days, she became sick and has not been sick since this time. This would place community spread back into January.
If you follow our writings, we commented that community spread has been here for some time. We believe that the virus was in our community long before the initial cases in January and this data seems to support this stance.
This would also mean that much more of the country has been exposed or contracted the virus than we believe. It would mean that the death rates are overstated. Much of this can be confirmed through antibody testing.
While it does not mean that the virus is not serious or taking lives, it does mean that the United States response may have been an overreaction. It would be expected that we have an overreaction when we do not know much about the virus. Now that we know more, it is time to start working to get back to normal.
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