Coronavirus a 'Category 5 Emergency' for Florida's Older Population

A Florida senior living advocacy group has compared the state's soaring coronavirus death toll to a Category 5 hurricane, reports NBC News . The Florida Department of Health's latest figures for COVID-19 cases among long-term care community residents totaled 4,798, a 139 percent spike since June 22, while infections among staff members rose 82 percent to 7,084. "Over the past two weeks, Florida has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic," said LeadingAge Florida CEO Steve Bahmer. A LeadingAge Florida situation report said one in five Floridians is 65 or older, making them especially susceptible to the virus. AARP Florida estimated that nearly half of Florida's 5,319 deaths were traced to infections at long-term care communities, yet residents and staffers make up less than 2 percent of the state's population. LeadingAge is urging state Sens. Marco Rubio (R) and Rick Scott (R) to support new COVID-19 relief legislation if it includes funding for rapid testing, personal protective equipment, "hero pay" for senior care workers, and funding for "aging services providers." "It didn't have to be this way, but there was not a coordinated federal response," said LeadingAge National CEO Katie Smith Sloan. "There's no prioritization of the most at-risk citizens."