OKEECHOBEE – Stories shared on social media claiming the total COVID-19 deaths include all deaths of those who tested positive, even if they died in a car crash, simply are not true, Tiffany Collins of the Florida Department of Health told Okeechobee County Commissioners at their Thursday, Dec. 10 meeting.

Collins said since testing started in March, Okeechobee County has had 2,128 total positive cases, with 218 hospitalizations and 45 deaths (based on data available Dec. 9).

She said deaths are only added to the FDOH dashboard if the medical examiner lists COVID-19 as the primary or a secondary cause of death. “It does not include exclusions such as homicide, suicide, any kind of trauma, car accident, overdose – we do not include that as a covid death in our dashboard,” she explained.

“Car accidents are not on the dashboard,” said Collins. “So the whole social media motorcycle accident story was not true?” asked Commissioner Kelly Owens. “Not true, at least not in Florida,” said Collins. “It has to be true. It was on Facebook,” joked Commissioner Chair Terry Burroughs.

Collins said 5% of the population of Okeechobee has tested positive for COVID-19.

She said COVID-19 testing is available at the Florida Department of Health, 1728 N.W. Ninth Avenue in Okeechobee, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. She explained they stop testing earlier on Friday to get the samples to the lab before the weekend.

“Department of Health for quite some time has been doing the oral swabs. We are not doing the nasal swabs,” she explained. A new app helps residents get their results faster. When residents at the health department, are tested, they can scan the app with their phone.

Tests are by appointment only. Call 863-462-5800 to make an appointment. With the new app, results are available in about 48 hours. Tests are available to those who meet the criteria, including high risk individuals and health care workers who have symptoms. First responders may be tested even if they are asmytomatic. To find out if you qualify for a test, call the health department.

Collins said Okeechobee County has received 640 rapid test kits which provide results in15 minutes. She said these will be used on those who are symptomatic close contacts. She said the rapid tests have a higher probability of false positives.

Collins said they hope to have COVID-19 vaccine available for residents and staff of longterm care facilities before the end of the year. Priority for vaccinations will be longterm care facility residents, healthcare workers and first responders.

Public Safety Director Ralph Franklin said the Treasure Coast Food Bank will distribute food on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 9 to 11 a.n. at the Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center, 4601 State Road 710.