Please keep reading our information because the messaging is changing every hour of every day. Below is the latest information provided to the association -- please note that we will continue to send updates as soon as we receive any new information.

Reminder: Today's AHCA and LTC Conference Call
4:15 p.m. EDT


Every Tuesday & Thursday at 4:15 p.m. EST
Dial 1-866-951-1151 and enter Room Number 8484844#

*Please note there are limited lines available for this call.
All participants are muted during these calls to help streamline information delivery.
Participants are asked to email questions in advance to covid@fhca.org.


If you are unable to get into the call using the number above, please use the following conference call number :
Phone Number: 712-775-7035
Pass code: 625512#
Please Mute Your Own Line --
we are unable to mute everyone

As a reminder, all calls are recorded and posted to the FHCA website here .


Please Notify Residents, Staff and Family Members of any COVID-19 Residents in your Communities

According to the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Surgeon General, if you have any positive COVID-19 residents in your community, please notify your residents, staff and family members as soon as possible. Also, please notify the Department of Health and your local Health Department.
National Guard Strike Teams to Begin Random Testing in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living

During yesterday's press conference, Governor Ron DeSantis said that he has added 10 National Guard strike teams to ramp up random testing for residents and staff in long term care facilities -- specifically nursing homes and assisted living communities.

Governor DeSantis said this is an important step to aggressively test to prevent the spread of the virus. This additional random testing process will begin in communities in south Florida.

This past weekend, the National Guard began on-site testing as part of the State’s commitment to keeping COVID-19 out of ALFs and SNFs. To date, National Guard soldiers are taking swab samples of residents and staff in about two facilities per day.

In addition to random testing, the National Guard is also focusing on testing in facilities with one to five positive cases, National Guard soldiers will call in advance and may ask for help in obtaining consents. 

What's Been Done to Protect Florida's Seniors

Gov. Ron DeSantis said that the following has been done to protect Florida's elderly and residents of long-term care facilities:

  • Long Term Care Assessments -- To date, the Department of Health has put together more than 120 assessment teams:

  • Visit more than 4,000 long term care facilities
  • Provided appropriate infection control best practices
  • Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) visited more than 1,000 facilities and made more than 5,000 phone calls to make sure that they are a constant source of information
  • AHCA has deployed clinical teams to communities that needed additional assistance

  • The Department of Health Rapid Support teams, made up of nurses, infection control experts, infection transportation experts, and life support, were put into place to stay and help communities with any COVID-19 positive residents
  • The Rapid Support teams have been staying on site to assist communities and provide CDC guidance

  • Central Surveillance Teams to Provide Random Testing
  • Random testing teams including 30 paramedics and 12 ambulance specifically identified to transport positive COVID-19 residents to hospital
Food Safety Best Practices

On April 9, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued information and best practices for retail food stores, restaurants, and pick-up and delivery services during the pandemic to protect workers and customers.



The Best Practices Fact Sheet addres ses key considerations for how foods offered at retail can be prepared safely and delivered to the public, as well as key best practices for employee health and personal hygiene, cleaning and sanitizing.

The companion to the Fact Sheet is a  Summary Infographic  that offers at-a-glance best practices for food stores, restaurants, and pick/delivery services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Care Worker and Employer News

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has established a mechanism for health care workers who are unemployed, furloughed or interested in volunteering to provide healthcare to areas impacted by COVID-19 to register in a resource pool that can be called upon when hospitals or long term care facilities need assistance.


In their April 11 Memo t o health care practitioners, DOH announced that they will temporarily reactivate unencumbered inactive medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians and paramedics for a period of 90 days.

An inactive license reactivated under this provision will return to inactive status when the public health emergency ends or before the end of the public health emergency if the State Surgeon General determines that the health care practitioner is no longer needed to provide services during the public health emergency. Inactive practitioners can log into their   online account   here to reactivate.