The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Pasco offers $500 bonus for vaccinated employees

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Pasco County employees who get vaccinated will receive $500 in premium pay, under a plan approved last week, by the Pasco County Commission.

The $500 in premium pay is for every county employee who is fully vaccinated, regardless of whether they are already vaccinated, or if they get vaccinated before Nov. 1.

The additional pay will be distributed to qualifying employees on Nov. 12.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles would prefer to reward employees who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 than to punish those who aren’t. (File)

The county also will be providing premium pay to county employees who worked during the pandemic, with the exception of those who are already receiving a bonus from the state of Florida.

Employees who were employed in 2020 and are still employed now will receive $500 in premium pay. Those who were employed in 2021 and are still working for the county will receive $250.

Those bonuses will be included in employees’ Sept. 17 paycheck.

County Administrator Dan Biles explained the thinking behind the premium pay plans during a presentation on the county’s plan for spending funds received through the American Rescue Plan Act.

He told commissioners that about 50% of the county’s employees have been vaccinated.

“Our firefighters are actually vaccinated at a lower rate than 50%,” he said.

The county wants to get its vaccination rate up into the range of 70% to 80%, Biles said.

At the same time the county wants to increase its rate of vaccinated employees, it also wants to decrease potential medical costs, Biles said.

“We’ve only had about 10% of county employees actually test positive with COVID. Those 10% actually cost $3.4 million in COVID claims.

“We’ve surveyed the counties and cities around us. Many of them are using what I will call negative incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated.

“There are a couple of counties in the state who have basically said, ‘If you’re not vaccinated by a certain date, you are no longer a county employee.

“Several counties are doing more on the, if you are not vaccinated, you have to test weekly.

“Some of the areas around us, if you’re vaccinated, you don’t have to wear a mask. But if you’re not vaccinated, you have to wear a mask and are subject to testing on a recurring basis.

“Those are all what I would consider negative incentives and I would actually prefer to do a positive incentive to encourage people in a positive manner. Give them a carrot, as opposed to a stick,” he said.

“It makes good business sense, and additionally, I think it’s the right thing to do for our employees,” Biles said.

“It’s less expensive operationally, from a budgetary perspective, to pay people to get the vaccine — that are county employees — than to go pay for their health bills, health insurance bills,” the county administrator added.

He also explained the other bonus plan, to reward employees who have worked for the county “during the pandemic.

“The governor and the state legislature approved premium pay for public safety employees and teachers. It didn’t make sense for one section of our employee base to get premium pay from the state and not do a premium pay on the rest of the employee base,” he said.

So, the county developed its own plan.

Published September 01, 2021

County clears way for 350 apartments

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning to allow an apartment development of up to 350 units at the southwest corner of State Road 52 and Old Pasco Road.

The 23.1-acre site currently is occupied by pastureland, some residences and some outbuildings. It abuts the Mango Hills master-planned unit development district, which has been approved for a maximum of 415 single-family detached and single-family attached townhomes.

Properties to the north and the northeast, adjacent to State Road 52, are zoned for general commercial, light industrial and retail, office and residential land uses.

In recommending approval of the request, county planners said the proposed apartments are a logical transition from general commercial and industrial uses.

The request also received a recommendation for approval from the Pasco County Planning Commission.

In addition to approving the rezoning, the county board also granted a variance regarding the number of parking spaces required for the project.

The property is next to where Pasco County will be building the Orange Belt Trail, and the project is planning to construct a bicycle and pedestrian access to that recreational trail.

During the planning board’s public hearing, Attorney Barbara Wilhite, who represented the applicant, said the maximum allowable density, under the county’s comprehensive plan, would be 24 units per acre. But the proposed project calls for a maximum of 15 units per acre.

Wilhite said the proposed apartments would have access to a portion of Old Pasco Road that has four lanes.

She also noted that the proposed apartments are close to the State Road 52/Interstate 75 interchange, and nearby properties are planned for industrial development.

The access to the project is from Old Pasco Road, Wilhite told the county board, during its Aug. 24 public hearing on the request.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey noted the planned access to the Orange Belt Trail.

She told Wilhite that her client should consider using a small piece of land near the trail to create a business that would serve trail users.

Starkey said the county wants to create opportunities for entrepreneurship along its recreational trails, such as a coffee shop, or an ice cream shop or somewhere “that would be a fun place to go, if you’re using the trail.”

She encouraged Wilhite: “Be thinking creatively about a retail or a small commercial experience, next to that trail.”

Wilhite said there is property nearby that could be used for that purpose.

Starkey responded: “It could be on your property, too. One of the things that we’ve (Starkey and county staff) talked about doing is what’s called an overlay district, all along the trail. You see it done in other places, where you have it zoned that, if you want to do something.

“We would put the uses in. Ice cream shop, coffee shop, lemonade stand, whatever, if you’re within 20, 50, 100 feet of the trail — whatever — the right determination is, you can do it.

“It’s just a great benefit and a really cool thing to have along the perimeters of the trail. Especially that trail.

“I hear from people all of the time that we don’t have enough amenities on our trails.

“Once you leave the Starkey Market and Longleaf, you go all of the way to Hernando County before you can buy a drink or an ice cream or anything along our trail.

“I just want to really encourage some little entrepreneurship along the trails,” Starkey said.

Published September 01, 2021

Mask ruling has no immediate impact in Pasco schools

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Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper has deemed unconstitutional the state’s order to ban local school districts from imposing mandatory facemasks.

Cooper explained his decision in a two-hour announcement from the bench on Aug. 27.

Cooper ruled that school districts can impose mandatory mask mandates, and if challenged, must be granted due process to demonstrate their mask requirement is reasonable.

Taryn Fenske, communications director for Gov. Ron DeSantis, issued this reaction to the ruling: “It’s not surprising that Judge Cooper would rule against parent’s rights and their ability to make the best educational and medical decisions for their family, but instead rule in favor of elected politicians.

“This ruling was made with incoherent justifications, not based in science and facts – frankly not even remotely focused on the merits of the case presented. We are used to the Leon County Circuit Court not following the law and getting reversed on appeal, which is exactly what happened last year in the school reopening case. We will continue to defend the law and parent’s rights in Florida, and will immediately appeal the ruling to the First District Court of Appeals, where we are confident we will prevail on the merits of the case.”

Locally, Judge Cooper’s ruling will have no immediate impact in the Hillsborough or Pasco public school districts.

Hillsborough already has adopted a temporary facemask mandate in its schools which remains in effect through Sept. 17.

The Hillsborough board took that action, despite the governor’s executive order, and subsequent actions taken by the Florida Board of Education and the Florida Department of Education.

DeSantis has stood firm in his position that parents — not local school boards — have the authority to determine whether a student wears a mask in school.

Hillsborough school board members took emergency action to impose a temporary mandatory mask order, with a medical opt-out provision.

In doing so, they joined a number of school districts that defied that order and faced potential financial sanctions.

Cooper enjoined the state from imposing those penalties.

Shortly after Cooper’s ruling, Pasco County Schools issued this statement: “We are aware that Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper has determined that Governor DeSantis’ order banning mask mandates is unconstitutional. At this time the ruling has no impact on Pasco County Schools’ mask-optional policy.

“The Governor’s order remains in effect until the final order is submitted. At that time, the Governor is expected to appeal the decision.

“To summarize: Today’s ruling has no immediate impact on Pasco County Schools. Masks remain optional for students and staff.”

So far this school year, Pasco County Schools has had a combined total of 2,481 student and staff cases, as of the evening of Aug. 27.

As of the same date, that figure stood at a combined total of 5,500 for students and staff in Hillsborough County Schools.

In other pandemic news, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval on Aug. 23 of the Pfizer vaccine for those age 16 and older. The vaccine has emergency use authorization for those age 12 and older.

Experts have said the FDA’s approval could encourage people with vaccine hesitancy to go ahead and get vaccinated.

The pronouncement also could prompt more employers to require employees to get vaccinated.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has announced that city employees have until Sept. 30 to become vaccinated. Those who do not will need to wear an N95 mask and show weekly results from a COVID test.

Pasco County has decided to use a different approach. It is offering $500 in premium pay to every employee who becomes fully vaccinated by Nov. 1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that everyone age 12 and older get vaccinated to lessen the chance of becoming infected. While people may become infected, medical experts and scientists have said they are at much lesser risk of hospitalization or death.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 transmission rate remains high in Florida. Experts attribute that to the infectious delta variant of the disease, which they say is highly contagious.

In the week between Aug. 20 to Aug. 26, Florida recorded 151,749 new COVID-19 cases, with a positivity rate of 16.8%, according to the Florida Department of Health’s website.

Pasco County had 4,433 new cases, with a positivity rate of 21.2%.

Hillsborough County had 11,800 new cases, with a positivity rate of 18.9%.

AdventHealth West Florida Division continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases at its facilities across West Florida and continues to experience a peak of COVID-19 patients, according to an Aug. 27 news release. To date, more than 600 COVID-positive patients are currently hospitalized in the West Florida Division’s 10 hospitals.

AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Zephyrhills have paused all non-time sensitive and non-emergent procedures.

The hospital chain also has limited visitors at numerous locations, including these in and near The Laker/Lutz coverage area: Dade City, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Tampa and Carrollwood. Specifics are available by visiting each hospital’s website.

In other COVID-19 related news, Hillsborough County has issued a news release to inform its water customers that they may notice a temporary change in the taste and odor of their drinking water.

Tampa Bay Water temporarily changed its water treatment process beginning Aug. 26 at its Lithia Hydrogen Sulfide Removal Facility, due to a lack of liquid oxygen deliveries to the facility.

Water provided to Hillsborough County Public Utilities customers will continue to meet all local, state, and federal regulations for drinking water, the news release said.

While consumers may notice a change in taste and odor, the treatment change will not alter the quality of the drinking water, according to the news release.

There is a delivery driver shortage caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the need for available supplies to be diverted to local hospitals, the release explained.

“In addition, Tampa Bay Water is adjusting the regional blend of water sources to accommodate the change in available deliveries of liquid oxygen in the taste and odor,” the release said.

COVID Statistics: Week of Aug. 20 to Aug. 26

Florida
New cases: 151,749
Positivity: 16.8%

Pasco County
New cases: 4,433
Positivity rate: 21.2%

Hillsborough County
New cases: 11,800
Positivity rate: 18.9%

School cases
Cumulative cases, 2021-2022 school year*

Pasco County  Schools
2,350 student cases; 491 staff cases

Hillsborough County
4,563 student cases; 947 staff cases

*As of the evening of Aug. 27

Published September 01, 2021

Pasco’s opioid task force will help shape funding priorities

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The Pasco County Commission has determined what the makeup will be for the county’s opioid task force.

The appointed board will serve to advise commissioners, regarding expenditures of funds the county will receive from a settlement involving national prescription opiate litigation.

Forming the advisory body is a necessary component for the county to qualify for a portion of the settlement proceeds.

The group will develop an abatement plan that identifies strategies currently being utilized to respond to the opioid epidemic, and will present the plan to the county board by Dec. 1.

The membership of that board will include:

  • The Pasco County Fire Rescue fire chief or designee
  • The Pasco County superintendent of schools or designee
  • The Pasco County sheriff, or his/her designee
  • The Pasco assistant county administrator for public services, or designee
  • A representative from New Port Richey and Zephyrhills, who will alternate
  • The director of the Florida Department of Health Pasco County, or designee
  • A person with subject matter expertise in public health or addiction, who is employed by a provider of opioid-related services in Pasco County, who is nominated to the task force by the county administrator and approved by the county board
  • The chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit or designee
  • A representative from Pasco Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention (Pasco ASAP), or its designee
  • A person with subject matter expertise in public health or addiction, who is retired, who is nominated to the task force by the county administrator and appointed by the county board

The biggest point of contention was whether or not a member of the county board should serve on the task force.

Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick advocated for having a commissioner on the task force and that she would like to serve in that capacity.

Commissioner Mike Moore was adamantly opposed, saying the task force should be made up of professionals in the field.

“I don’t think any commissioner should be on it. We need to leave it to the doctors, the nurses, the licensed mental health counselors, the psychiatrists, the psychologists, somebody from the sheriff’s office because they have somebody that’s dedicated to this issue, probably somebody from fire rescue, as well, that treats this on a regular basis, that deals with this on a regular basis. Let them bring this back to us, then we’ll make the decisions from there,” Moore said.

But Fitzpatrick said: “I would like to be on that board. I have been involved with ASAP and substance-exposed newborns since 2012.”

Moore, however, prevailed when he made a successful motion to ensure no board members were named to a seat on the advisory board.

Initially, the county’s assistant county administrator for public services, or designee, will chair the task force. After that, the task force will select its own chair. Seven members of the task force must be in attendance, for the group to have a quorum.

Published September 01, 2021

Browning named best FACTE superintendent in Florida

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Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has been awarded the top honor among Florida superintendents in the arena of career and technical education.

The award — long delayed because COVID-19 and shipping complications — was delivered to Browning during the Pasco County School Board’s Aug. 17 meeting.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning

Rob Aguis, director of Fred K. Marchman Technical College, bestowed the award to Browning, on behalf of Marsan Carr, executive director of the Florida Association for Career and Technical Education, known as FACTE.

Aguis told board members that Browning originally was set to receive the award during FACTE’s summer 2020 conference. But that was delayed because of COVID-19.

The conference was held in the fall, but that happened virtually, Aguis said.

Initially, when the trophy was shipped, it arrived in pieces. Then, it was sent listing the wrong county.

But the third time was the charm, and Aguis was finally able to hand it off to Browning.

In doing so, he cited letters of support for Browning, written by Colleen Beaudoin, a school board member and Vanessa Hilton, chief academic officer for the district.

They said, “Mr. Browning’s vision includes providing opportunities for every student to earn industry certification, in addition to providing multiple ways to earn college credit.”

They also noted that under Browning’s leadership, Fred K. Marchman Technical Education Center underwent a $15 million transformation to became Fred K. Marchman Technical College.

Another high point of Browning’s leadership was the conversion of Ridgewood High School into Wendell Krinn Technical High School, a choice school for students who want to earn industry certification, college credits, and be ready to work.

The district also has broken ground on Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation will deliver highly advanced career and technical education programs, to give students a head start on rewarding careers.

In essence, according to Beaudoin and Hilton, Browning, “desires his district to provide a world-class education that ensures each student is a full-option graduate,” with the freedom to choose any path for the future.

In accepting the honor, Browning observed: “Oftentimes, the leader of the district gets recognized for the great work of the district. I will tell you, that it has very little to do with the superintendent of the district, but of the people that make this district what it is today.”

He then went on to reiterate his commitment as the district’s leader.

“I am fiercely dedicated to making sure that each one of our students is prepared for college, or career and life,” he said. “It doesn’t happen by accident. You have to be intentional and you have to be deliberate when you do that.”

He concluded his remarks by expressing enthusiasm for the district’s career, technical and education programs.

“Great days are ahead for us in CTE,” Browning said.

Published September 01, 2021

More changes are coming to Central Pasco

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The Pasco County Commission has cleared the way for more changes to come to the central part of Pasco County.

The county board voted on Aug. 24 to approve changes to a master plan unit development (MPUD) on the west side of U.S. 41, between Roaches Run and Causeway Boulevard. The changes allow a maximum 275,000 commercial retail square feet and create a land use equivalency matrix, to expand the types of uses.

Those additional uses are office, medical office, health care-related, light industry distribution, multifamily residential, single-family attached residential, senior retirement/assisted living/aggregate home and public institutional uses.

The request was filed by Hagman Groves Inc., and RS Roach LLC, who were represented by attorney Barbara Wilhite.

The county board also approved a request to change the name from Causeway Center Commercial MPUD to Causeway MPUD, to better reflect the potential uses.

The commercial retail square footage shall be a minimum of 100,000 square feet.

Residential uses will only be allowed on the parcels abutting U.S. 41, if they are part of a vertically mixed-use integrated building.

Commissioners also approved a variance to reduce the number of required parking spaces in the development. And, they granted a deviation from the county’s standard platting procedure, for this specific project.

Brad Tippin, the county’s manager for development review, explained what the county is trying to accomplish with the platting deviation.

“One of the things that we’re doing — the development services branch and public infrastructure branch — are working together to try to reduce the overall timelines to market for some of these types of projects. So, one of the things that we’ve included in here is a deviation from our standard platting process,” Tippin said.

“We only are doing this in this particular project and we can only do it upon your approval of this particular set of conditions that would actually allow us to do that. We’re going to give it a trial run, see how it works,” Tippin said.

He added: “Some other jurisdictions are doing something similar.”

The county hopes this approach will help shorten its timelines, Tippin said.

Wilhite, representing the applicants, told commissioners: “I think we’ll come up with something that will bring this project to market quicker.”

In other action, the county board:

  • Approved a request by Pulte Homes to rezone the southwest corner of Lake Patience Road and Perdew Drive to allow 240 single-family detached homes on approximately 80 acres.

Attorney Clark Hobby, representing the applicants, noted the density “is roughly one-half of the density that would otherwise be permitted on the site.”

He added: “Every property that’s adjacent to the site, running for approximately six miles, have MPUDs or large-scale developments to the west.”

In other action, the board:

  • Established the Connerton East Community Development District, east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, West of Ehren Cutoff, and South of State Road 52. The district covers 1,274.6 acres.
  • Approved a text amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan to allow a broader array of uses to be considered on the Paw Materials property, on the north side of State Road 52, about one-quarter mile west of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. The policy previously contained the word “support” when referring to commercial and retail entitlements. Removing the word “support” expands the list of potential uses.

Published September 01, 2021

Pasco identifies spending plan for ‘American Rescue’ dollars

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a plan for how the county will spend $107.6 million in federal money intended to help local governments respond to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

County Administrator Dan Biles presented proposed projects and initiatives that would be supported by the funds, which the county board approved at its Aug. 24 meeting.

The plan also must be approved by federal authorities.

The county is proposing that about $98 million of the money be spent on these projects:

  • Acquisition of the Lindrick Utility system. Using the federal money will enable the county to acquire the system with a zero rate increase for county ratepayers as a whole, Biles said.
  • Wesley Chapel Library: This will build the next library that is needed in the county’s master plan, on land it already owns, in the fastest-growing area of the county, Biles said.
  • Jail construction: Will pay for changes to the design to address the issue of infectious diseases, not just COVID-19, but infectious diseases, as a whole, Biles said. This expense is in addition to the money that has been set aside from the general obligation bond, which was approved by county voters.
  • A super park at the Villages of Pasadena Hills. This is the highest priority on the county’s parks master plan, now that Starkey Ranch District Park is effectively done, Biles said. This will provide a significant source of money for the project.
  • A park project in Magnolia Valley.
  • Funding for dredging work.

The county also identified $5.5 million in expenditures for:

  • COVID-19 mitigation/prevention
  • Treatment and medical services

And, under the category for public safety and county operations, it includes an estimated $4 million in spending for:

  • Premium pay for county workers
  • County facility maintenance/upgrades
  • Cyber security upgrades
  • Technology improvements

Biles said the list totaling $98 million has some built-in room for price changes due to market conditions.

At the suggestion of Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, and the consensus of other board members, the county added another category to its list. The money will be earmarked to support economic development efforts in the U.S. 19 corridor.

Biles told commissioners that the county spent a lot of time in webinars, on telephone calls and researching how jurisdictions around the nation and state were using the American Rescue Plan Act funds.

“Ultimately, we focused, really, on the revenue recovery piece,” he said.

Based on the model that the county used, it will be getting less revenue than it lost. However, Biles added, “ultimately, there are fewer reporting requirements based on that.”

Treasury wants to know what the county plans to spend the money on, but reporting requirements are different.

The money will be disbursed in two payments, one in fiscal year 2021 and the other in fiscal year 2022. It must be spent, with a few exceptions, by Dec. 31, 2022, Biles said.

He also noted that changes can, and most likely will, be made to the plan as time goes on.

Published September 01, 2021

Pasco MPO plans to launch to three planning studies

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The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization plans to embark on three studies aimed at improving opportunities for the county to attract state and federal funding.

One will focus on Pasco County’s Freight Transportation Plan, a second will zero in on d the Zephyrhills Multiuse Path and the third will focus on the U.S. 19 corridor in West Pasco.

Carl Mikyska, executive director of Pasco MPO, described the importance of the freight study this way: “We are a county that has a number of great opportunities. I want to use that freight plan to not only improve freight access and mobility, while preserving the quality of life for our residents, I want to use it as an economic attractor tool — to grow, to develop in a manner that’s careful, but increases our tax base.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano also seized on the potential: “That spur up in Lacoochee should be a part of that study.”

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley also reiterated comments he’d made previously about the potential for the Lacoochee area.

Mikyska also talked about the need — when conducting corridor studies — to consider a variety of perspectives.

When looking at the U.S. 19 corridor, for instance, the examination must go beyond traffic and congestion, he said.

Corridor studies define the conditions of the route, what options may be available to address safety, congestion, or other mobility needs and what limitations may be present, according to the MPO board’s Aug. 12 backup materials. Examples of limitations might include environmental conditions that should be avoided and/or the need to purchase right-of-way.

Planning studies are used to determine which transportation alternatives may be advanced and which alternatives may be eliminated from further consideration. Planning-level studies of corridors also help to more carefully define anticipated improvement project costs, the backup materials say.

Besides approving the proposed corridor studies, the transportation planning board also agreed with Mikyska’s suggestion to join MetroPlan Orlando in its efforts to extend its Transportation System Management & Operations (TSM&O) system.

MetroPlan, which is the MPO organization for Orlando, has been working on its system for years and seeks to extend it from Daytona Beach, on the Atlantic Coast over to the Tampa metro region on the Gulf Coast.

The TSM&O approach involves using technology to improve the performance of the transportation system rather than through more expensive options, such as roadway widening, according to agenda backup materials.

Examples of TSM&O include dynamic message signs on the interstate warning of traffic congestion ahead, traveling in a corridor at the speed limit with consistent green signals, and cable infrastructure to assist with broadband connectivity, the agenda materials say.

The idea is to use those strategies, in a coordinated fashion, to keep traffic flowing.

The Pasco MPO board approved Mikyska’s request to participate, with the only expected cost to be the expenditure of staff time.

On another item, the MPO board approved a scope of work for a study at the intersection of State Road 52 and Adair Road.

The Pasco MPO, in cooperation with the City of Dade City and the Florida Department of Transportation has identified the need to evaluate implementation of traffic control measures at the intersection, where additional traffic is expected because of increased residential development nearby.

Federal Transportation Planning Grant Funds will be used to pay for the $29,345.01 study.

Published September 01, 2021

COVID-19 cases are straining hospitals, health care workers

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Hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19 continue to rise, adding to the strain already being experienced by local hospitals.

Admissions for patients with COVID-19 are at their highest levels since the start of the pandemic in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oregon and Washington, according to statistics kept by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Things are so serious that Pasco County Fire Rescue Fire Chief Scott Cassin and EMS Division Chief Paula Coleman have issued a video, asking residents and guests to avoid using the 911 system unless they are experiencing a true emergency.

“Hospital emergency rooms are currently being inundated with patients, and the time it takes to be seen in an emergency room is skyrocketing across our community,” the fire chief says in the video.

“Many hospitals are at, or over, capacity and ambulances are currently holding patients at hospitals for hours at a time, due to a lack of available beds and hospital staff.

“This is causing an ambulance shortage across the county, and is causing long wait times for our 911 callers,” Cassin says.

Coleman adds: “Please help us provide lifesaving interventions for those who truly need them. If your 911 call is not an emergency that needs immediate medical attention — such as chest pain, shortness of breath, stroke symptoms, serious trauma or other life-threatening illnesses or injury — please consider contacting your primary care physician, or utilizing a walk-in clinic or urgent care center. This will get you the help you need in a timelier manner, while at the same time assist an overtaxed health care system,” she says.

“Let’s all do our part to save the ambulances and ER visits for those who urgently need those services,” Coleman says.

Michael Weiss, epidemiology program manager for Florida Health-Hillsborough County, gave a big-picture look at Hillsborough County’s COVID-19 situation during an Aug. 18 emergency meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board.

“Right around June into July, we started this steep increase,” Weiss said.

“We are trending upwards. We are at 1,622 cases per day in our county. Positivity is around 22%. During the pandemic, this is the highest for both of those values.”

“This recent increase has coincided with a few things. In July, we had relaxed community mitigation measures, and we also saw the introduction of the delta variant into our community.

“These two things combined really increased the case transmission and the case rate in our community,” Weiss said.

“Hospital visits and hospitalizations both related to COVID are both at the highest levels seen at any point during our pandemic — during the entire pandemic. Hospitals are recording twice the number of COVID patients they saw in 2020 winter peak,” the epidemiologist said.

“Pediatric hospitalizations are also increasing. They represent a small percentage of the overall COVID hospitalizations, but they are also increasing. We are seeing both admissions and emergency department visits for pediatric cases increasing.

“Hospitalizations generally lag behind the case increases, so we expect the hospitalizations to continue to increase in the near future,” he added.

“Across all of these age groups, the hospitalizations are overwhelmingly in the unvaccinated population. Hospitals are reporting anywhere from 80% to 90% of cases are in unvaccinated individuals,” Weiss said.

Hospitals are making adjustments as the COVID-19 caseloads increase.

AdventHealth has halted elective procedures at AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyhrhills, and at its AdventHealth Sebring facility, according to a media advisory issued Aug. 20.

“This decision allows us to further plan for the increased need for hospital beds, resources, and advocate for patients and team members. Patients will be notified if their procedure will be canceled,” the hospital chain announced.

AdventHealth “continues to see a significant increase in COVID-19 cases at its facilities across West Florida and has far surpassed its highest peak at any point in the pandemic,” the advisory adds.

The hospital system’s 10 hospitals in its West Florida Division had 600 currently admitted COVID-19 positive patients, according to the Aug. 20 advisory.

BayCare, another health care system in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, paused all of its elective surgeries and procedures at its hospitals in Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties, regardless of whether they require an overnight stay, effective Aug. 14, according to the hospital’s website.

“This will help reserve resources for the urgent and emergent needs of severely ill patients,” the posting says.

“COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased 10-fold since the beginning of July, and today we have more than 1,000 COVID positive patients in our 14 acute care hospitals across the Tampa Bay area,” Glenn Waters, chief operating officer for BayCare, said in a website post.

“We’re making these operational adjustments to be sure we can continue providing safe, high-quality care to the recent influx of COVID patients, in addition to hundreds of other people in our hospitals with unrelated, serious medical issues,” Waters said.

In a new development, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference last week to announce the opening of local sites to provide a new monoclonal antibody treatment for patients who are 12 years old or older. The treatment can prevent hospitalization or death in COVID-19 patients.

DeSantis presided at the opening of the site at the Fasano Hurricane Shelter, at 11611 Denton Ave., in Hudson.

Another site has opened in Hillsborough County at King Forest Park, at 8008 E. Chelsea St., in Tampa. The only access into the park is off Orient Road just north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

Both sites will be open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For additional details, call the Florida Department of Health Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Support Line at 850-344-9637.

COVID-19 statistics: Aug. 13 to Aug. 19

Florida
New cases: 150,118
Positivity rate 19.8%

Hillsborough County
New cases: 11,161
Positivity rate: 22%

Pasco County
New cases: 4,223
Positivity rate: 26.4%

Source: Florida Department of Health

COVID-19 symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Published August 25, 2021

Controversy continues over school mask mandates

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Leon County Judge John Cooper was scheduled this week to conduct a three-day hearing involving a lawsuit that challenges the legality of an executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In the executive order, DeSantis stands firm on his position that parents —  not school boards — have the right to decide whether their children should be required to wear masks on campus.

But a group of parents has challenged the governor’s legal authority to make that call.

This week’s Tallahassee court hearing, set to begin Aug. 23, comes after attorneys for DeSantis attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed.

The judge refused to toss the lawsuit, but refrained from any assessment on the merits of the case, according to numerous published reports.

In addition to DeSantis, the Florida of Board of Education has weighed in on the mandatory mask issue.

The board of education has created options for students who are in districts that mandate masks, but do not wish to comply. Instead of complying, those students can obtain a scholarship through the state to attend a private school, or can attend school in a different district.

Also, the state has warned districts that if they defy the governor’s executive order, they can face reduced funding in an amount equivalent to the sum of the superintendent and school board members’ salaries, according to numerous published reports.

President Joe Biden has countered that by pledging the federal government could fill that funding gap — if one arises — by using American Rescue Plan dollars.

“We’re not going to sit by as governors try to block and intimidate educators protecting our children,” Biden said, on national television.

DeSantis, at another news event, countered: “We believe this is a decision for the parent.”

As the debate plays out, individual school boards continue to impose face mask requirements.

During an emergency meeting last week, the Hillsborough County School Board adopted a 30-day mandatory face mask requirement for students and staff, allowing an opt-out with a medical note.

School boards in Mami-Dade, Alachua, Palm Beach, Broward and Sarasota counties have taken similar actions.

The divisiveness of the mandatory masking issue was on full display during the Hillsborough school board’s hearing.

Board Chair Lynn Gray said the surge in the delta variant of COVID-19 created an emergency for the board — not only in terms of the number of positive cases being reported on campus, but also of the numbers of students and staff being forced to quarantine.

She said action was needed because the situation was unsustainable.

Passions ran high at the meeting.

Dozens of speakers on both sides of the issues made passionate 1-minute arguments, either for or against.

“Our K-5 children cannot get the vaccine, but at the same time, you’ve given them no option to do e-learning, no required social distancing and no required masks,” one parent said, urging the board to take action.

Another put it plainly: “I am very concerned for our vulnerable children.”

A third observed: “If you can mandate masks 100% last year, you can mandate masks this year. Your actions today can save lives.”

Other speakers presented a different point of view.

“Those that are living in fear, if they want to wear a mask, let them wear a mask. Put on a visor. Put on a second mask. But don’t force our children to wear masks if they don’t want to,” one speaker said.

Another put it this way: “Leave the mask policy as is, with parents deciding what’s best for their children.”

A third challenged the school board’s authority: “You work for us. We are not subservient to you. My children will not spend the rest of the year, or another minute, wearing a mask.”

Board members listened to hours of public testimony. Medical experts offered data and answered questions. Board members discussed the issue, too.

Ultimately, the mandatory mask decision passed on a 5-2 vote, with members Nadia Combs, Jessica Vaughn,  Henry “Shake” Washington, Karen Perez, Board Chair Gray voting yes; and members Stacy Hahn and Melissa Snively voting no.

Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis recommended that the board follow DeSantis’ executive order, but said he would support the board, whatever the vote’s outcome.

Hahn and Snively spoke against defying DeSantis’ executive order.

It remains unclear how the mandate, which remains in effect in Hillsborough public schools through Sept. 17, will be enforced.

Contact tracing can’t keep up
Meanwhile, in Pasco County public schools, masks are optional.

Dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 and the delta variant in this new school year, has not been easy, Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning told the Pasco County School Board at its Aug. 17 meeting.

“We are drowning. We are struggling to stay afloat,” Browning said. “It’s like bailing out a sinking ship with a thimble.”

The district can’t keep pace with the contact tracing that’s required, Browning said.

That’s problematic because by the time the contact tracing can be completed, the quarantine period has expired, he said.

“You may have positive cases, asymptomatic positive cases, in the classrooms,” the superintendent explained. “At this point, there is nothing we can do about that, unless they start showing symptoms. Then, as soon as they are symptomatic, they will be sent home.”

There’s another issue that’s compounding the problem, the superintendent said.

“What we’re having, and this is not a news flash, we’re still having some parents sending their sick kids to school,” Browning said.

School board member Alison Crumbley had this message for parents:  “If your kid has a symptom, they don’t need to be showing up at school. Period. Done.”

“I can’t even imagine sending a kid to school that’s sick and you know they’re sick. We cannot be doing that right now.

“We’ve got to keep these number down, we’ve got to keep these numbers down,” Crumbley emphasized.

School board member Megan Harding said the district should provide COVID sick time for all teachers, not just those who have been vaccinated.

Browning disagreed: “It is a statement of fact that the costs for unvaccinated employees are higher.”

The district has already spent $12 million in COVID-related claims, and the district’s insurance fund is running at a $4 million deficit, Browning said.

School district statistics: 2021-2022 school year, to date*

Hillsborough County
Student cases: 2,310
Staff cases: 648

Pasco County
Student cases: 897
Staff cases: 196

*As of the evening of Aug. 22

Published August 25, 2021