Pinellas County Coronavirus State Of Emergency Extended To March 5

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Pinellas County continues to be a leader among large counties in vaccinating residents, with more than 132,000 people receiving one or two doses, or 13.4 percent of the population.

Public health officials shared these and other updates about the county’s pandemic response Tuesday as the Board of County Commissioners voted to extend the local state of emergency through March 5.

Positive COVID-19 cases have crept up slightly, with an average of 6.3 percent of tests coming back positive in the past seven days, but hospital capacity remains stable, said Dr. Ulyee Choe, director of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County.

The public vaccination program operated by Pinellas fire paramedics is now vaccinating around 20,000 people per week, half of them first dose and another half getting second doses. Additionally, the Department of Health continues targeted missions to bring the vaccine to underserved communities through churches and public events.

The local state of emergency keeps in effect a county ordinance requiring face coverings in public places, and restaurants and bars to serve only patrons who are seated.

For detailed information about vaccines, testing and other COVID-19 related resources, visit https://covid19.pinellascounty.org/.

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