Hillsborough coronavirus hotels get first few guests

TAMPA, Fla. - Hillsborough County is ready to accept guests who have been impacted by the novel coronavirus. The county has leased out two Tampa hotels which will be used for quarantine and isolation patients.

The county is now preparing to enter day four of operation with a total of seven guests staying in rooms as of Sunday evening.

The county signed two six-month leases at a Quality Inn on Fowler Avenue and at the West Wing Hotel located right next door. A total of 362 rooms are now available for Hillsborough County residents impacted by COVID-19 who are in need of a safe place to stay.

The Quality Inn has a total of 6 guests in isolation, which means they've tested positive for COVID-19.

The West Wing Hotel, which is being used as a quarantine hotel, has one guest. Guests at the West Wing may have been exposed to the virus or awaiting test results. Regardless of where they stay - food and lodging are being paid for by the county.

Guests can voluntarily leave at any time. However, doing so means they forfeit their room.

The Hillsborough County Department of Health will determine who is eligible for a room.

If you feel sick:

The Florida Department of Health has opened a COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Agents will answer questions around the clock. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.

LINK: Florida's COVID-19 website

CORONAVIRUS IN FLORIDA: What you need to know

AROUND THE WORLD: CoronavirusNOW.com

Map of known COVID-19 cases:

MOBILE APP USERS: Click here for map