Miami-Dade COVID19 focus stays on seniors as data shows younger at risk

A new drive-through COVID19 testing center at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah will become the fifth location Thursday for people 65 and older who have any symptoms of the coronavirus — on top of on-demand home service for those who are homebound. And on Friday, all adult day care centers or clinics and medical centers that service the elderly must close.

This despite data from the Florida Department of Health that shows that more than half the positive tests in Miami-Dade have been for people between the ages of 25 and 54. Of the 2,416 cases that tested positive in the county as of Wednesday evening, the total number of positives aged 65 and up was 424. The highest number of positives was for people between 45 and 54, with 439 cases. Among those aged 25 to 34 there were 426 cases and among those aged 35 to 44 there were 399.

And Ladra suspects the majority of the middle-aged positives are first responders and healthcare workers in Miami-Dade — where there have been 11 deaths and 155 hospitalized so far — because people under 65 don’t have as easy access to testing. Yet.

In fact, the city of Miami — which has been leading the county the whole time on mitigation of the coronavirus — on Wednesday expanded it’s testing to residents 18 and over with symptoms at its drive-through at Charles Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50th St. They must call 305-960-5050 first to make an appointment. The county will have to do the same, eventually — late, as usual.

So far, the state stats show that 18 percent of the people tested — or a whopping 9,878 — got negative results. That’s more than four times the positives. Or more than three out of every four people tested. Maybe it’s because everyone’s been testing mostly the old people, not the ones who, data shows, are more likely to have coronavirus.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez — who closed adult activities center known as comedores on March 16 — issued yet another emergency order late Tuesday that closed all adult day cares that handle the more delicate seniors with health issues and things like Alzheimer’s in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Live-in assisted living facilities and nursing homes are not included.

“This executive order will help ensure the health and safety of those most at risk of contracting COVID-19, including seniors and those with pre-existing health conditions, such as heart, lung and respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer,” said a statement from the county mayor’s office, adding that it goes into effect at midnight Friday, April 3.

But are people over 65 really more at risk of getting COVID19? Certainly they have a higher risk of complications from coronavirus once infected. But aren’t the people at the highest risk of being infected around 45 to 54, as the data shows?

“Staff employed at such sites may continue business operations that do not involve the delivery of personal services to the elderly population,” the statement from the mayor’s office reads. “Miami-Dade County staff have been directed to take all appropriate measures to provide services to the elderly during the duration of this order.”

Wait a minute. What? Instead of the adult day care center staff reinventing themselves like everyone else has to in order to deliver care at home or in another way, county staff will take care of those elderly folks’ needs from now on? Why? Could it be because of the next line in the statement?

“Such measures may include the purchase of goods and services, including, but not limited to, food services, personal protective equipment, delivery services, and refrigerated vehicles, without competitive solicitation as authorized by the Governor’s Executive Order Number 20-52 and the existing Miami-Dade County State of Local Emergency.”

Ooohhhhh. Ladra understands now. Ka-ching. Leave it to our local governments to find a way to game the crisis.

“Our seniors will get the meals they need,” Gimenez said in his daily video message. “Any senior not already on this list for free delivery at their door, please call 311 and they’ll start getting free meals.”

He also encouraged people who work in essential businesses, which includes construction workers — remember, Gimenez is still running for Congress and he wants the Latin Builders Association’s support — to wear gloves, masks and other personal protection equipment. Which means there would be less of the scarce PPE gear for actual COVID19 nurses, right?

What is he thinking? Wait. Did any of his friends or family start one of those PPE companies popping up?

In Hialeah, Larkin Community Hospital CEO Jack Michel is catching a lot of heat for charging $150 per test to people who wanted their results in 24 to 48 hours. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who seems to be following rather than leading, asked the attorney general to investigate after Political Cortadito wrote about the first weekend of the testing in a story in which Hialeah Councilwoman Monica Perez questioned the price and said people were caught off guard. Seems rather hypocritical of a Republican politician to say a healthcare provider can’t charge whatever the market will pay, but because Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez is involved it may be fishy anyway for other reasons.

Is the city providing any funding for that operation? Is the city getting any funding or reimbursement for it? Those are questions that need to be answered, particularly as rumors spread (like a virus) that the mayor’s former chief of staff, Arnie Alonso, somehow was involved in making it happen. Why was Hernandez at the press conference to announce it?

The “free” drive-through testing that starts 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Hialeah park is by appointment only and, according to a press release from Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo — who is running for county mayor — was made possible by Testing Matters (test kits), Prime Care, Solis (medical personnel), and Albert Diaz of RingLogix.

Who made these choices? Is this part of the emergency spending? Or are these people volunteering their time and trouble?

Testing will only be for residents 65 or older who are experiencing certain systems and call 305-COVID19 (305-268-4319) to schedule an appointment. There will be no walk-ins, no bikes, no mopeds. Cars only. Individuals being tested must be accessible vis-a-vís a working car window. Only two people allowed per vehicle: driver and passenger. Those who score an appointment need to enter Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E 65th Street, through the entrance at Palm Avenue and 65th Street. They will be swabbed at the rotunda immediately adjacent to the entrance of the park.

“Miami-Dade County has the largest number of older adult residents in Florida,” Bovo said in a statement. “Based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and those with serious underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus. As more positive cases arise, residents over 65 or older who are experiencing symptoms must be tested.”

He said he collaborated with former Sen. Rene Garcia, his likely replacement on the county commission, to open the testing site for “those most vulnerable in our community.”

“Commissioner Bovo and I are working collectively and taking proactive steps to address the concerns of our residents in regards to COVID-19” Garcia said in the statement. “We are focused on ensuring that there is access to free testing and that our community remains informed and equipped with the resources they need.”

Is it just a coincidence that the 65 and older universe is also their voter base?

Carlos Gimenez, coronavirus, COVID19, Esteban Bovo, Miami-Dade, Rene Garcia

Miami-Dade COVID19 focus stays on seniors as data shows younger at risk added by Ladra on April 1, 2020
View all posts by Ladra →