A.G. Gancarski
On Monday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry addressed media electronically about the latest in Duval County’s fight against the coronavirus.
Curry has been conservative, compared to other major city mayors, to drop the enforcement hammer.
But that could be changing.
The human toll, at least according to Monday morning numbers, is already bad: 158 cases, 23 hospitalizations, and three deaths.
One preventive measure rolled out Monday: an executive order blocks hotel rentals to anyone but personnel deemed essential to handling the COVID-19 response.
“Unfortunately, some cities have not been as proactive or as vigilant in enforcing the CDC’s guidance on proper social distancing and non-essential travel as Duval County has. Numerous people have congregated in the state for spring break, cruises and other personal travel. This measure is necessary to protect the residents of our city, and ensure lodging is available for people on the frontline and those who are in need,” Curry said.
Room rentals are permitted to first responders, journalists, National Guard members, and people who can’t return to their homes for travel reasons.
And Curry may not be done.
“It is my responsibility to make sure that you understand that this virus is real and spreads person to person,” Curry said. “It cannot spread itself.”
Left unchecked, hospitals will fill, and medical professionals and people with underlying conditions will be at risk.
“I saw people this weekend shaking hands with each other. I understand it’s just habit, but we’ve got to stop this,” Curry said.
Directly to the south of Duval County, beachgoers frolicked in St. Johns County this weekend. Beaches, closed in Duval County, were open there. Though closed now, the revelry represented a challenge to social distancing and the “six feet away” rule.
Reverting to prepared text, Curry noted the horrible scenarios in China and Italy as proof as to why “social distancing is so important.”
“Being serious is not being pessimistic,” Curry said, again trying to cajole locals who may not be following orders to do so.
Curry said “shelter in place” is tough to enforce, but noted Gov. Ron DeSantis has unified guidelines in South Florida with a four-county “shelter in place” order.
His team will look at that for potential guidance for “relevant action,” though he added that a Duval order may not mirror exactly the one downstate.
Curry also noted that Spring Breakers and visitors have flouted CDC guidelines.
Curry addressed a number of topics in the press conference, including $10 million in FEMA reimbursements that will help the city deal with the impact of coronavirus.
These funds, said Curry, were immediately put to use.
Curry also addressed testing.
“We saw very long lines over the weekend,” Curry said, noting that tests are limited to 250 a day at the federal Lot J location.
The city site, at Prime Osborn Convention Center, requires a telemedicine screening with appointments contingent on that screening.
2 comments
Erik Birchwood
March 30, 2020 at 5:13 pm
What about ppl who are homeless an looking to get a place where do the they stay at?
Johny "Reb" seber Trump
March 30, 2020 at 9:15 pm
Stop those dammm Yankees from coming down here!!!!! Closing the hotels to them is a start.
Comments are closed.