State labs have completed testing on 14 patients hospitalized at Sarasota Memorial Hospital with unexplained respiratory illness – all 14 tests were negative for COVID-19, hospital officials announced today. Results were shared with the hospital late Wednesday to help with patient care and notification, but are not considered official until confirmed by the Florida Department of Health and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. SMH continues to treat a high volume of patients presenting with respiratory illness, and submit additional samples for testing, but does not currently have any presumptive or confirmed cases. Those who come to the hospital and meet CDC criteria for possible COVID-19 coronavirus are put in isolation and treated with all necessary precautions while the hospital completes a battery of tests to rule out flu and other viruses. If those results are negative, state health officials test the samples for COVID-19 at state-run labs in Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami. Results from the first batch of test samples sent to the labs on Monday were shared with the hospital late Wednesday night. 

When someone comes in with flu-like symptoms or a suspected infectious disease, such as tuberculosis or the new coronavirus, SMH treats them with all the necessary precautions while completing a thorough medical history and testing. If their condition is serious and they require hospitalization, the hospital will admit them and run tests to rule out influenza strains and other viruses, so the number of people under observation could fluctuate several times each day as test results either confirm or rule out illness. Before the CDC will test for COVID-19, current guidelines require precursor testing rule out all alternative explanations. SMH has opened a 24/7 coronavirus command center to provide staff, local healthcare providers, local nursing homes and others in the community with information and guidance. There is also a public coronavirus hotline (941)-917-8799 that SMH created for people to get updated information.

It is important that the public remain vigilant in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. People experiencing symptoms consistent with this respiratory illness, including coughing, fever and shortness of breath, should follow proper precautions. Patients with severe symptoms or underlying conditions, such as a weakened immune system or chronic respiratory disease, should contact their family physician or the SMH hotline (941-917-8799) for guidance on how to seek care without exposing others. 

More information about prevention, treatment and SMH’s response to coronavirus in the community can be found online at smh.com/covid19.