Seventeen medical residents and a friend at the University of Florida Health reportedly acquired coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after throwing a house party.

17 Florida Medical Residents Tested Positive for COVID-19 After Throwing House Party
(Photo : Joe Raedle)
Essential Workers Keep Businesses Open And Serve Customers During COVID-19 Pandemic MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 13: Customers wearing masks line up to shop at the Presidente Supermarket on April 13, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The employees at Presidente Supermarket, like the rest of America's grocery store workers, are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, helping to keep the nation's residents fed.

According to WUFT, the 17 anesthesiologist and a one friend of them contracted COVID-19 early this month after attending a private party as shown from internal documents, and as based on the statements of hospital insiders.

People who are familiar with the situation spoke anonymously as the UF Health prohibits employees from talking to reporters without any authorization.

Timothy E. Morey, the chairman of anesthesiology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, sent an email on July 10 to report that the hospital system had 18 total positive cases of the COVID-19. Said patients are recovering in their home.

The reported cases include two senior residents, 14 junior residents, a fellow at the said University, and an administrative employee, according to the latest data from yesterday.

The anesthesiology department wished the patients a speedy return to good health. It is still unclear if the medical residents would return to work with patients when they recover from the virus.

The WUFT said the UF Health had difficulties tracing and preventing the spread of the virus, especially that even trained healthcare professionals conduct private parties. Florida has already issued warnings regarding the risks of COVID-19 spreading at social gatherings. 

On Monday, Florida reported the lowest daily case in three weeks. New hospitalizations declined and the ICU capacity dropped. According to Forbes, the state is starting to show signs that COVID-19 cases spike may have peaked. However, the public health experts gave warning against dismissing any measures that are in place. Experts said Florida must work hard to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Steffanie Strathdee, associate dean of global health sciences at UC San Diego and infectious disease epidemiologist, told Forbes that the coronavirus spreads through complacency and not just through coughing and sneezing.

She added that preventing a resurgence may go a long way if there is an absence of federal and state mandates to strictly implement the use of face masks in public as well as having social distancing.

"A friend of mine who is an infectious disease physician in San Diego said this when California thought it was out of danger: 'The fact that the epidemic has peaked doesn't mean the virus has disappeared. It just means that we now have room for you in the ICU'," Strathdee said. 

On Monday, there are 8,892 new COVID-19 cases reported in Florida. This count has been the lowest in three weeks. But the number showed to be still higher than other countries in the world, which reported cumulatively over the entire course of the pandemic.

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