The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

‘Twindemic’ is new challenge now

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With the flu season approaching and the COVID-19 pandemic persisting, there’s already a catchy term to describe what could happen during the winter months.

“Twindemic.’’

The flu and COVID-19? What can you do to fight back? The local medical community offers a clear initial strategy. Get your annual flu shot — now.

Tim Hendrix is medical director for all AdventHealth Centra Care locations, including the Wesley Chapel facility. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

Tim Hendrix, medical director for all AdventHealth Centra Care locations (including the Wesley Chapel facility), said flu season officially begins Nov. 1, but the public should move urgently.

“We will start seeing cases in October,’’ Hendrix said. “If you look at the pattern historically, the reportable cases start creeping up in October. If you get to Thanksgiving and you haven’t gotten your flu shot, it’s too late. You really need to focus on now. Now is the time before the cases increase.

“Basically, you’re dealing with two epidemics. Our concern is overwhelming capacity at the hospitals and doctor’s offices with both COVID patients and flu patients. Every year, flu puts a strain on our system. We know that, and we’re prepared for that surge. But, now we have two different viruses to deal with, and it can put an even bigger drain on the system and make a lot more people sick,” Hendrix said.

Mark Vaaler, chief medical director of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz, said he’s also worried about an overtaxed medical system.

“If we have a bad flu season and another peak of COVID, if they happen at the same time, we certainly could face a real shortage of beds,’’ Vaaler said. “With our policy of quarantining and sending people home and the potential shortage of health care workers, even if we have beds available, the other concern is having enough workers to staff those beds.

“The best thing we can do is continue our social distancing and masking. That should help for the flu and COVID. I’m hopeful people will not forget the lessons we have learned, because those practices will mitigate both illnesses. And, of course, you need to get that flu shot as soon as possible,’’ Vaaler said.

In a normal year, anywhere from 30% to 50% of Americans get flu shots from doctor’s offices, medical centers or retail pharmacies. Hendrix and Vaaler agree that this year’s percentage needs to increase exponentially.

With the heavy attention given to COVID, flu shot awareness could be at an all-time high. There’s good news from the Southern Hemisphere, where Australia has reported a lighter flu season during its winter months. And that is partially due to COVID precautions. But, it shouldn’t prompt a false sense of security.

Mark Vaaler is chief medical director at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

“I never try to predict a flu season,’’ Hendrix said. “This season will be more variable. We got through the (COVID) surge in April, then Memorial Day hit, and I never thought we’d be where we are now with the number of cases that we’re seeing.

“We cannot model ourselves after Australia or South Africa and hope to have the same type of low flu seasons. Our behaviors are different. Our school years are different. We’re trying to open our schools back up and get our kids back in school,” he said. “Those factors will affect how the flu season looks.’’

Vaaler said he thinks the rise of COVID has been a great advocate for flu shot awareness.

“All the talk about COVID will not go away until we get a vaccine, so hopefully people will realize the only way to control the flu is to get the vaccine,’’ Vaaler said. “As far as completely preventing you from getting the flu, it’s not 100% effective as most people know. But, if you had the vaccine, it still mitigates the severity of the flu. There’s absolutely no reason not to get the flu vaccine.

“Oh, there’s inherent skepticism we as Americans have. Some people just don’t like being told what to do or how to do it. I haven’t seen that talk dissipate. There are always people who say they took the vaccine and still got the flu or they claim they got the flu from the vaccine itself. Those things are not true. The vaccine has great value and never more than in the year like we are currently experiencing.’’

This flu season might be confusing
Hendrix and Vaaler said the Twindemic year could have new twists. What if someone catches the flu and COVID-19 at the same time? What if they get sick and aren’t certain about which virus was contracted?

It can be confusing because the flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms. The most obvious signs of differentiation are COVID’s tendency to prompt lack of smell and lack of taste, along with heightened aching and fatigue.

“We know co-infection can happen,’’ Hendrix said. “When COVID-19 started (roughly in February), we started seeing people with COVID and influenza. Those people got through it OK, but having two different viruses is never a good thing. The risk of complications is higher with co-infections, and it’s another reason to get a flu shot.’’

“The scary thing about it is you can get both of them,’’ Vaaler said. “You can also get one, get better, then get the other. And, the most serious part is it adversely affects our most vulnerable populations. This is absolutely the year we need to push for everyone to get their flu shot. By getting as many people vaccinated as possible, it can really help the situation.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published September 30, 2020

Health News 09/30/2020

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Dr. Erika van Doorn

Trauma director appointed
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has appointed Dr. Erika van Doorn as the trauma medical director for the hospital’s Level II Trauma Center.

Prior to joining Bayonet Point as a trauma surgeon in 2019, van Doorn spent 14 years as a surgical specialist in several Texas hospitals, including Medical Center Plano, a 603-bed Level I Trauma Center.

She completed her general surgery residency and surgical critical care fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Dr. van Doorn is board certified in general surgery and surgery critical care.

New staff
Dr. Sanjay Jain has joined BayCare Medical Group, specializing in family medicine, and will provide continuity of care to geriatric patients, adults and children.

Dr. Jain is proficient with minor office procedures, including skin biopsies, excisions, joint injections and cryotherapy.

He also is certified in advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support and basic life support.

The physician earned his Doctor of Medicine from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York in Buffalo, New York.

He completed a family medicine residency with AdventHealth in Winter Park.

In addition to his medical education, Dr. Jain has a graduate degree in business administration also from the State University of New York.

The doctor will practice at 17512 Dona Michelle Drive, Suite 5, in Tampa, and is accepting patients age 5 and older.

Reaching out to seniors during COVID-19

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If nothing else, COVID-19 has forced people to adapt — and to think of new ways of getting things done.

Hillsborough County’s Aging Services has been doing just that — through a telephonic program that is currently replacing personal visits to the department’s senior centers.

Soon, the department hopes to switch to virtual Zoom meetings to share programs with seniors, but until it does, it will continue using a call-in system.

Frances Duran Brea, a general manager with Nutrition & Wellness for Hillsborough County’s senior centers, shares her knowledge with seniors calling into Hillsborough County’s virtual wellness program, which is conducted through a conference call. The sessions are expected to be presented virtually on Zoom, soon. The county offers an assortment of virtual programs. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

“We’ve been closed since mid-March because of COVID-19, unfortunately,” said Frances Duran Brea, general manager with nutrition and wellness for the department of aging services’ senior centers.

The pandemic has been especially difficult for the elderly because they are in the age group considered to be at greatest risk for serious health consequences from the virus.

Because of that, those over age 60 are advised to limit their contact with others — which has the effect of being socially isolating.

“It’s definitely impacted them hard,” Duran Brea said, referring to the county’s older population.

“A lot of them live alone,” she said. And, even those who live with family members often must stay home while others come and go.

“Their families are afraid to take them out,” Duran Brea explained.

The call-in system gives the county a way to stay connected with seniors.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the program is offered in English, from 11:45 a.m. to 12: 45 p.m.

Then, it is offered again in Spanish, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Participants call (888) 585-9008, then punch in the Conference ID number, which is 784132094#.

“We do many of the programs we did at the centers. We have nutrition presentations with our registered dieticians,” Duran Brea said. “I usually do the health segments, the safety segments, and we have specialized activities staff who do a variety of programming.

“We’ve tried everything. We have drawing classes. We have some community partners who help us facilitate some of the programming. Reminiscing musical programs.

“We have a variety of health and wellness programs, around the seven dimensions of wellness,” she said.

Those seven dimensions are physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, intellectual and spiritual.

Calls include a nutrition presentation and a health segment, and the rest of the hour consists of programming that varies, Duran Brea said. In essence, the programming is part educational, part fun.

Community partners help them find out about resources that are available, or provide useful information, she added.

Using the new mode of delivering services has had its share of obstacles, Duran Brea said.

Some elderly find that it’s challenging to call in.

They complain: “It’s too many numbers,” she said, and some forget to punch in the #symbol at the end of the Conference ID number.

Some people likely don’t know the program is available, she added.

The program will be shifting to a Zoom format soon, which will mean seniors will need to adapt to that change, Duran Brea said.

“Right now, we’re recruiting a lot of volunteers to give one-on-one assistance to some of the seniors that are requesting that — to set up the Zoom,” she said.

Those volunteers will call to give the seniors step-by-step instructions, she explained.

In addition to the countywide Tuesday and Thursday programs, individual senior sites throughout the county also offer call-in programs.

So, seniors can call those centers to take part in their virtual wellness program.

The Lutz Senior Center offers its program on Wednesday and Friday. The program is offered in  English, 11 a.m. to noon, and in Spanish, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

To participate, call (888) 585-9008, conference room 448-371-556#.

Want to help?
Volunteer opportunities include, but aren’t limited to: Senior centers and dining center, adult day care centers, gardening, arts and crafts, food service, fitness, special events, music, literature, administrative. To find out more, contact the volunteer coordinator at (813) 853-1067 or .

Need help?
For general information about services, call (813) 272-5250.

Want to connect?
Countywide call-in program, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The program is offered in English, from 11:45 a.m. to 12: 45 p.m.; it is offered in Spanish, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
To participate, call (888)585-9008, Conference ID: 784132094#.

Lutz Senior Center, Wednesdays and Fridays; English, 11 a.m. to noon; Spanish, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Call (888) 585-9008, conference room 448-371-556#.

Published September 23, 2020

COVID cases in Pasco schools ‘manageable’

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Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning gave the Pasco School Board a briefing on the district’s response to COVID-19 during the board’s Sept. 15 meeting.

“I want to commend the vast majority of our students and staff who are doing the right thing,” he said. “From what I’ve seen and heard, our students and staff are wearing masks and social distancing when possible. People recognize that rules are in place to keep everyone safe and healthy, and the vast majority are being careful and respectful of those rules we put in place.

“The end result is this: Three weeks into the school year and we have certainly had some cases. We’ve been very transparent about that. Hop on our website and you can see all of the numbers, right there on our website.

“There has been an impact at several schools throughout the district. But, it has been manageable and our planning has paid off.

“Most students and staff are being conscientious and are being very disciplined about the quarantine requirements,” the superintendent said.

But, Browning added that he did not want to be dismissive of the impacts that COVID-19 has had on district schools.

Sixty-three students had tested positive and 1,475 had been told to quarantine for 14 days, as of Sept. 18. Also, 26 employees had tested positive and 153 employees had been told to quarantine.

During the school board meeting, Browning noted: “We’ve had some unusual cases where one student tested positive that resulted in dozens of students and staff being required to quarantine. In one school, one positive case resulted in 119 students and 10 staff members having to be quarantined.

“Those cases are unusual. On average for every positive case, 20 people are required to quarantine. That’s like sending a small classroom home, when a student tests positive.

“I know it’s inconvenient. I know it’s disappointing to be the students or the staff that want to be at school, or at work, but it’s also manageable,” the superintendent added.

As of Sept. 15, Browning said, 46 schools or departments had a positive case of a student or employee.

To help prevent the spread, Browning asked students and staff to continue to be conscientious, not only in school, but  after school, as well.

“That would go a long way to help us rid the spread of the virus in our schools and in our community,” Browning said.

Don Peace, president of United School Employees of Pasco (USEP), also talked about COVID-19’S impacts.

“As a district, we’re holding our own in this fight against COVID in our workplaces. USEP is pleased with the many protocols we have in place in this district to ensure student and employee safety — and has been outspoken toward that end,” Peace said.

“I would caution though that no amount of negotiation or precautions put in place serve as a guarantee against this illness,” Peace said, adding, “we all need to err on the side of caution, as we navigate this school year.”

Browning also talked about the district’s COVID Command Center, where county health department staff and school district nurses are working together to respond to COVID-19 concerns.

“They’ve offered tremendous support and guidance to our principals, as they have experienced cases at their schools,” Browning said.

“They have been busy. They have been put to the test, every day,” and in the superintendent’s opinion, they have passed, with flying colors.

“We have done a good job, with the management of COVID. The fight is not over yet.

“Masks need to be worn. We need to set the example,” Browning said.

He also talked about the district’s three testing sites, which are for students and district personnel, and are intended to provide quick testing and results. The sites are at Pasco Elementary School, the district office complex and Gulf Middle School. The tests will be given by appointment only.

School board members also offered some observations about the school year so far.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong said she’s been out and about, and has had conversations with parents who have been pleased with what their schools are doing.

“Their kids are glad to be back in school. They’re just glad that we offered the brick-and-mortar opportunity because they really felt that’s what their students needed, what their kids needed,” Armstrong said.

Board chairwoman Colleen Beaudoin said in addition to the district’s good planning, the positive attitude by students and staff have played an important role in responding to challenges presented by COVID-19.

“Overall, I think things have gone more smoothly than we anticipated,” Beaudoin said.

Pasco County Schools COVID cases
63 student cases (1,475 students impacted)
26 employee cases (153 employees impacted)*

* As of 11:30 p.m., Sept. 18

Published September 23, 2020

Local nonprofit group in danger of closing

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The Alzheimer’s Family Organization (AFO), which has been serving the Tampa Bay area for more than two decades, is in danger of closing, according to a news release from the organization.

The AFO provides free services to caregivers with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias, but now it’s in need of help itself.

The nonprofit relies almost entirely on fundraising as their source of income, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fundraising has come to a halt.

The AFO had five major fundraisers set up for 2020 spread out over the eight-county service area: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Lake, Marion, and Sumter.

It held one fundraiser just days before the state shut down due to the pandemic, but had to cancel the other four.

To stretch the remaining funds, the brick-and-mortar office building in Spring Hill was closed to allow staff to continue to provide support to caregivers.

Based on current estimates, funding will be exhausted by Thanksgiving, the release says.

The organization hopes to raise the $200,000 it needs to sustain services until early summer of next year, with the hope that fundraising can resume.

Should the AFO close, countless numbers of caregivers will lose vital support and services to help them successfully care for their loved ones, such as support groups, wanderer’s reunification, education, coaching and other needed services as they walk their journey of this disease.

To find out more or to donate, visit AlzheimersFamily.org, or call (352) 616-0170.

Published September 23, 2020

LifeLink thank-you

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LifeLink of Florida is celebrating National DMV Appreciation Week (Sept. 21 to Sept. 25) by thanking local motor vehicle departments (DMVs) and tax collector offices for their lifesaving work through organ, eye and tissue donor registration.

The week of appreciation was originally created in 2016 by Donate Life America to highlight driver license issuing offices and the employees who play an invaluable role in increasing the number of registered donors.

This year, the theme is “Lifesavers Like You!” and will focus on honoring lifesaving partners in donation.

Almost 90% of people who register to become donors do so when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license at local DMVs and tax collector offices, according to a LifeLink news release.

Last year, DMVs and tax collector offices across the state registered more than 546,691 Floridians as organ, eye and tissue donors, and together with organ recovering organizations have helped save more than 2,000 lives.

Registering as a donor can be done online at DonateLifeFlorida.org, or when getting or renewing a driver’s license.

Health News 09/16/2020

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Limited visitation resumes
BayCare Health System has resumed limited visitation at its hospitals, allowing most inpatients to have one visitor a day from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“Reductions in both COVID-19 hospitalizations and in the community’s decreasing infection rate has made it possible to provide visitor access,” said Glenn Waters, chief operating office for BayCare, in a hospital news release.

To ensure the safety of patients, visitors, team members and physicians, BayCare’s new policy continues to put a premium on infection control with these conditions:

  • Only visitors age 18 and older, who pass a COVID-19 screening, will be allowed entry, and must wear a mask during the entire visit.
  • Inpatients will be allowed one visitor per day, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., except as noted below.
  • Extended hours and provisions are allowed for pediatric, neonatal intensive care, labor and delivery, and mothers and newborns.
  • No visitors will be allowed for Behavioral Health or COVID-19 patients.
  • Patients arriving for surgeries and procedures will be allowed one visitor during pre-operation and recovery times.
  • Emergency Department patients, except for those presenting with respiratory symptoms, will be allowed one visitor once they are placed in their treatment room.
  • Special circumstances can be approved by hospital leadership on a case-by-case basis.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz is one of the hospitals where these visitation changes are in effect.

Sunrise of Pasco charity
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices will be collecting donations in September to assist the Sunrise of Pasco County’s Domestic & Sexual Violence Center. The mission of Sunrise is to prevent domestic and sexual violence before it ever happens. If it does, Sunrise is dedicated to assisting victims to escape those conditions, and find safety and freedom in the community. In 2019 alone, over 13,600 individual shelter stays (overnights) were provided in Pasco County.

Sunrise is seeking donations specifically to increase the funding for its children’s programs, including school supplies, meals and recreational activities for kids in the shelter or outreach programs.

Cash donations can be made at any of the five tax collector locations in Pasco County.

For information about Sunrise programs and services, email Vicki Wiggins, director of development, at .

For more about the charitable giving programs at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, call Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Parenting in a pandemic is challenging, pediatrician says

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Are my kids safe? Is it OK for them to attend school or should they be kept home to learn virtually? What if they get sick? What if I get sick? What if they want a playdate? How can we cope if it seems overwhelming?

Parenting already seemed daunting, but parenting during a pandemic? It’s filled with starts and stops, rapidly changing information, anxiety, guilt and exhaustion.

Maribelis Perez, a pediatrician at Premier Community HealthCare’s Dade City office, offered guidance regarding parenting during a pandemic. (Courtesy of Premier Community HealthCare)

Does that sound familiar to you? You’re not alone.

Maribelis Perez, a pediatrician at Premier Community HealthCare’s Dade City office, said parents, teachers and caregivers must focus on their physical and emotional health during these challenging times of COVID-19.

“As parents, it’s important to get educated about everything that is going on,’’ Perez said during a recent Zoom video teleconference with the public. “Pandemics aren’t new. They have happened before. But, this one has brought everything to our doors.

“Prevention is always going to be the key. We have always known that infectious diseases can be prevented by simple measures such as hand-washing. Think about just six months ago, how careless we were. Now, we are washing our hands like our lives depend on it.’’

Hand-washing is a tangible answer.

Perez said many parents are searching for solutions when it comes to emotional losses. That is more difficult to define.

“We all have been stressed and anxious,’’ Perez said. “This is all very challenging. We need to remind our children they’re not alone with these feelings. We need to normalize that feeling and validate it. We can provide reassurance and tell them how to be safe, but we can’t control everything.’’

For kids who are employing virtual learning at home, there is some control that parents can utilize, though.

“It’s unrealistic to think the kids are going to stare at their screens for hour after hour,’’ Perez said. “There must be some breaks and pauses. They have to be engaged in some activity and movement. Let them dance. Let them stretch. It’s always hard, depending on the setup at home, but there must be some form of down time.’’

Preparation is also important for at-home learning, Perez said.

“We’ve all been forced to rethink our daily lives,’’ Perez said. “None of us were necessarily prepared to turn our homes into classrooms. But, if your children are staying home to learn, it really helps to have a stimulating environment, whether it’s a small space or a large space.

“They must have the necessary tools for schoolwork without the distraction of televisions and other things. Ideally, they are not in their bedroom or in bed. Those two spaces should be separated. There must be a way to emphasize and prioritize the schoolwork.’’

For children returning to the school campus, there are different issues.

“Obviously, people with various conditions, such as respiratory illnesses and diabetes, may be at higher risk, not just (to) corona, but (to) other viruses, as well,’’ Perez said. “Conversations need to take place with health care providers, and it’s how you feel as a parent, as well.

“Schools have been working on solutions for about six months now. They are keeping kids 6 feet apart in the areas where they congregate. A lot are making use of their outdoor spaces. Face coverings and face shields are going to be really important. The hand-washing and using hand sanitizer is also very big. Most schools have escalated their cleaning. I think the proper precautions are being taken. But, of course, it’s still an individual choice for each family, and it’s not an easy choice.’’

Regardless of the school choice, Perez said it’s imperative to have healthy routines.

“Daily habits and daily routines are so important,’’ Perez said. “Set up the alarm clock to get the child moving. Have an hour a day where they’re walking outside. Get to bed early and get eight to nine hours of sleep.

“Don’t forget the eating habits. When kids are at home, it’s important not to overeat. Try to work on portion control. Drink water most of the time because we often confuse being thirsty for being hungry. Just do all you can to model healthy habits because they are so important in these times. And, know that when you’re feeling anxious or stressed, those are common feelings for everyone. Take a deep breath and know that we will all get through this,” Perez said.

By Joey Johnston

Published September 09, 2020

Health News 09/09/2020

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COVID-19 testing site
Hillsborough County opened its ninth public site for COVID-19 testing in the parking lot adjacent to the USF Health Therapy (MDT) building, at 3515 E. Fletcher Ave., in Tampa.

The hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.

There is no charge for the testing, and health insurance is not required.
Anyone who wants to be tested must register for an appointment in advance online at HCFLGov.net/COVIDTesting.

To make an appointment by phone, call (888) 513-6321 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The USF testing site is open to all Hillsborough County residents.

In addition to drive-thru testing, this location will accommodate people who arrive on foot or by bicycle.

Star volunteers
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has named its Star Award volunteers for the second quarter.

  • Frank Cianci has accumulated 2,700 hours and more than 15 years of volunteer service as a courier.
  • Charles Roe has been volunteering as a courier for more than eight years with 2,700-plus hours of service.
  • Mary Ellen Yost has volunteered four years in the Volunteer Office, accumulating more than 5,000 hours of service.

“These outstanding volunteers have shown exceptional service with our patients, visitors and staff and have gone above and beyond therefore deserving of this award,” said Donna Owen, director of Volunteers and Pastoral Care, in a hospital news release.

Sunrise of Pasco charity
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices will be collecting donations in September to assist the Sunrise of Pasco County’s Domestic & Sexual Violence Center. The mission of Sunrise is to prevent domestic and sexual violence before it ever happens. If it does, Sunrise is dedicated to assisting victims to escape those conditions, and find safety and freedom in the community. In 2019 alone, over 13,600 individual shelter stays (overnights) were provided in Pasco County.

Sunrise is seeking donations specifically to increase the funding for its children’s programs, including school supplies, meals and recreational activities for kids in the shelter or outreach programs.

Cash donations can be made at any of the five tax collector locations in Pasco County.

For information about Sunrise programs and services, email Vicki Wiggins, director of development, at .

For more about the charitable giving programs at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, call Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Gold winner
Wesley Chapel Chiropractic is the Gold winner in the 2020 Best of the Best People’s Choice Awards, presented by the Tampa Bay Times.

In the Tampa Bay region, more than 115,000 votes were cast to determine the leading businesses in more than 180 categories.

The companies received nominations from the public earlier this year. The top three vote-getters won a spot on the 2020 Best of the Best list.

For a complete list of the 2020 Best of the Best in Tampa Bay, visit TampaBay.com/best.

BayCare, a great place to work
BayCare Health System has been named one of the top companies in the United States by Great Place to Work and People magazine, for supporting team members and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BayCare ranked No. 6 for its critical role in responding to COVID-19 and how it impacted the community and team members. The ranking is based on survey feedback from more than 4.7 million employees across the country.

BayCare was one of the first health systems in West Central Florida to launch multiple drive-thru testing sites across the region, testing about 50,000 patients for COVID-19 since mid-March, according to a BayCare news release.

And, BayCare pioneered an online screening tool, launched a nurse triage hotline and provided extensive information through a dedicated website.

Walking toward better health

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Pasco County Extension has kicked off a virtual 10-week walking program to promote good health through physical activity.

The program, planned by UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension encourages people to start taking steps to improve their health.

The 10-week program calls for those taking part to walk 30 minutes a day, wherever they choose, while tracking their progress for accountability and support through a virtual community, according to a Pasco County news release.

All are welcome.

The benefits of walking are known. It reduces the risk of heart disease and some cancers, improves blood pressure, blood sugar levels, energy, mood and more, the release says.

The virtual walking program will run from Sept. 14 through Nov. 22. An optional virtual kick-off event is set for Sept. 11 at noon.

Register by Sept. 8, at tinyurl.com/lwffall2020.

The program registration fee is $14.99 per person, and all ages are welcome.  Sign up with friends as a team or individually, or request to be assigned to a team.

For more information, contact Shari Bresin at (352) 518-0156 or .

Published September 02, 2020