Pinellas County Board Of Commissioners Extends Coronavirus State Of Local Emergency To July 31

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday extended its State of Local Emergency declaration for COVID-19 to July 31 after hearing from a panel of CEOs and medical directors from area hospital systems.

Hospital leaders from HCA Healthcare, AdventHealth and BayCare expressed support for keeping the emergency declaration in place, along with measures requiring face coverings in public and social distancing. They spoke about challenges their hospitals are facing, such as staffing needs, ICU beds filling up, more younger people getting sick, and a high demand for the drug Remdesivir and donations of convalescent plasma.

Dr. Ulyee Choe, director of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County, and Dr. Angus Jameson, medical director of Pinellas County Emergency Services, suggested that increased testing and mask wearing, and the willingness of citizens to self-regulate their exposure risk, are having a positive effect.

The in-person meeting was held in the at the Magnolia Room of the Pinellas County Cooperative Extension in Largo with six commissioners participating live and one virtually. Chairs and tables were placed six feet apart, and face coverings were required. Many guests and citizens chose to participate or watch virtually.

This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.