A.G. Gancarski
In a media availability Friday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry tried, yet again, to persuade people to flatten the COVID-19 curve. But he also said people need to learn to “live with the virus.”
“It is important that we understand … that we’ve got to learn to live with this virus. Lockdowns are not sustainable,” Curry said. “And people won’t stand for it.”
For residents of the Republican National Committee host city, that’s easier said than done, with Jacksonville seeing spikes in cases, including a positive test rate of 13% in the latest batch of tests reported by the Florida Department of Health Friday, a number down from a record of 20% the day before.
Despite a toothless mask order ignored by large swaths of the population, including many with the comorbidities that lead to dire outcomes, the disease is spiking in Jacksonville.
The mayor, in quarantine because of COVID-19 exposure, has been an ethereal presence for roughly two weeks in the city, with last week spent on vacation and this week in isolation.
Curry, Zooming in from home, said the community was facing choices.
“Two extremely different voices have emerged,” Curry said, with one group wanting lockdown and the other a return to a pre-coronavirus normal.
“Anyone who thinks this virus isn’t a real threat … needs to understand that this community spread is real,” Curry said, noting he knows “many” who have it.
“Many healthy people who get it are experiencing an incredibly difficult time,” Curry said.
Leaders, Curry said, need to know “we must live with this virus until we get a vaccine.”
Curry faded out due to technical difficulties in the call, and Chief of Staff Jordan Elsbury took over.
There are 460 current hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients, 82 in ICU, Elsbury said, before moving on to new testing sites. Four new ones, in Arlington, Mandarin, Regency, and the Beaches, will serve people next week as Jacksonville attempts to cap the coronavirus surge.
“There are no plans to roll back,” Curry said, noting that he is in “regular communication” with hospitals, which are able to handle the load because the current patient count needs less in terms of ICU occupancy than people back in March and April.
5 comments
Frankie M.
July 10, 2020 at 1:18 pm
Somebody gadgiated from Trump University,”If you want an omelette you gotta break some eggs.” Meanwhile you got DuhSantis out there screaming ALL IS WELL like he’s Kevin Bacon.
This is what passes for leadership these says…smh.
TED KRUZE
July 10, 2020 at 1:52 pm
Apparently, ESPECIALLY in Florida, being an unmitigated a**h**e is the prime qualifier for gaining membership in the Republican party! There are PLENTY of success stories in terms of controlling Covid-19 – NYC, Boston, Connecticut, and the European Union – but these Repbulican a**h**es are just too friggin’ ignorant to watch what the smart people did – and then follow their lead! Friggin’ morons!
Anes11
July 10, 2020 at 2:07 pm
Why am I censored on this website if I’m not a commie Democrat ? The guy is right. The government can’t protect you idiots from a virus. It is here to stay . No Gates killer vax will save you. It needs to work it’s way through the population. The death rate (inflated) is .26% . If old and sick stay home. Economic Armageddon is coming. If you go to the world economic forum, they have a list of “greatest threats to the world”. After global recession and unemployment, the 3rd risk is another disease outbreak. Maybe the elites know more than us . Think twice before taking the vax. After they vax 7 billion, they will release the next one that will kill off billions. Depopulation is their plan.
Frankie M.
July 10, 2020 at 8:43 pm
I like how DuhSantis says the death rate is nearly zero for people without comorbidities. This is Florida! Nearly everyone here is obese or old or both. Nice lil disclaimer though. Cite all the stats you want. Covid 19 isn’t real until it affects you or someone you love.
Just do it
July 11, 2020 at 6:33 am
Poor little Lenny, now your buddy, Demorat Hazouri has turned against you. How do you feel, First Ben Frazier and his group of racists turned against you after you took down the statue in Hemming Park, trying to appease them, Black people in Jacksonville hate you anyway, and all you did was turn southerns whites against you,,, The only thing you can do now, to reclaim your political career is to put back then statue in Hemming Park, just do it now!!!!
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