Should coronavirus scare families away from Florida nursing homes?

As Gov.

Ron DeSantis laid out his plans to reopen the state Wednesday evening, one industry still fighting against the spread of the coronavirus is Florida's long-term care industry.

With nearly 4,000 nursing homes and assisted living facilities caring for 155,000 residents and patients, the industry is still dealing with outbreaks.

DIFFICULT TIMES.AS THE STATE SLOWLY BEGINS TOREOPEN, ONE INDUSTRY NOTGETTING BACK TO NORMAL ANYTIMESOON IS OUR STATECARE CENTERS.

IN FACT,COVID-19 REMAINS A MAJORTHREAT INSIDE HUNDREDS OFCENTERS.

SO WHERE DOES THATLEAVE RELATIVES EAGER TO PTHEIR ARMS AROUND LOVED ONESINSIDE&OR THOSE NOW NEEDINGLONG TERM CARE FOR RELATIVES?KATIE LAGRONE IS GETTINGANSWERS FOR FAMILIES.<< THEY ARE THE FLORIDIANS HITHARDEST BY COVID-19.

THEELDERLY, THE VULNERABLE&THEMOMS, DADS, GRANDMOTHERS ANDGRANDFATHERS WHO CALL ONE OFFLORIDANURSING OR ASSISTED LIVINGCENTERS &HOME.

WE ARE STILL ONTHE FRONTLINES OF TRYING TOMITIGATE THE SPREAD AT OURCENTERS SO FARINVADED MORE THAN 400 LONGTERM CARE CENTERS&INFECTINGMORE THAN 2600 RESIDENTS ANDSTAFF-- AND ULTIMATELY,KILLING NEARLY 400 OF THEM&ACCORDING TO CASES REPORTED TOFLORIDAKRISTEN KNAPP ISCOMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FORTHE STATEASSOCIATION.

WHEN THE VIRUSENTERS A NURSING HOME, I DONTHINK THAT IS AN ADMISSIONTHAT YOUTHE PROGRESSION OF THIS VIRUS.STILL FAMILIES WATCH ANDWORRY.

IT WORRIES ME TO DEATH.DANA BATTLES IS IN OHIO- HERMOM IS A RESIDENT IN ASARASOTA ASSISTED LIVINGFACILITY AND FEARS WHATCOME.

THEY DONCONTROL YET.

I DONANYBODY IS SAFE.

50 DAYS AFTERTHE STATE LOCKED DOWN LONGTERM CARE CENTERS&THEY REMAINLOCKED DOWNFAMILIES AND NO PLANS TO LIFTRESTRICTIONS ANYTIME SOON.DESPITE THE GRIM PICTURE&THEINDUSTRY IS WORKING TORECOVER.

I WOULD ENCOURAGEANYONE AT HOME, WORRIED ABOUTWHAT THEY SEE ON TV THEREDIFFERENT STORY.

LUKE NEUMANIS AN EXECUTIVE WITH PALMGARDEN HEALTH CARE- OVERSEEING14 NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTEDLIVING FACILITIES IN STATE&SEVERAL BATTLING COVIDOUTBREAKS.

AT HIS FACILITIES&RECOVERY STARTS WITHTESTING&EVERYONE.

EVERYONE ANDANYBODY WILLING TO TAKE THETESTS ACROSS THE STATE,TESTING HAS RAMPED UP INSIDEELDER CENTERS& SO HAVESUPPLIES LIKE GLOVES ANDMASKS& STILL MORE IS NEEDEDBEFORE THE INDUSTRY CAN FULLYREBOUND.

THE MORE WE CANEXPAND THE ABILITY TO TEST INOUR STATE, I THINK THE GREATERWEAND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOMEIMPORTANT DECISIONS.

KNAPPSAYS SOME LONG TERM CARECENTERS ARE STILL ADMITTINGNEW RESIDENTS&BUT FOR FAMILIESSEEKING CARE AND WORRIED ABOUTLETTING THEIR OWN LOVED ONEINSIDE& IF YOU ARE UNABLE TOSAFELY CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONEAT HOME THAN ITIMPORTANT YOU HAVE THOSECONVERSATIONS WITH HOME HEALTHAIDE OR ASSISTED LIVINGDEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF CAREYOUR LOVED ONE NEEDS// AT THEEND OF THE DAY YOU WANT TOMAKE SURE THEYFOR WHEREVER THAT MAY BE ANDJUST AS YOU WOULD DO IF COVIDWASNHOW CENTERS ARE HANDLINGPOSITIVE CASES- LOOK AT PASTINSPECTION REPORTS-SPECIFICALLY, IF THEYFOLLOWED INFECTION CONTRGUIDELINES.

KATIE LAGRONE