Out of caution and concern for all who attended our EMS Today conference in Tampa last week, we wanted to provide you with some important facts and information.

The Florida State Department of Health, through an extensive, ongoing epidemiological investigation, has identified a positive COVID-19 case that may have been associated with the EMS Today Conference held from March 4-6, 2020, in Tampa. The Centers for Disease Control has recommendations (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/risk-assessment.html) that pertain to people who attended EMS Today. The CDC recommends you remain alert for subjective fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. If you feel feverish or develop cough or difficulty breathing during the 14 days after your return from the conference, you should take your temperature, self-isolate, limit contact with others, and seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider or local health department to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.

COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people recover from COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness.

The Florida Department of Health continues to work on tracing contacts, including those who attended EMS Today. We are therefore assisting them with attendance records, and you may be contacted directly by the Department. If appropriate, we will also continue to keep you updated if additional details become available to us.