Florida COVID-19 survivor recounts experience and local response

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Gene DellaSala, 46, was the first person in Pasco County, Florida, to be diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 10.

DellaSala initially thought he caught influenza or pneumonia while waking up exhausted, after a friend of his visited him days earlier to try out his new speaker.

What DellaSala didn't realize at that time was that his 70-year old friend had just visited China one week before and got hospitalized for COVID-19. It was only after his friend's diagnosis that DellaSala took it seriously and went to a health office for a swab test.

After he became the first victim of COVID-19 in Pasco County, DellaSala had to drive to a health department parking lot every three to four days to take an additional swab test.

He also took advice from doctors by asking his family members to stay home and wear a mask.

He shares his experience of his battle against the virus and his observations on local health officials' response via a Skype session.