The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

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

Health News 09/01/2021

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(Courtesy of networkofcare.adventhealth.com)

Back pain in children
The growing number of books, notebooks, folders and other items needed for school unknowingly can place children at risk for back pain, according to an AdventHealth news release.

How a child wears his or her backpack can even play a part, and to decrease the risk of back injury, a backpack should be worn as it was intended.

To encourage correct use, select a backpack that’s comfortable – usually one made of lightweight material with cushioned straps and a back panel.

To get an A+ in backpack safety, AdventHealth offers these tips:

  • Carry only necessities leaving everything else at home or in a locker. Keep the load light.
  • Wear both shoulder straps.
  • Wear waist belt if present.
  • Keep all straps snuggly fastened but not overly tight.
  • Keep heavier items closer to your back.

A heavy backpack can alter the natural curvature of the spine, placing abnormal stress on spine structures.

Over time, this awkward posture can cause a student to develop pain.

Good posture and proper body mechanics are key factors to maintaining spine health.

When lifting more than five pounds, a student should get down close to the backpack, keeping the neck and back in line, bend at the hips, and lift with the legs and buttocks while tightening the abdominal muscles. A student should refrain from reaching for or twisting to pick up the heavy load.

New physicians
Florida Orthopaedic Institute (FOI) has added Dr. Jeffrey T. Kannen and Dr. Spencer S. Smith to its organization.

Dr. Kannen is fellowship trained in primary care sports medicine, and cares for all musculoskeletal conditions in pediatric and adult populations.

As a primary care sports medicine and orthopedic physician, he does not perform surgical procedures. His interests are in overuse injuries of the upper and lower extremities, extreme sports injuries, diagnostic ultrasound, and regenerative medicine treatments.

Dr. Smith received his fellowship in adult reconstruction, and performs hip and knee replacements. He also takes care of failed or infected joint replacements.

Dr. Kannen will see patients at the FOI Citrus Park, North Tampa and Palm Harbor offices.

Dr. Smith will be at the North Tampa, Riverview and Wesley Chapel locations.

For information, visit FloridaOrtho.com.

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

New physicians

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Florida Orthopaedic Institute (FOI) has added Dr. Jeffrey T. Kannen and Dr. Spencer S. Smith to its organization.

Dr. Kannen is fellowship trained in primary care sports medicine, and cares for all musculoskeletal conditions in pediatric and adult populations.

As a primary care sports medicine and orthopedic physician, he does not perform surgical procedures. His interests are in overuse injuries of the upper and lower extremities, extreme sports injuries, diagnostic ultrasound, and regenerative medicine treatments.

Dr. Smith received his fellowship in adult reconstruction, and performs hip and knee replacements. He also takes care of failed or infected joint replacements.

Dr. Kannen will see patients at the FOI Citrus Park, North Tampa and Palm Harbor offices.

Dr. Smith will be at the North Tampa, Riverview and Wesley Chapel locations.

For information, visit FloridaOrtho.com.

Pasco moves toward sharing in proceeds of opioid litigation

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The Pasco County Commission has moved a step closer to joining with the state of Florida and other local jurisdictions in a plan to distribute settlement proceeds from litigation against manufacturers, distributors and retailers of opiates.

The board reached that decision on Aug. 10, after a closed-door attorney-client session with County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder and special counsel hired to assist the county.

The approved resolution allows the county to participate in the Memorandum of Understanding proposed by the Florida Attorney General, for a unified plan to distribute settlement proceeds.

The county board also authorized County Administrator Dan Biles to negotiate any necessary interlocal agreements with municipalities within the county.

In a separate action, the board will establish the Pasco County Opioid Task Force to develop an abatement plan and advise the board annually on the use and allocation of the regional funds.

The makeup of the advisory task force will be taken up separately because the board could not reach consensus on its makeup during the closed-door session, Steinsnyder said.

Plus, Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who was absent, would like to weigh on the selections for that task force, he said.

In the resolution, “the county expresses its support of a unified plan for the allocation and use of opioid settlement proceeds as generally described in the Florida Plan.”

Although the makeup of the advisory board has not yet been approved, the resolution describes what it will do.

The advisory board will develop an abatement plan “that identifies strategies currently being utilized to respond to the opioid epidemic” and will present that to the county board before Dec. 1, according to the resolution.

“The abatement plan should also identify all programs in which the county is currently providing or is contracting with others to provide substance abuse prevention, recovery, and treatment services to its citizens,” the resolution adds.

The resolution also stipulates that “Pasco County has until Jan. 1, 2022, to establish the programs and abatement strategies required to meet the definition of ‘qualified county.’”

The board approved the resolution after Steinsnyder announced that both he and the board’s special counsel had advised them to take that action.

Published August 18, 2021

Health News 08/18/2021

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Transitional Care gets five stars
AdventHealth Dade City’s Transitional Care Unit (TCU) is the only short-term skilled nursing facility in East Pasco County to achieve a five-star CMS rating, the highest rating possible for overall quality from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), according to a news release.

The recognition is based on health inspections, staffing, and the quality of patient care.

The 45-bed unit opened in the summer of 2019 and is designed to offer physical, occupational, and speech therapies, seven days a week.

“When the Transitional Care Unit opened its doors, we made a strong promise to our community that we would offer convenient and unrivaled whole-person care,” said Jason Newmyer, administrator and vice president for AdventHealth Dade City, in the release.

“Achieving the highest possible score for overall quality is an indicator that our world-class team members are working tirelessly to provide superior patient outcomes,” said Newmyer.

The TCU is within the hospital and provides access to highly trained physicians and therapists, who use leading-edge technology and innovative techniques.

Transitional Care Activity Room (Courtesy of AdventHealth Dade City)
A room in AdventHealth Dade City’s Transitional Care Unit.
Transitional Care Unit Therapy Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vendor spots open
The annual Paulie Palooza Music Festival, Gulfside Hospice’s signature fundraiser, is looking for vendors for the scheduled Oct. 16 event.

“We are happy to be moving back to our signature event schedule, and looking forward to seeing everyone in person this October on Main Street Zephyrhills,” said Leesa Fryer, fundraising and event planning specialist for Gulfside Hospice, in a news release.

Limited spots for vendors, food trucks and sponsors are available now.

The vendor fee is $50 when registered by Sept. 15; price increases to $75 on Sept. 16.

Sponsorships also are available starting at $200, and include a vendor spot and additional benefits.

Proceeds from the event will go to Gulfside Hospice, to help provide patient care and bereavement services to more than 650 patients and families every day.

For information, visit PauliePalooza.org, or contact Fryer at 727-845-5707 or ">.

Mental health support line
Tampa Bay Thrives has launched a free, confidential behavioral health support line in Hillsborough County.

The “Let’s Talk” call-in service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects callers with counselors, mental health services, and offers referrals to local providers.

Tampa Bay Thrives is an organization that brings together a coalition of Tampa Bay area hospitals, law enforcement agencies, local governments and community leaders.

The new service was crafted “to complement existing resources and build upon the great work already happening in our community,” said Carrie Zeisse, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Thrives.

“The pandemic has exacerbated the need to address mental health in the Tampa Bay region, and this project will help connect individuals who require additional support,” said Zeisse.

The service is available for Hillsborough County residents and is set to expand across the region in coming months.

To access Let’s Talk, call 1-833-342-5111, or visit LetsTalkTampaBay.org.

Local hospitals respond to surge in COVID-19 cases

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A surge in COVID-19 cases has prompted AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz to temporarily halt elective surgeries.

BayCare also tightened its visitation rules, effective Aug. 3.

“No one takes any pleasure in having to limit visits from patients’ loved ones or telling someone they will need to wait for their procedure,” BayCare Chief Operating Officer Glenn Waters said, on a hospital website posting. “But our first priority has to be to keep our facilities as safe as possible for our caregivers, so patients can recover and return home as soon as possible.”

AdventHealth continues to see a significant increase in COVID-19 cases at its facilities across West Florida and has surpassed its highest peak since the pandemic began, according to the healthcare system’s website.

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Carrollwood have temporarily postponed any non-urgent elective procedures that require an overnight stay, according to media alerts from AdventHealth.

Dr. Doug Ross, is chief medical officer of AdventHealth Hospital Tampa, the largest AdventHealth Hospital in Tampa Bay. He shared updates for the West Florida Division locations during an Aug. 3 video interview, published on the hospital’s Facebook and LinkedIn Live event.

“In the Tampa Bay region, we’re well over 300 patients now,” Ross said, noting that number exceeds the hospital’s past surges.

“Greater than 90% of those patients are unvaccinated and our numbers continue to grow,” Ross said.

The health care system has seen patients ranging from a baby, to people into their 90s, he said. “But really the shift has been toward younger people because those are the people who have opted not to get vaccinated,” he said. “So, that’s what we’re seeing.”

“It’s the usual symptoms,” he said, including shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms such as congestion, headache, cough and runny nose.

Ross said the delta variant “is probably tied with some of the most contagious viruses we’ve ever known — measles and chicken pox being examples of that.”

“That’s very concerning because the amount of spread that is occurring is so much greater,” he said.

It went from one patient spreading it to two or three patients, in the early COVID cases, to now, with one patient spreading it to eight or 10, he said.

“The viral load seems to be so much greater in delta variant, probably a thousand times greater in the respiratory tract.

“That means when you cough or sneeze or whatever, there’s a lot more virus that’s being let out into your surroundings and makes it more likely that other people will pick up that virus,” Ross said.

He encouraged people who are not immunized to get immunized.

“You will have a lot less severity if you’re immunized and you get the delta variant than if you didn’t have it,” he said. “That, to me, seems a pretty compelling argument.”

The other argument, he said, “is that you want to protect other people. There’s a certain sense of community that I think we need to appeal to people on, because as we reach herd immunity, we’re actually protecting people that can’t protect themselves.”

That includes people who have immune deficiencies, as well as children who are 12 and under and can’t get the vaccine yet, he said.

Ross continued: “If we don’t get control of this virus and it’s continuing to mutate, there is some fear out in the scientific community that this virus could mutate to a point where it actually beats the vaccines. It comes to a point that it mutates in such a way that the vaccine is no longer effective to the virus and then, we are back to really Square One, with the entire population, because no one will be immune to that variant.”

Ross also advised both vaccinated and unvaccinated people to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations.

Those going to indoor public spaces should wear masks, Ross said, “to protect themselves from getting the infection and from spreading the infection.”

It’s been shown that people who have been immunized can get infected, Ross said. It may stay asymptomatic, but they are still able to spread it.

He also encourages people to maintain social distancing, to limit their chance of exposure, and washing their hands.

“Try to avoid spaces that are indoor spaces, with a lot of people,” he added.

Ross also touched on the impact that this new surge has had on health care workers.

“We’d gone through two surges,” he said. “We thought we were sort of improving and getting better, and things were calming down.

“Now, all of a sudden, when we thought we were getting a handle on this whole thing, we had a surge and a surge bigger than any surge we’ve had so far. So that has really been a challenge emotionally to people because people were a little bit celebratory — in their own minds — because they had gotten through the worst of COVID, and that’s just not the case.”

While the hospital’s staff is very dedicated, he said, “we’re all a bit frustrated because of the fact that if more of the population had been vaccinated, we wouldn’t be seeing this surge and we wouldn’t be stressing our health systems out.”

Ross also offered another reason for wearing a mask: “One of the early reasons to wear a mask was to sort of dampen the curve, the rate of increase of the viral spread, so that it wouldn’t put a strain on our health systems.

“If this continues to rise, the way it’s rising, it’s definitely putting and will continue to put, a significant strain on our health systems,” Ross said.

To get the most current information relating to any changes regarding hospital policies, be sure to check with your local hospital.

In response to the surging cases, Hillsborough County has temporarily opened two COVID-19 testing sites, to help shorten the wait times for people wanting to check on their status, according to a county news release.

The county had anticipated administering 500 tests at each site but, in total, administered more than 2,000.

The sites are located at:

  • Palm River Community Center, 725 S. 58th St., in Tampa
  • Code Enforcement Complex, 1101 E. 139th Ave., in Tampa

The sites are open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with testing done on a first-come, first-served basis.

There is no charge to be tested and health insurance is not required.

If you have health insurance, however, bring your insurance card because federal guidelines require the collection of health insurance data.

COVID 19 statistics, July 30 through Aug. 5
Florida: New cases: 134,506; new case positivity, 18.9%
Pasco: New cases, 3,404; new case positivity, 24.3%
Hillsborough: New cases, 8,583; new case positivity, 22.8%
Source: Florida Department of Health

Published August 11, 2021

Debate over masks continues, as a new school year begins

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Students streamed back to school campuses this week to start the 2021-2022 school year in Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

And, much like last year, the debate continues over mandatory face masks.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken a firm stand on the issue. He signed an executive order banning school districts from imposing mandatory mask requirements — instead letting parents make the call regarding whether their child wears a mask to school.

The Florida Board of Education also has adopted an emergency rule that allows a child to transfer to a private school or another school district, under a Hope Scholarship, “when a student is  subjected to harassment in response to a school district’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols.”

Masks are optional for students and staff in Pasco County’s public school district.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning repeatedly has said the issue is closed, based on the governor’s actions.

In Hillsborough County, there’s a mandatory mask policy for students — but that policy allows parents to exercise an opt-out option for their children.

Masks are optional for the Hillsborough school district’s staff.

In media interviews, Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis has said he believes the district complies with the governor’s executive order because parents can choose to opt out their children from the requirement.

Meanwhile, at least two lawsuits have been filed challenging DeSantis’ executive order, according to media reports.

While those debates play out, the Hillsborough and Pasco school systems have been busy preparing protocols for the school year.

During the Pasco School Board’s last meeting, on July 27, Browning said he and his staff had spent considerable time going over the COVID protocols for the coming year, in terms of athletics, fine arts, social distancing, cleaning protocols and so on.

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd also told the school board that the district plans to have procedures that are “going to be considerably looser, as opposed to tighter than they were last year” as they relate to facilities, events and athletics.

Gadd told the board: “It’s only looking back, we’ll know if that’s a mistake. But going forward, we’re going to loosen up a little bit, so folks can attend ball games and dances, and things like that.”

Regarding procedures for quarantining students and staff, Browning said those rules are set by the Florida Department of Health and will remain the same this year as they were last year.

“All symptomatic cases will be sent home for 10 days. If you’re not vaccinated and you have come in contact with a positive case and the health department has made the determination that you’ll quarantine, then you’ll quarantine.

“If you are vaccinated and come in contact with a positive case and you are asymptomatic — not showing any signs — then you can remain in school, either as a student or as a teacher,” Browning said.

The district was still working out the details regarding how to handle sick time for teachers, if they have to quarantine because of COVID.

In Hillsborough, the district has posted its protocols for visitors on school campuses or district offices. In short, it prefers visitors to have a scheduled appointment.

It also requires visitors to practice social distancing, and all in-person meetings must allow participants to be able to maintain a 6-foot social distance.

Visitors also must complete a self-check before entering a school building.

They should check themselves for these symptoms: Fever or chills, fatigue, sore throat, cough, muscle or body aches, congestion or runny nose, shortness of breath, headache, nausea or vomiting, difficulty in breathing, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell.

Also, those who are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, or who have a known exposure to COVID-19, should not visit the district’s campuses or offices, according to the district’s website.

Published August 11, 2021

Health News 08/11/2021

By

(Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

Buccaneer visit helps to lift spirits
Tampa Bay Buccaneer Joe Jones surprised several AdventHealth Tampa patients and team members during a recent virtual visit. Jones is one of the newest linebackers for the Super Bowl Championship team and was eager to connect with the community. Ahead of training camp, Jones offered well wishes, and gave out some high-fives and a few thumbs-up. AdventHealth is the exclusive hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

 

Mental health support line
Tampa Bay Thrives has launched a free, confidential behavioral health support line in Hillsborough County.

The “Let’s Talk” call-in service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects callers with counselors, mental health services, and offers referrals to local providers.

Tampa Bay Thrives is an organization that brings together a coalition of Tampa Bay area hospitals, law enforcement agencies, local governments and community leaders.

The new service was crafted “to complement existing resources and build upon the great work already happening in our community,” said Carrie Zeisse, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Thrives.

“The pandemic has exacerbated the need to address mental health in the Tampa Bay region, and this project will help connect individuals who require additional support,” said Zeisse.

The service is available for Hillsborough County residents and is set to expand across the region in coming months.

To access Let’s Talk, call 1-833-342-5111, or visit LetsTalkTampaBay.org.

Donations needed
The Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger is seeking donations and local volunteers for its Meals on Wheels for Kids program.

The program’s mission is to provide nutritious home-delivered, shelf-stable meal ingredients, produce and prepared meals to transportation-disadvantaged and/or homebound children and their families who lack adequate access to food distribution locations throughout the community.

Meals on Wheels for Kids provides a weekly delivery of meals and shelf-stable groceries, as resources allow.

All donations go to providing these deliveries to children enrolled in the program.

Donations will be accepted via the program’s website, NetworkToEndHunger.org/mow4k/, or by calling 813-344-5837. If no one answers, please leave a message and someone will return your call within 24 hours.

Homebound vaccines
The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) has launched “We Will Meet You at Home,” to ensure that every older adult who wants a vaccine will receive one, according to a news release.

The initiative builds upon other programs throughout the state to provide homebound seniors access to COVID-19 vaccinations.

While many of Florida’s older residents have received a COVID-19 vaccination, not every senior is able to leave their home.

In these cases, the Florida DOEA and the state’s 11 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are offering seniors access to transportation to go and receive a vaccine. Elders also have the option of having a health care worker bring the vaccine to their front door.

DOEA’s statewide initiative is distributing over 175,000 informational flyers to older homebound adults requesting more information about vaccines or vaccine access.

The AAAs made tens of thousands of outbound wellness calls over a two-month period to identify people requesting more resources.

The DOEA’s Area Agencies on Aging connect seniors with community providers to get a ride to a doctor’s office, a pharmacy, a grocery store, or another vaccination site. The local AAAs also may assist in arranging a health care professional to come to the individual’s house to receive a vaccination.

If you or someone you know would like assistance with transportation in getting to a COVID-19 vaccination appointment or would like a health provider to bring a shot to your front door, call 800-963-5337, or email .