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| Everyone Wants an Antibody Test. Everyone on This Private Island Can Get One. | Everyone Wants an Antibody Test. Everyone on This Private Island Can Get One. |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| MIAMI — Things are different in Fisher Island, the exclusive enclave off Miami Beach that is one of the wealthiest places in America. No uninvited outsiders are allowed in. Entrance is permitted only by boat. | MIAMI — Things are different in Fisher Island, the exclusive enclave off Miami Beach that is one of the wealthiest places in America. No uninvited outsiders are allowed in. Entrance is permitted only by boat. |
| And everyone who lives or works there can now get tested to see if they have developed protective antibodies to the coronavirus. | And everyone who lives or works there can now get tested to see if they have developed protective antibodies to the coronavirus. |
| The island has secured the much-sought-after tests for all its residents and their staff through the University of Miami, which has a clinic on site that started scheduling residents last week for appointments, building by building, for a finger-prick blood test. In a matter of minutes, each person learned their results. Home health aides and housekeepers also got tested. | The island has secured the much-sought-after tests for all its residents and their staff through the University of Miami, which has a clinic on site that started scheduling residents last week for appointments, building by building, for a finger-prick blood test. In a matter of minutes, each person learned their results. Home health aides and housekeepers also got tested. |
| The test is not the diagnostic nasal swab that detects active exposure to the virus. It will not tell someone with symptoms if they are sick. | The test is not the diagnostic nasal swab that detects active exposure to the virus. It will not tell someone with symptoms if they are sick. |
| What the antibodies tests can do is track how many people might have been exposed to the virus, helpful information for academics, experts and policymakers. For residents, the tests can reveal that, even if they did not experience symptoms, they might have already had a brush with the virus. | What the antibodies tests can do is track how many people might have been exposed to the virus, helpful information for academics, experts and policymakers. For residents, the tests can reveal that, even if they did not experience symptoms, they might have already had a brush with the virus. |
| Although health authorities are hurrying to make the tests more widely available, that sort of peace of mind is still hard to come by in most communities in Florida and across the country. But Fisher Island, a barrier island less than half a square mile in size with a population of less than a thousand people, is not most places. (“Live on Fisher Island and get buried in Palm Beach,” riffed the 1996 movie “The Birdcage.” “That way you’ll get the best of Florida.”) | Although health authorities are hurrying to make the tests more widely available, that sort of peace of mind is still hard to come by in most communities in Florida and across the country. But Fisher Island, a barrier island less than half a square mile in size with a population of less than a thousand people, is not most places. (“Live on Fisher Island and get buried in Palm Beach,” riffed the 1996 movie “The Birdcage.” “That way you’ll get the best of Florida.”) |
| After the coronavirus pandemic began, Fisher Island prohibited entry to guests. Ferry service has continued, but only for residents and the limited number of employees still allowed on the island to landscape, work at the local market and provide other essential services. | After the coronavirus pandemic began, Fisher Island prohibited entry to guests. Ferry service has continued, but only for residents and the limited number of employees still allowed on the island to landscape, work at the local market and provide other essential services. |
| The marina and club on the island, where one-time equity membership costs $250,000, are closed. So are the beach, golf course, tennis courts and pool. | The marina and club on the island, where one-time equity membership costs $250,000, are closed. So are the beach, golf course, tennis courts and pool. |
| “I call it Alcatraz — since we are surrounded by water and we have no place to go,” joked Daniel Azoulay, 74, a contemporary art and fashion photographer who has lived on the island for 29 years and has not left it for the past month. | “I call it Alcatraz — since we are surrounded by water and we have no place to go,” joked Daniel Azoulay, 74, a contemporary art and fashion photographer who has lived on the island for 29 years and has not left it for the past month. |
| He went for his test on Friday, knowing that it would not give him definitive information about any possible immunity: “They just let you know if you have any antibodies, and that’s it.” His housekeeper, who now comes twice a week instead of five days, got tested, too. | He went for his test on Friday, knowing that it would not give him definitive information about any possible immunity: “They just let you know if you have any antibodies, and that’s it.” His housekeeper, who now comes twice a week instead of five days, got tested, too. |
| Fisher Island paid for the tests that had been purchased by the University of Miami health clinic, Sissy DeMaria Koehne, a spokeswoman for the island, said in a statement. More than half of the residents are older than 60 and “at high risk,” the statement said. | Fisher Island paid for the tests that had been purchased by the University of Miami health clinic, Sissy DeMaria Koehne, a spokeswoman for the island, said in a statement. More than half of the residents are older than 60 and “at high risk,” the statement said. |
| The 1,800 tests, made by BioMedomics Inc., cost $17 each, Ms. DeMaria Koehne said. Testing began on April 6, and 1,250 people have been tested so far. | The 1,800 tests, made by BioMedomics Inc., cost $17 each, Ms. DeMaria Koehne said. Testing began on April 6, and 1,250 people have been tested so far. |
| She added that a Fisher Island resident has also now committed $200,000 to the Rabinowitz Charitable Foundation to provide blood-prick antibody testing “for hard hit areas in Miami.” | She added that a Fisher Island resident has also now committed $200,000 to the Rabinowitz Charitable Foundation to provide blood-prick antibody testing “for hard hit areas in Miami.” |
| Florida state health data lists five to nine cases of Covid-19 in Fisher Island’s zip code. | Florida state health data lists five to nine cases of Covid-19 in Fisher Island’s zip code. |
| The tests were first reported by The Miami Herald. | The tests were first reported by The Miami Herald. |
| News that residents of Fisher Island were being offered the tests was not well received by some local leaders. | News that residents of Fisher Island were being offered the tests was not well received by some local leaders. |
| “I cannot reconcile the shoeless, mask-less, hungry children we fed today with this headline,” Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, wrote on Twitter with a link to The Herald’s story. The school district has distributed hundreds of thousands of meals to needy students stuck studying at home. | “I cannot reconcile the shoeless, mask-less, hungry children we fed today with this headline,” Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, wrote on Twitter with a link to The Herald’s story. The school district has distributed hundreds of thousands of meals to needy students stuck studying at home. |
| Florida mayors have had to scramble and ask the state for help to set up nasal-swab diagnostic testing sites that continue to draw long lines of patients. | Florida mayors have had to scramble and ask the state for help to set up nasal-swab diagnostic testing sites that continue to draw long lines of patients. |
| Updated June 22, 2020 | Updated June 22, 2020 |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. | States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. | If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. |
| Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for widespread antibody testing across the state as well. | |
| “The general thought is you develop some sort of immunity to being infected in the future. They’re not 100 percent sure on that but I think that’s the general consensus on that,” Mr. DeSantis said at a news conference on Friday. “So I think having wide antibody testing will be something that’s very, very important in Florida and we’re working as hard as we can to roll that out.” | |
| “And then you can also spot-check a representative sample to see how many people in our society have the antibodies,” he said. | “And then you can also spot-check a representative sample to see how many people in our society have the antibodies,” he said. |
| Medical laboratories across the state are slowly rolling out the tests. | Medical laboratories across the state are slowly rolling out the tests. |
| The office of Mayor Carlos Gimenez of Miami-Dade County said that the Fisher Island tests were separate from the antibody tests paid for by the county and administered by University of Miami researchers as part of a coronavirus surveillance testing program. That effort is limited to a random sample of 750 people a week. | The office of Mayor Carlos Gimenez of Miami-Dade County said that the Fisher Island tests were separate from the antibody tests paid for by the county and administered by University of Miami researchers as part of a coronavirus surveillance testing program. That effort is limited to a random sample of 750 people a week. |
| In a statement on Tuesday, the University of Miami acknowledged that providing the tests to Fisher Island, though in accordance with its health system’s clinical standards, “may have created the impression that certain communities would receive preferential treatment.” | In a statement on Tuesday, the University of Miami acknowledged that providing the tests to Fisher Island, though in accordance with its health system’s clinical standards, “may have created the impression that certain communities would receive preferential treatment.” |
| “That was not our intent,” the university said through Lisa Worley, a spokeswoman. She said one of the first confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Miami-Dade County was on Fisher Island. The university also took into consideration that more than half of the population on the island is over age 60, and many residents had recently returned from the Northeast, where there were a high number of coronavirus cases. | “That was not our intent,” the university said through Lisa Worley, a spokeswoman. She said one of the first confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Miami-Dade County was on Fisher Island. The university also took into consideration that more than half of the population on the island is over age 60, and many residents had recently returned from the Northeast, where there were a high number of coronavirus cases. |
| “These factors, at the time, were taken into consideration when the request was received,” she said. “The health system is revising its process for reviewing testing outreach requests to ensure it meets our mission as we work on the front lines to manage this pandemic for the South Florida community.” | “These factors, at the time, were taken into consideration when the request was received,” she said. “The health system is revising its process for reviewing testing outreach requests to ensure it meets our mission as we work on the front lines to manage this pandemic for the South Florida community.” |
| The ski resort town of Telluride, Colo., also tried to offer antibody tests donated by two wealthy biotech executives to residents but ran into logistical trouble processing the results from the company’s test lab in hard-hit New York. | The ski resort town of Telluride, Colo., also tried to offer antibody tests donated by two wealthy biotech executives to residents but ran into logistical trouble processing the results from the company’s test lab in hard-hit New York. |
| In Fisher Island, Mr. Azoulay praised the effort, along with the social distancing measures enforced by the island. A small, isolated population lends itself to surveillance testing, he said. And residents have been happy to contribute to funds to pay not only for the tests but also for furloughed island workers. | In Fisher Island, Mr. Azoulay praised the effort, along with the social distancing measures enforced by the island. A small, isolated population lends itself to surveillance testing, he said. And residents have been happy to contribute to funds to pay not only for the tests but also for furloughed island workers. |
| “This is a community,” he said. “So we’re all working hard to make sure that we help each other.” | “This is a community,” he said. “So we’re all working hard to make sure that we help each other.” |
| Kitty Bennett contributed research. | Kitty Bennett contributed research. |