Pinellas Coronavirus Update: What You Need To Know

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — On Thursday, Pinellas County Commission Chair Pat Gerard extended the declaration of a local state of emergency for another seven days. This means public beaches and beach parking areas in Pinellas County will remain closed at least through April 17.

The county has a dedicated coronavirus website with in-depth information, links to resources and archived news releases.

The Pinellas County's Emergency Operations Center also remains under a full activation for monitoring and response. Residents with questions or concerns can call the Citizen Information Center at 727-464-4333 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Latest Positive Cases

As of Friday, April 10, there have been 428 positive cases of the coronavirus in Pinellas County and 10 deaths including a 56-year-old woman on April 8 and a 76-year-old woman on April 7. Thirty-six of the positive cases were nonresidents.

Those who tested positive ranged from age 1 to 95 and included 226 males and 202 females.

Currently, 65 residents and 14 nonresidents are hospitalized.

Statewide, 17,531 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus and 390 people have died.

Coronavirus by city:

• St. Petersburg 102
• Clearwater 86
• Largo 51
• Seminole 22
• Palm Harbor 21
• Tarpon Springs 19
• Dunedin 13
• Pinellas Park 8
• Clearwater Beach 6
• Safety Harbor 6
• Oldsmar 3
• Gulfport 3
• Belleair 3
• Indian Rocks Beach 3
• Madeira Beach 2
• Bay Pines 2
• Belleair Bluffs 2
• South Pasadena 1
• Crystal Beach 1
• Belleair Beach 1
• North Redington Beach 1
• Kenneth City 1

The DOH is missing the home towns of two other residents who tested positive.

Additions To Essential Businesses

To help local businesses comply with public safety rules under the statewide "Safer-at-Home" orders, Pinellas County has issued expanded guidance on which services are considered essential during the pandemic.

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Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, animal shelters, automotive dealers and repair shops, bicycle shops, gun sales, insurance, moving companies and Realtors are among the essential services added to the existing guidelines.

The updated guidelines also includes several types of businesses added to a list of nonessential services, which means they must close under the order. These include: boat and kayak sales, charters and rentals, tailors and alterations, yard, garage and estate sales.

The most up-to-date guidance on definitions of essential versus nonessential businesses and other aspects of the "Safer-at-Home" order can be found here.

Refusal To Quarantine Could Mean Jail Time

Anyone believed to be infected with the coronavirus or who is believed to have been exposed to it – but refuses to quarantine – can be held without bond at the jails in Pinellas and Pasco counties, according to an administrative order signed by Anthony Rondolino, chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, March 27.

A message from Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri

Meal Distribution Sites

To reach more families in need during this unprecedented period of school closures, Pinellas County Schools will open six more school sites on Monday, April 13. This will bring the district's total number of meal distribution locations to 22.

Sites include:

• Dunedin Middle School 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin 10:45 am-11:45 am
• Eisenhower Elementary 2800 Drew St., Clearwater 11:00 am-Noon
• Fairmount Elementary 575 41st St. S., St. Petersburg 10:15 am-11:15 am
• Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary 6505 68th St. N., Pinellas Park 11:00 am-Noon
• John Hopkins Middle School 701 16th St. S., St. Petersburg 10:30 am-11:30 am
• New Heights Elementary 3901 37th St. N St. Petersburg 10:45 am-11:45 am
• Plumb Elementary School has replaced Ponce de Leon Elementary School in Clearwater 11:15 am-12:15 pm
• Southern Oak Elementary 9101 Walsingham Rd. Largo 11:15 am-12:15 pm
• Tarpon Springs Elementary 555 Pine St. Tarpon Springs 10:30 am-11:30 am
• Azalea Middle School 7855 22nd Ave N., St. Petersburg
• Bay Point Elementary School 2151 62nd Ave S., St, Petersburg
• Clearwater Intermediate 1220 Palmetto St., Clearwater
• High Point Elementary School 5921 150th Ave N., Clearwater
• Kings Highway Elementary School 1715 Kings Highway, Clearwater
• Largo Middle School 155 8th Ave SE., Largo
• Oak Grove Middle School 1370 S Belcher Rd., Clearwater

The six new school sites opening April 13 are:

• Anona Elementary School 12301 Indian Rocks Rd., Largo
• Garrison-Jones Elementary School 3133 Garrison Rd., Dunedin
• Gulfport Elementary School 2014 52nd St S., Gulfport
• McMullen Booth Elementary School 3025 Union St., Clearwater
• North Shore Elementary School 200 35th Ave NE., St. Petersburg
• Sawgrass Lake Elementary School 1815 77th Ave N., St. Petersburg

On April 13, all school sites switch to a Monday, Wednesday and Friday only schedule from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All schools will prepare meals in the school site kitchens.

Grab-n-Go bags include meals for two days (two breakfasts and two lunches) per student adding Saturday for total of six days per week.

Breakfast includes: cereal or breakfast bar, juice (orange juice, apple juice or mixed fruit) and milk.

Lunch includes: Sandwich (PBJ or meat and cheese; fruit cup (either applesauce, strawberries or peaches), juice (orange juice, apple juice or mixed fruit) and milk.

• Meals are free for anyone 18 years old and under
• The child or teen must be present to receive the meals
• Meals will be served as drive-through at the car/bus circle. Walkers should go to the main entrance of the school.

For non-students needing help with food, click here to find resources in Pinellas County.

Donation sites

Due to the critical need for personal protective equipment and disinfectants, the county is coordinating donation sites at local fire stations and nonprofits that will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Donation sites:
• Fire Station 29, 11195 70th Ave. N., Seminole
• Fire Station 57, 3375 Tarpon Lake Blvd., Palm Harbor
• Fire Station 54, 225 Pine Ave., Oldsmar
• Fire Station 35, 11350 N. 43rd St., Pinellas Park
• Fire Station 25, 250 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach
• Fire Station 24, 180 108th Ave., Treasure Island
• Fire Station 23, 7301 Gulf Blvd., St Pete Beach
• St. Pete Free Clinic, 3115 44th Ave. N., St Petersburg
• RCS Pinellas, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater
Supplies will be delivered to local hospitals, long-term care facilities and first responders to ensure their safety.

Items needed:

• Surgical face masks (note: homemade face masks can't be accepted at this time)
• P100 masks
• N95 masks
• Face shields
• Nitrile exam gloves, powder free
• 5 and 7 mil nitrile gloves
• Eye protection - safety glasses
• Surgical tear away gowns
• Safety eye goggles
• Hand sanitizer (any size) 60 percent alcohol
• 91 percent isopropyl alcohol
• Clorox wipes
• Lysol disinfectant spray
• Sani-cloth wipes
• 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• Invasive positive pressure ventilators that can be used for intubated patients
• CPAP for sleep apnea
• BiPAP/BiLevel for sleep apnea
• High-Flow Nasal Cannula Set-ups

Items must be unopened and unused.

Residents and businesses can continue to help local food banks by taking nonperishable food items to one of the following food banks:

• Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center, 304 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• RCS Pinellas, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• St. Pete Free Clinic, 863 3rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Pinellas County coronavirus donations page.

Advice And Information

• The city's public information staff continues its outreach to all residents, including Spanish- and Vietnamese-speaking residents as well as the deaf/hard of hearing community through American Sign Language public service announcements.
• County staff continues to answer hundreds of inquiries through the Citizen Information Center, online chat and social media.
• The Pinellas Regional 911 call center has enacted stress reduction programs for the operators on the front lines.
• For questions, call the Citizen Information Center at 727-464-4333 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those with a hearing impairment can chat online.
• Report violations of the Safer at Home order for businesses by calling the Sheriff's Tip Line at 727-582-TIPS. Businesses can also call that number with questions about how the order applies to them. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Tip Line received more than 365 tips as of March 30.
• Register for emergency alerts.