Sun-Sentinel by Rafael Olmeda
March 31, 2020
As the number of positive coronavirus cases continues to climb in Florida, the state is still holding back critical information that could affect thousands of people — the names of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities where residents or employees have tested positive.
Multiple efforts by the South Florida Sun Sentinel and other news agencies to obtain the information have been rebuffed in the name of medical privacy, even though other states — Washington, Tennessee, California and others — have freely provided the names and locations to the public.
In Washington state, one of the earliest hot spots for the disease in the U.S., the health department has provided general information with the county health departments filling in the blanks, including the names of the long-term care facilities. Washington reported 4,896 cases as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the CDC.
California has also been open about its nursing homes cases, with counties listing care facilities along with other specific city and neighborhood statistics on its website.
