Last Updated: Tuesday, 11:23 a.m.
A 45-year-old Flagler Beach police officer has tested positive for Covid-19. In an unrelated development, Flagler Beach City Manager Larry Newsom fell ill and has been in self-isolation at his home since this morning, FlaglerLive learned. With one other exception–another police officer is in self-isolation–the police department is monitoring itself but is not in isolation.
Neither police nor city officials disclosed either development publicly until Tuesday.
The police officer’s infection with the coronavirus is the first case involving a public employee whose work necessarily entails contact with the public.
In a detailed interview late Tuesday morning, Police Chief Matt Doughney said the officer had been off Monday and Tuesday, reported to work on Wednesday with symptoms, and was at work for 30 minutes before being sent home. He is a patrol officer who normally would have contact with the public, but that day he did not go out on patrol.
“On the day he was sent home he only had contact with individuals here at the police department for 30 minutes and he was on days off before that,” the chief said. The officer then went to a primary care physician and was notified on Saturday of testing positive for Covid-19, Doughney said. The chief said he did not inform the public or the commission on Saturday because Department of Health Director Bob Snyder told him to wait until confirmation of the case through the Health Department, which came through on Monday afternoon. (Commissioners did not learn of the case until late Monday evening, when FlaglerLive initially published the story about the case.)
The second police officer in self-isolation was also sent home Wednesday. (He tested negative for the virus, the chief said on March 25, and was ready to return to duty.)
On Sunday, Doughney and Snyder toured the beach together ahead of their decision to close it down this morning.
“Matt and I, of course we should be concerned and the radar goes up, but the radar goes up for clinical symptoms,” Snyder said this evening. “Rest assured, with our police officer, contact tracing has begun and will continue.” He said there was no cause for quarantining the police department, nor symptomatic causes for further concern. “I don’t get that sense from Matt at all,” Snyder said, referring to concern over close contact with the officer.
Health department epidemiologists and others are conducting the contact tracing–an investigation into who the officer would have had contact with and where. Such investigations are conducted with every single Covid-19 confirmation and becomes part of the effort to trace down and control all potential infection points. “Those individuals were notified and were given guidelines just to make sure they know what symptoms to look for.” Should symptoms develop, then self-isolation is called for, and contact with a physician or the health department.
While contagion is highest in an individual with symptoms, it is still not clear, from a medical standpoint, to what extent contagion takes place in asymptomatic people. What is clearer is that chances of contagion in those instances are not near zero.
“What should I do if I was in close contact with someone with COVID-19 while they were ill but I am not sick?” one of the questions on a Washington State Department of Health FAQ states. (Washington State is one of the disease’s hardest-hit regions.) The answer: “You should monitor your health for fever, cough and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the sick person with COVID-19. You should not go to work or school, and should avoid public places for 14 days.” But close contact is defined as living in the same household with a person who is sick from Covid-19, caring for a Covid-19 patient, being within six feet of that person for 10 minutes or more, or being in direct contact with secretions from that person.”If you have not been in close contact with a sick person with COVID-19, you are at low risk for infection,” the department states. “You can continue to go to work and school, but should monitor your health for 14 days since the contact and stay away from others if you get sick.
Doughney did not return numerous phone calls Monday evening, so at that point it wasn’t clear what measures had been taken at the department’s offices at 204 S Flagler Avenue, or whether the department has developed contingency plans with the sheriff’s office in case any help was needed down the line.
After 10 a.m. Tuesday, Doughney issued a one-page “media release” acknowledging the confirmation of the case and that, according to Doughney’s quote in the release, “Our Officer has been at home since exhibiting symptoms last week and the Health Department is actively monitoring the Officers condition.” The release does not state when the officer was sent home and when the officer himself informed his department of his Covid-19 test, though his case had appeared listed on the Department of Health’s dashboard Monday morning.
The release outlines a series of steps the department has taken in response–closing the front lobby of the police department, placing hand sanitizers at entrances and exits, discussing social distancing at the start of each shift, taking the temperature of personnel. “Any members of the Department exhibiting Coronavirus symptoms will be sent home to self-isolate and monitor their condition,” the release states. “The areas of the Department accessed by the Officer that tested positive have been cleaned.”
The release also notes that a second officer has been isolated at home “since last week as well” because of direct contact with the officer who tested positive. The release says nothing about the officer’s contacts with members of the public.
“The reality of this situation is that First Responders are human and we’re not immune to the Coronavirus. While our Department is the first locally to have a First Responder test positive for this virus, more than likely it will not be the last,” Doughney is quoted as saying in the release.
Doughney then returned a call and spoke at length and candidly about the cases. “I’m concerned for every member of this agency and every member of the city including the citizens, all city staff,” he said. “We’re a small city and a really, really small department. Am I worried about my safety? I practice social distancing as much as I can possibly do.” Like the rest of his department, he takes his temperature in the morning–it was 96.5 this morning–and monitors himself. He and Capt. Lance Blanchette have been working seven days a week, shifts have been altered for the ranks to ensure coverage and proper rest as well, but so far there’s been no need to call on the sheriff for extra help.
“We’re prepared for the long haul as far as giving folks days off to let them rest,” Doughney said, and if the time comes when there may be a shortage of personnel, “Rick Staly is a true professional and he and I will have that conversation if I have to have it.”
The police chief said the department’s cleaning company has deep-cleaned the premises, returning over the weekend to do so, and that Blanchette himself had gone around the department with extra disinfectant on high-touch points, from keyboards to phones to door handles.
“There was no reason at this point in time for the police force to self-isolate,” Snyder said.
Two city commissioners contacted this evening appeared unaware of the situation at the police department. All commissioners and the mayor had been told in the morning that Larry Newsom, the city manager, had fallen ill and was self-isolating.
“I received a text message from Mr. Newsom earlier this morning advising that he is feeling ill, and therefore, as a precaution he will be self-isolating at his residence,” Doughney wrote the city commissioners and the mayor at 9 this morning. He did not provide further details. It isn’t clear why Newsom did not himself inform the commissioners.
“Mr. Newsom is available by cell phone and both Chief Pace and myself are working and available if you need anything,” the chief wrote the elected officials. Newsom, who, like Doughney, is usually quick to return calls, did not return repeated phone calls this evening. Pace’s cell phone’s mailbox was full and not taking further messages.
Newsom would presumably have had frequent contact with the police chief in the past few days.
The county’s total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases remained at three after the 6 p.m. update by the Florida Department of Health, but Florida’s confirmed cases continued to rise rapidly, to 1,227, with 18 deaths attributed to the disease, four more than this morning. In Flagler, there were 58 people under surveillance.
The three confirmed cases involve two women, 59 and 72, and a man, 45. At least two of the three cases–the 45-year-old police officer and the 72-year-old woman, who was being treated out of the county–have direct connections to Flagler Beach: the woman lives there, the officer works there.
Jonathan Lord, the county’s emergency management director, said this evening he had not been informed of any first responders having to be taken off work for self-isolation.
So far, 55 Flagler County residents have been tested through the Department of Health’s laboratories, with 52 testing negative.
Monday’s earlier developments are here.
Resident says
OMG….I wonder if he or she wrote tickets? He would have people sign their name with his or her pen.
Here Spot says
How Ironic that NOW the police will not be allowed on the Beach to ticket citizens because THEY now are infected with the same virus they are trying to keep people from getting on the Beach.
deb says
I guess you will never know or understand the real hazards of being a public servant. Its his job, to protect and serve the citizens of this county. Its not unlike the doctors and nurses that have been infected taking care of the sick. Its their job and the oath they took to care for others.
Here Spot says
I understand completely. He ENDANGERED his fellow officers and the public by NOT coming forward sooner. And by the way deb, police DO NOT PROTECT and SERVE anymore. That was removed from their motto a decade ago.
deb says
“”These deputies truly follow our Agency motto, “An honor to serve – A duty to protect.” In 2017 the Community Policing Division was restructured to reflect the three distinct and unique communities of Flagler County”
Rick Belhumeur says
I’ll be praying for the Officer’s full and speedy recovery.
Lance Carroll says
Eye opener.
Resident says
All employees at the police department should be self quarantined and ask the Sheriff’s Office to answer calls in Flagler Beach. We are all in danger and I can’t believe Chief Doughney didn’t disclose this info on Saturday.
You can't fix stupid says
One would like and the rest would swear to it!! They need to be FIRED!!! They have put others in danger and were so selfish they didn’t disclose it. This is no worse than the man that flew on Jet Blue! The Governor needs to take action against those as this who are so selfish they don’t care about others. This just goes to show we can’t trust our leadership! We must demand our officials take action and these selfish individuals are sent packing!!!
Think says
Hmmm. I believe Stalin would agree with you. The guy was trying to do his/her job and protect the citizens. If you are high risk, stay home and lay off the hate. Just saying
Paul Harrington says
We are concerned about the FB Police and Larry Newsom and hope they get well quickly.
This higlights a greater need to limit traffic flow into our community as well the county. If you want to cut off the flow of drugs go to the source not the user.
Closing the beach and wasting a law enforcement officer’s time patroling an empty seaside is insanity. Limiting access and shutting down parking closeby will keep the crowds to a minimum and give people a place to stretch.
The same goes for parks and trails. Close the parking. If people have to walk or ride a bike they won’t be bringing coolers and grills to party. It will just provide a place for people to stay healthy.
It’s time for leadership that understands that it’s people not money we must be concerned with.
Me says
Governor DeSantis needs to start listening to medical professionals and stop trusting Donald Trump who is so clueless in a national disaster. If Governor DeSantis wants to be re-elected he needs to start caring more about the citizens of the State of Florida. He is doing thing in baby steps and that is causing germs to spread. Please Governor wake up and smell the coffee.
Percy's mother says
Did I miss something in the article?
If neither police nor city officials disclosed the development publicly (regarding the police officer testing + for CV-19), how was the information gleaned?
Was it self-disclosure?
Resident says
I imagine someone on the inside felt the public had a need to know, so they tipped the news media. Thank God for them.
Percy's mother says
HIPAA violation
Cynthia says
Ok so we have one officer that has corona virus so why is the whole dept not in isolation? They have dept meetings and I would assume that they are daily SO the whole dept has been exposed.
DON’T stop and expose the law abiding public to this illness all of you all should be in isolation. Call Flagler county sheriff’s if you really need police help.
Happening now says
Does Government have authority close air traffic? Is it a Federal mandate?
ASf says
So much for the remarks about how saltwater and sunshine keep the virus at bay.
Downeaster says
Bike week should of been cancelled but instead it went on as usual attracting 10s of thousands of people from high risk areas and cramming them into every one of our bars and restaurants.. Watch the number of infections skyrocket. This is the tip of the iceberg.
Gary R says
38 year old Detroit police dispatcher dies as a result of COVID-19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVZ7q6X6KCU
Concerned Citizen says
Many States are heading towards a mandated 14 day lock down. People are screaming and protesting but it might be the only way we slow this thing down.
Here in Florida folks thought we would be immune. How is that possible being a tourist destination? And shame on our local and state officials for being slow to respond. I guess money is more important than lives.
Covid-19 is a nasty virus. It’s effects still aren’t completly understood. One thing is certain. Covid-19 does not care about boundaries. It doesn’t care about political parties, age groups or demographics. Once you get it you are sick and from what I am reading it isn’t pleasant.
What can we do to stop it?
Comply with the social distancing for one. Many weren’t and were outright taunting it. Stupid right? Comply with our local authorities stay home, stay safe request. Right now I see people going about busniess as usual. Not a care in the world. Except selfishly buying up and hoarding essential supplies.
If we don’t do this willingly and show some effort on our own someone might just mandate things. Then that will be a major inconvienience.
Jo says
Taking a car ride down A1A today saw a couple of people on the beach about two to three miles south from Flagler Pier. Just not right that we have people feeling entitled to go to the beach. Otherwise, saw no one else on the beach.
Baffled says
Wow… I hope for a speedy recovery and I pray no others were effected by him showing up to work knowingly sick.