Faced With Virus Surge, Hillsborough Reaches Out To Businesses

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb, Hillsborough County is increasing its efforts to work with local businesses to convince employees and patrons to wear masks and social distance.

Hillsborough County Code Enforcement has been responding to hundreds of complaints about businesses not complying with the mandates for employees and patrons to wear masks.

Therefore, beginning Monday, all the department's three dozen code enforcement officers will begin visiting businesses each weekday to educate business owners and managers about the face covering ordinance and ways to keep employees and patrons safe.

On Monday, Hillsborough recorded 37 more coronavirus deaths in the past four days, bringing the total to more than 1,000. Also on Monday, 8,344 residents in Hillsborough County tested positive for the coronavirus for a total of 66,041 since the pandemic began.

Hillsborough County Positive Coronavirus Cases

Courtesy FDOH

Of particular concern is the number of hospitals in Hillsborough County that are running out of beds.

According to the state's hospital census, Tampa General Hospital has only three intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients remaining as of Monday. AdventHealth Tampa has one ICU bed; Memorial Hospital has one bed; and both St. Joseph's Hospitals in Tampa and Southshore have just five ICU beds total.

Source Florida Agency for Health Care Administration

Code enforcement officers will observe compliance, provide educational materials in English and Spanish, and post signage or distribute masks if needed. The proactive measures are designed to help stop community transmission of COVID-19 coronavirus by emphasizing the importance of wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing.

The county's ordinance requires the following of local business owners:

• Post signage on all public entrances indicating face coverings must be worn inside unless an exemption if applicable.
• Require all employees to wear a face covering unless an exemption is applicable.
• Ask patrons not wearing face coverings to do so.
• Make regular reminder announcements to patrons and employees that face coverings must be worn (if the business is equipped with a public announcement system)

A University of South Florida epidemiologist says the use of face masks and social distancing has averted about 1.4 million coronavirus cases in the region since July.

Dr. Edwin Michael, a University of South Florida professor and epidemiologist who studies the spread and control of global infectious diseases, shared this news with Hillsborough County commissioners at a recent commission meeting.

Using data and modeling, Michael talked about the short- and long-term forecasts for the pandemic in the Tampa Bay region. According to Michael, measures such as face covering mandates and social distancing protocols have prevented the pandemic from becoming much more serious.

Michael said even a moderate decrease in social measures will result in dramatic increases in daily cases and hospitalizations.

The bottom line, Michael said: residents should continue to wear face coverings, practice social distancing and avoid traveling and large gatherings during the holidays. These measures coupled with the eventual widespread use of vaccines will make a dramatic difference in the region by the summer, he predicted.

To help protect residents, Hillsborough County will provide free face masks to the public at libraries will supplies last.

The free, reusable cloth face coverings will be available to residents at two dozen libraries. The county also will provide small business operators up to 100 masks while supplies last.

At the libraries, residents can pick up two reusable face coverings and can request face coverings for immediate family members not present. Distribution, while supplies last, will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Face coverings will be distributed from the lobbies at:

• Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico
• C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library, 2607 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Tampa
• Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa
• Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa
• Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa
• North Tampa Branch Library, 8916 North Blvd., Tampa
• New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa
• SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin
• Town N Country Regional Public Library, 7606 Paula Drive, Ste. 120, Tampa

Curbside pickup will be available at branches that have not yet reopened to the public. Residents should call or text the library when arriving. Signs with the phone number will be posted at each site. Staff will bring the face coverings outside. No appointments are needed.

Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director Timothy Dudley reported the county had provided more than 1,325,000 masks since the coronavirus pandemic began.

As the country begins to roll out coronavirus vaccines starting this month under President Donald Trump's Operation Warp Speed, Hillsborough County wants to learn how residents feel about the forthcoming vaccines and understand what obstacles the community might have to taking a vaccine.

An anonymous survey, offered in English and Spanish, is designed to help county leadership understand respondents’ attitudes and trepidations about the vaccines. The survey will help county leaders better plan and execute distribution logistics and campaigns to maximize the number of residents who choose to get vaccinated.

The data will be analyzed utilizing a number of factors, including demographic and geographic information, to gain perspectives that reflect the county’s diverse makeup.

Click here to participate in the survey. To participate by text, text “vaccine” to 73224 or “Vacuna” to 73224 to participate in Spanish.

The survey includes a brief vaccine development overview video below that explains how the vaccines were developed.

After the video, survey questions focus on gaining insight from residents about the following:

• Level of exposure to COVID-19
• Attitudes about getting vaccinated
• What motivates residents to vet vaccinated or remain unvaccinated
• Expectations of how behaviors can change after being vaccinated
• Which locations residents feel comfortable using to receive vaccinations

See related stories:

• Tampa General Coronavirus Institute First of Its Kind in Florida
• Face Masks, Distancing Prevented 1.4M Coronavirus Cases: Expert
• Coronavirus Spread In Tampa: See Your Risk Of Exposure
• Pinellas, Broward Counties To Receive 1st Coronavirus Vaccines
• FL Waits For FDA Approval Of Coronavirus Vaccine As Cases Climb