[Call to Order]
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>> NOW CALL TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. TODAY, JULY 28TH, 2020. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CHAIR COMMISSIONER JEB SMITH. >> HERE.
>> VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONER BLOCKER. COMMISSIONER JAMES JOHNS PRESENT. COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON. HERE.
COMMISSIONER HENRY DEAN. HERE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND. BOW YOUR HEADS. DEAR LORD, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SEE A NEW DAY. BE ABLE TO BREATHE, BE ABLE TO SOCIALIZE, PRAISE AND WORSHIP YOU IN EVERYTHING YOU CREATED. GUIDE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR WILL IS.
AND THE ACTION TO EXECUTE THOSE ITEMS. MAY THAT BE OUR PRAYER AND FOCUS EACH AND EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES. IN YOUR NAME, AMEN.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, 1 NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU, YOU MAY BE SEATED. >> GOOD MORNING.
LET ME GO THROUGH MY SCRIPT HERE THIS MORNING. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IN ORDER TO MITIGATE THE TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF COVID-19 ILLNESS, THE GOVERNOR HAS SUSPENDED THE REQUIREMENT OF A PHYSICAL FORUM OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND CONDUCT MEETINGS USING REMOTE PARTICIPATION. SO THAT THE PUBLIC HAS A MEANS TO COMMENT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY ATTENDING. ALONG WITH PRIOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING E-MAIL, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENT BY PHONE BY WATCHING THE MEETING OR BY STREAMING POSTED ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE. THE WEBSITE ALSO PROVIDES THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO USE TO CALL IN TO THE MEETING. IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DO NOT PROVIDE COMMENT, PARTICIPANTS ARE ADVISED THAT PEOPLE WHO MAY BE LISTENING AND THOSE PERSONS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED.
FOR THOSE OF YOU CALLING IN TO COMMENT, IF YOU RECEIVE A BUSY SIGNAL, PLEASE CALL BACK.
CONTINUE TO WATCH GTV WHILE YOU'RE COMMENTING. FINALLY, PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE WHILE YOU'RE AWAITING TO COMMENT. BE AWARE THAT THERE MAY BE A FIVE TO SECOND DELAY. AND IF WE EXPERIENCE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, WE MAY RECESS AND THEN RECONVENE THE MEETING. TODAY I THINK WE HAVE EVERYBODY HERE.
SO WE'LL GO JUST TO REGULAR VOTING. RATHER THAN ROLL CALL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY REMOTELY TODAY. NO FURTHER DELAY, PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE DONE AFTER EACH AGENDA ITEM. WE HAVE THREE THIS MORNING.
[1. Emergency Management Update]
AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE, MR. BRADLEY. >> YES, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. BRAD BRADLEY, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. THE MOST CURRENT DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS AS FOLLOWS:ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENTS TESTING POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS 2,963.
TOTAL RESIDENTS TESTED 35,595. TOTAL RESIDENTS HOSPITALIZED TO DATE, 149.
TOTAL RESIDENTS CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED, 29. TOTAL RESIDENT FATALITIES, 21.
448 NEW CASES IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, AVERAGE OF 64 PER DAY. THE PREVIOUS SEVEN-DAY PERIOD THERE WERE 609 CASES POSITIVE FOR AN AVERAGE OF 87 CASES PER DAY.
ALSO ON THE LINE IS DR. ALACOTT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS OF ME, I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER WHAT I CAN. >> THANK YOU.
MR. BRADLEY. ANY QUESTIONS? WE'LL NOW HERE FROM MR. TOMOCO.
>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS.
OUR LOGISTICS NUMBERS ARE FOLLOWS, WE HANDED OUT 396,482 ITEMS, INCLUDE VARIOUS TYPES OF PPE. AS PER THE PLEDGE ST. JOHNS PROGRAM, WE'VE HAD 267 BUSINESSES ACTUALLY APPLY OR SIGN UP FOR THE PROGRAM. AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, WE
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HAVE CHANGED THE WAY WE SEND OUT THE MASS, MASKS, WE MAIL IT.OF THE 267 BUSINESSES, 251 BUSINESSES HAVE RECEIVED THE MASK.
FOR A TOTAL OF 26,300 MASKS DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE FACILITIES.
WE CONTINUE TO JUST LIKE I SAID, MAIL THEM OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY'RE NOT WAITING TO GET THOSE. AS COMMISSIONER BRADLEY SAID, FOR THE TESTING COUNT FOR THE COUNTY, I WANTED TO THROW ONE NUMBER OUT FOR THE TESTING SITE THAT WE'RE ENJOINED WITH THE FLAGLER HOSPITAL, STARTED IN THE WEEK OF JULY 8TH. WE HAVE TESTED, AS OF FRIDAY, 2,860 RESIDENTS. COMMISSIONER DEAN, I KNOW YOU ASKED LAST WEEK ABOUT ICU NUMBERS. WE REACHED OUT TO FLAGLER AS WELL AS BAPTIST BEACHES AND BAPTIST SOUTH TO PROVIDE THOSE NUMBERS. WE HAVE A FLAGLER REP ON THE LINE, SO IF THERE IS MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WE CAN GET HER TO ANSWER THEM.
AVAILABILITY OF ADULT ICU BEDS FOR FLAGLER HOSPITAL AS OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IS 41 PERCENT. THE BAPTIST BEACHES AVAILABILITY FOR ICU BEDS AS OF YESTERDAY IS 33 PERCENT. AND BAPTIST SOUTH, AS OF YESTERDAY, IS 29 PERCENT
AVAILABILITY. >> WHAT WAS THE LAST NUMBER, BAPTIST SOUTH.
>> BAPTIST SOUTH IS 29 PERCENT. >> THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR.
AND AGAIN, FLAGLER HOSPITAL IS ON THE LINE, SO IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE CAN ASK
THEM. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW HEAR FROM DR. ALICOTT. ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
>> I AM. GOOD MORNING. DAWN ALICOTT, GIVING A STATUS UPDATE REGARDING COVID-19. I WILL START WITH THE MOST PERTINENT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE LOCAL COVID-19 DATA WE HAVE FROM THE STATE, IN ORDER TO EDUCATE AND INFORM LOCAL DECISIO MAKING. TO DATE, AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE MORE THAN 3,000 POSITIVE CASES OF COVID-19 IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A 10-FOLD INCREASE IN POSITIVE CASES IN OUR COUNTY SO FAR FOR THE MONTH OF JULY.
AS OF YESTERDAY, MONDAY, OUR COUNTY HAD A TOTAL OF 21 RESIDENTS DIE, IN FACT, I THINK IT'S 22 THIS MORNING. IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE GENERALLY LAGGING INDICATORS AFTER IDENTIFICATION OF POSITIVE CASES.
WHEN WE LOOK AT CHILDREN, AS OF LAST FRIDAY, THERE WERE MORE THAN 31,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WHO HAVE HAD COVID-19 IN FLORIDA. IN THE LAST MONTH, THREE YOUNGER CHILDREN AND TWO TEENAGERS HAVE PASSED AWAY IN OUR STATE.
IN OUR COUNTY, WE'VE HAD MORE THAN 200 CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE WITH COVID-19 ILLNESS. INCLUDING 13 INFANTS. THERE ARE NO KNOWN DEATHS IN CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTY. POSITIVITY RATE OF FLORIDA FOR CHILDREN AT ABOUT 14.4 PERCENT, IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, WE'RE AT ABOUT 8.9 PERCENT. MY HEART REMAINS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AFFECTED BY COVID-19 AS THEY STRUGGLE WITH ILLNESS AND GRIEF. TO CONTINUE, FLORIDA'S COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE IMPORTANT PEOPLE WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME HAS DECREASED, HAS GONE DOWN SLIGHTLY THIS WEEK. AVERAGING 12.58 PERCENT FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, VERSUS 13 PERCENT WE WERE AT PRIOR TO THIS.
AND IN OUR COUNTY, THE POSITIVITY RATE HAS GONE DOWN SLIGHTLY THIS WEEK.
AVERAGING ABOUT 9.05 PERCENT VERSUS ABOUT 9.75 PERCENT POSITIVITY RATE FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. OF THOSE WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
PUBLIC HEALTH FOCUS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ST. JOHNS COUNTY CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON EARLY CASE IDENTIFICATION, ISOLATION AND CONTACT TRACING TO CURB THE SPREAD OF DISEASE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS OUR EXPERTISE AND WHERE WE DEDICATE OUR RESOURCES.
OUR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ALONG WITH THE AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE WITH OUR FOCUS ON LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
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WORKING DAILY TO AVOID OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19 AT THESE FACILITIES.WE KNOW THAT EARLY EDUCATION, INFECTION CONTROL, IDENTIFICATION OF POSITIVE COVID-19 INDICATIONS IN THESE FACILITIES ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AVOID LOSS OF LIFE. FOR THE LAST MONTH, WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCREASING UPTICK IN CASES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE FACILITIES. I SHARED BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRES THE TESTING OF ALL LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY STAFF EVERY TWO WEEKS SHOULD HELP TO ASSURE THE RAPID IDENTIFICATION, ISOLATION AND CONTACT TRACING OF CASES, WITH THE GOAL OF KEEPING OUR SENIORS SAFE. NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO RECAP FROM LAST WEEK. LOOK AT FIVE CONCERNS. RISK RELATED CONCERNS.
NOT ONLY FOR PERSONS BEING EXPOSED TO COVID-19, BUT FOR THOSE WITH WHOM COVID-19 POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS MAY COME INTO CONTACT. IT IS EXACTLY WHY COVID-19 PARTIES, QUOTE/UNQUOTE ARE NOT A GOOD IDEA. NUMBER ONE, THE DURATION OF IMMUNITY, WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19 IMMUNITY THAT REMAIN UNANSWERED. TWO, THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF INFECTION.
GROWING EVIDENCE SUGGESTS SEVERE AND LIFE-THREATENING FORM OF MULTI-SYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN, ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 CAN OCCUR IN PREVIOUSLY ASYMPTOMATIC CHILDREN AND IN CHILDREN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT TO HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19. LIKEWISE, THE LONG-TERM OR DELAYED ONSET EFFECTS ON ADULTS WHO SURVIVE SEVERE INFECTIONS STILL REMAIN UNCERTAIN. BUT PULMONARY, NEUROLOGIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR DAMAGE, INCLUDING STROKES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
NUMBER THREE, ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, UP TO 40 PERCENT OF INFECTED INDIVIDUALS COULD BE ASYMPTOMATIC. MAKING TRANSMISSION POSSIBLE UNINTENTIONALLY.
SECONDARY CASES, IT IS CLEAR THAT PEOPLE WITH MILD ILLNESS CAN TRANSMIT COVID-19 TO OTHERS. WHO THEN BECOME SEVERELY ILL AND IN SOME CASES DIE.
THIS IS A REMINDER THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST MAKING A CHOICE FOR THEMSELVES.
BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WITH WHOM THEY COME INTO CONTACT. THIS IS A SPECIFIC CONCERN FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WITH HIGH RISK CONDITIONS. 5, LIMITED HEALTH CARE RESOURCES. TREATMENTS FOR THOSE WHO BECOME SEVERELY ILL REMAIN EXPERIMENTAL AT BEST AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES MAY BE LIMITED IN THE COMMUNITY.
MITIGATION STRATEGIES. FACE MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING, HAND HYGIENE.
EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATES THAT BOTH SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS UNWITTINGLY. WE KNOW THAT FACE MASKS COMBINED WITH OTHER PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, FOR EXAMPLE, FREQUENT HAND WASHING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, STAYING HOME IF YOU'RE SICK, CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF DISEASE AND DECREASE FATALITFATALITIES.
EDITORIAL WAS PUBLISHED THIS MONTH, WHERE THE CDC REVIEWED THE LATEST SCIENCE, AFFIRMED THAT CLOTH FACE COVERINGS ARE A CRITICAL TOOL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 THAT COULD REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, PARTICULARLY WHEN USED UNIVERSALLY WITHIN COMMUNITIES.
NOW, LET US MOVE ON TO THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. REOPENING OF SCHOOLS SAFELY.
ON JULY 10TH, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION, MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON THE SAFE RETURN OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF, RETURN TO SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN. BUT WE MUST PURSUE REOPENING IN A WAY THAT IS SAFE FOR ALL STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF. SCIENCE SHOULD DRIVE DECISION MAKING ON SAFELY REOPENING SCHOOLS. PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY MUST MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON EVIDENCE, NOT POLITICS. WE SHOULD LEAVE IT TO HEALTH EXPERTS TO TELL US WHEN THE TIME IS BEST TO OPEN SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND TO LISTEN TO EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO SHAPE HOW WE DO IT. THE STATEMENT CONTINUES, LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERS, PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS, EDUCATORS AND PARENTS MUST BE AT THE CENTER OF THE
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DECISIONS ABOUT HOW AND WHEN TO REOPEN SCHOOLS. TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE CAPACITY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADAPT SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO MAKE IN-PERSON LEARNING SAFE AND FEASIBLE.FOR INSTANCE, SCHOOLS IN AREAS OF HIGH LEVELS OF COVID-19 COMPELLED TO REOPEN AGAINST THE JUDGMENT OF LOCAL EXPERTS. ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR RETURN TO SCHOOL DECISION. TO RESUME, ULTIMATELY THE OBJECTIVE FOR EVERYONE IS TO SAFELY REOPEN SCHOOLS TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, BASED ON PUBLIC HEALTH DATA.
WHY? WELL, EVIDENCE IS CLEAR ON THE BENEFITS.
RECENT STUDY FOUND SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON STUDENT LEARNING ASSOCIATED WITH SWITCHING FROM A BRICK AND MORTAR SCHOOLS TO VIRTUAL SCHOOL.
REINFORCING A VARIETY OF OTHER RESEARCH CONDUCTED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, A LACK OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES OFTEN RESULTS IN SOCIAL ISOLATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR SCHOOLS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS IMPORTANT LEARNING DEFICITS. AS WELL AS CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL IDEATION.
HOWEVER, MOST IMPORTANTLY, SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF IN-PERSON SCHOOLING AGAINST THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
WHICH VARY GREATLY IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE MOST RECENT GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC, UPDATED THIS MONTH, ON THE 23RD, STATES THAT OUR COMMUNITY MUST MAKE DECISIONS THAT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, ONE, THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19.
TWO, THE ABILITY OF OUR SCHOOLS TO INCREASE CLASSROOM SPACE AND FACILITATE SOCIAL DISTANCING, INCLUDING OUTSIDE SPACES. 3, ABILITY TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, CLEANING AND DISINFECTING FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES. 4, ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT MULTIPLE COVID-19 MITIGATION STRATEGIES. FOR EXAMPLE, SOCIAL DISTANCING, CLOTH FACE COVERINGS, HAND HYGIENE AND USE OF COHORTS, FOR EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. AND 5, THE NECESSITY TO DEVELOP A PROACTIVE PLAN FOR SITUATIONS WHEN A STUDENT OR STAFF MEMBER TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST ENSURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THE SCHOOLS. SO WHAT DO WE KNOW OF CHILDREN AND COVID-19.
CHILDREN ESPECIALLY THOSE YOUNGER THAN NINE YEARS OLD APPEAR TO BE LESS LIKELY THAN ADULTS TO TRANSMIT THIS VIRUS TO OTHERS. IT IS UNKNOWN WHY THIS IS SO.
ONE HYPOTHESIS IS THAT CHILDREN'S LUNGS ARE SMALLER SO THE COUGHING DOES NOT PROPEL VIRUS LADEN DROPLETS AS FAR AS ADULTS. THUS, IF CHILDREN DO NOT TRANSMIT THIS VIRUS AS WELL, THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR SCHOOLS.
YES. WELL, HOWEVER, AMONG OLDER CHILDREN, THE PICTURE APPEARS TO CHANGE. ON THE 18TH OF THIS MONTH, JULY, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION PUBLISHED FINDINGS SHOWN THAT IN SOUTH KOREA, CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN TEN YEARS OLD DO SEEM TO TRANSMIT THE VIRUS LESS OFTEN THAN ADULTS, THOSE CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 19 YEARS OLD CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS AT LEAST AS WELL AS ADULTS DO. SEVERAL EXPERTS CAUTIONED THAT THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE SCHOOLS REOPEN, COMMUNITIES WILL SEE CLUSTERS OF INFECTION TAKE ROOT THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. FURTHER, WE MUST BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT WHAT WE KNOW TODAY MAY WHAT WE KNOW LATER THIS YEAR. MAY WHAT WE KNOW IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER, ET CETERA. WE ARE STILL LEARNING ABOUT THIS VIRUS AND ITS EFFECT ON CHILDREN. SCHOOLS REOPEN, SCHOOLS WILL NEED TO PREPARE FOR INFECTIONS TO OCCUR. THUS, IN ADDITION TO IMPLEMENTING PHYSICAL DISTANCING, HAND HYGIENE AND MASKS, SCHOOLS WILL NEED TO KNOW WHEN AND HOW TO TEST STUDENTS AND STAFF, HOW LONG TO QUARANTINE, AND WHEN TO DECIDE TO CLOSE AND REOPEN SCHOOLS.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT IT APPEARS DECISIONS BASED ON IDEOLOGY DETERMINES WHICH
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EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED AND ACCEPTED. DECISIONS ON WHEN AND HOW TO REOPEN SCHOOLS SHOULD BE DATA DRIVEN. I BELIEVE THE STUDIES FROM SOUTH KOREA IS THE LARGEST SO FAR. IT DOES NOT OFFER DEFINITIVE ANSWER, IT DOES INDICATE THAT SCHOOLS CAN INCREASE VIRUS LEVELS WITHIN A COMMUNITY.ON THE OTHER HAND, ONE MIGHT ARGUE THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO REOPEN SUCCESSFULLY. HOWEVER, THOSE COUNTRIES STILL ADHERED TO THE KEY PRINCIPLES THAT I DISCUSSED ABOVE AND THE NUMBERS OF DAILY NEW CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE IN DENMARK, GERMANY AND NORWAY, AT THE TIME THAT THEY REOPENED THEIR SCHOOLS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOUT SEVEN TO TEN TIMES LOWER THAN THE DAILY NUMBER OF NEW CASES PER 100,000 IN THE U.S. IN CONCLUSION, THE CONCERNS AMONG THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, THE MORE WIDELY THE VIRUS IS SPREADING IN THE COMMUNITY THE RISKIER IT IS TO OPEN SCHOOLS.
THE SUCCESS STORIES OF SCHOOLS ARE MOSTLY FROM COUNTRIES THAT WERE IN A VERY DIFFERENT POSITION TO THE UNITED STATES. THEY HAD LOWER LEVELS OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, BETTER CAPACITY FOR TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING AND CONTROLLING OUTBREAKS WHEN THEY DO OCCUR. IN REVIEW OF THE STUDIES AND THE INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY THE CDC, I AGREE WITH THE CDC, IT IS NUANCED AND THE SCIENCE WE NEED TO MAKE, THE CHOICES IS STILL EVOLVING. OF COURSE, THE BEST SITUATION FOR OUR CHILDREN IS FOR THEIR RETURN TO BRICK AND MORTAR SCHOOLS. SAFETY, HOWEVER, BEING PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. IN OTHER WORDS, CAN WE PHYSICALLY DISTANCE? DO WE HAVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS? CAN WE PROTECT VULNERABLE STUDENTS AND FACULTY? AND OF COURSE, THE LESS COMMUNITY SPREAD WE HAVE, THE SAFER IT IS. THESE ARE THINGS THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO BALANCE TO MAKE ANY DECISION REGARDING RETURNING OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. TO REITERATE, STATES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF IN-PERSON SCHOOLING AGAINST THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHICH VARY GREATLY IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> YES. >> DR. A, ANOTHER EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE THAT YOU'RE GIVING US AND THOUGHTS.
I WANT TO TOUCH ON CONTACT TRACING A MOMENT. THAT IS PROBABLY AN AREA I KNOW LEAST ABOUT RELATIVE TO COVID-19 IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. NUMBER ONE, IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BASICALLY IN CHARGE OF OR RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACT TRACING.
AND IF SO, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES, ENOUGH FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT CONTACT
TRACING AT THIS TIME? >> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION, COMMISSIONER DEAN.
YES, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR COVID-19, FOR CONTACT TRACING IN GENERAL, OF COURSE FOR COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING. WE HAVE, IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, OUT OF MY 55, ABOUT 55 STAFF MEMBERS, EVERY AVAILABLE STAFF MEMBER THAT ACTUALLY, OR WHO IS NOT ACTUALLY ON FMLA OR SICK LEAVE OR QUARANTINED, HAS BEEN WORKING COVID-19 SINCE THE ONSET OF THIS PANDEMIC, SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK. THE CDC RECOMMENDS ABOUT 30 CONTACT TRACERS PER 100,000. THEN ONE WOULD CONSIDER THEN WITH A POPULATION OF 260,000, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ABOUT 75 TO 80 CONTACT TRACERS. I HAVE USED EVERY ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS WHO IS NOT SICK OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO WORK COVID-19.
WE HAVE HAD A HANDFUL OF CONTACT TRACING STAFF, FROM CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS COME THROUGH AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS, HOWEVER, THAT WITH THE CARES ACT DOLLARS THAT RECENTLY CAME DOWN, WE RECEIVED MONEYS FOR POSITIONS TO HIRE INDIVIDUALS FOR CONTACT TRACING FOR 6 MONTHS. OF COURSE, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RECRUITING. IT IS ONLY JUST ARRIVED AND WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE AS RAPIDLY
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AND AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS WE CAN. ON ANY GIVEN DAY, AT YOUR LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE ABOUT 40 PLUS INDIVIDUALS IN OUR BUILDING WORKING COVID-19.SO HOW DO WE DO THAT WITH OUR RESOURCES BEING VERY LEAN? WE TRIAGE AND PRIORITIZE REGARD THE MOST HIGH RISK. FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED, OUR HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL, FIRST RESPONDERS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN CONGREGATE FACILITIES, LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. MEMBERS OF LARGE HOUSEHOLDS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH OTHERS.
MEMBERS, INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS.
THAT IS OUR PRIORITY ONE. AND THAT IS WHERE WE FOCUS MOST OF OUR EFFORTS IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN IMPACT MORE ULTIMATELY WITH CONTACT TRACING.
SECONDLY, WE OPERATE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, WHICH INCLUDES WEEKENDS, FROM A MINIMUM OF 8 TO 6 EVERY DAY, EVEN TO TEN, AT NIGHT, AS NECESSARY, TRYING TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE UNDERSTAND VERY CLEARLY IS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING A PANDEMIC OF UNPRECEDENTED PROPORTIONS THAT NONE OF US ANTICIPATED. AND WE HAVE BEEN STRETCHED.
WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN AND WE'RE TRYING REALLY HARD TO GET EVEN MORE EFFICIENT WITH CONTACT TRACING. HOWEVER, I MUST ALSO SHARE THAT WHILE CONTACT TRACING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE DONE AS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS WE CAN, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE TESTING THAT IS AVAILABLE AND DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE HAVE RESULTS AVAILABLE IN A TIMELY MANNER IN ORDER TO IMPACT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.
I HOPE MY ANSWER HELPS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. A.
MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION, I GUESS, OR GUIDANCE FROM EITHER MR. BRADLEY OR MS. ANDREWS IS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE SOME ENCUMBERED CARES ACT FUNDS STILL AVAILABLE, RELATIVE TO THE ROUGHLY 49 MILLION MADE AVAILABLE TO US EARLIER THIS SUMMER. I'M WONDERING OUT LOUD, JOY, I'LL START OVER, IF WE HAVE ANY CARES ACT FUNDING ABLE THAT MAY ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN INCREASING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE ABLE TO WORK ON CONTACT TRACING. IT APPEARS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. BUT BASED ON DR. A'S COMMENT THAT THEY COULD DO MORE WITH SOME ADDITIONAL STAFF, IF THAT IS POSSIBLE, IF WE COULD MAKE FUNDS AVAILABLE. I'M SURE YOU TALK DAILY PROBABLY TO DR. A, SO I'M PROBABLY TOUCHING ON SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN HASHED OVER SEVERAL TIMES.
BUT I'M ASKING THE QUESTION THIS MORNING BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.
>> SURE, COMMISSIONER DEAN, THROUGH THE CHAIR. IF YOU RECALL, THE LAST TIME WHEN WE PRESENTED THE $46 MILLION CARES ACT FUNDING, THE TOTAL FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED BY THIS BOARD AT THIS TIME IS $29 MILLION. SO THERE IS $17 MILLION THAT ARE UNTOUCHED. WE CERTAINLY CAN EXPLORE AN OPTION WITH DR. A, TO SEE IF WE
CAN ALLOCATE A PORTION OF THAT FOR CONTACT TRACING. >> WE COULD ALLOCATE MORE
FUNDS? >> THE FUNDS IS AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION, IF IT'S THE BOARD'S DIRECTION TO THE STAFF, WE CAN CERTAINLY PROCEED WITH EXPLORING THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE USE OF THE FUNDS, TWO, WORKING WITH DR. A, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING WHAT
IS NEEDED FOR THE OPERATION OF CONTACT TRACING FOR DOH. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST, EVEN BY PROBABLY CONSENSUS, THAT WE CONSIDER APPROVING AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF FUNDS, MAYBE WITH A CAP AND I WOULD ASK THE STAFF IF THEY HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATION, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CONTACT TRACING. TO ME, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS URGENTLY NEEDED IN THE FACE OF A 10-FOLD INCREASE IN CASES REPORTED IN JULY.
AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS IS GOING TO END UP. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE COULD DO WITH AVAILABLE FUNDS, THAT ARE GOING TO REVERT AT THE END OF DECEMBER ANYWAY, BACK
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INTO THE FEDERAL TREASURY, THAT WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOINGCONTACT TRACING AS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DEAN. DR. ALICOTT, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION WITH REGARD TO STAFFING. YOU SAID YOU RECEIVED SOME FUNDING AND YOU HAVE REACHED OUT FOR OTHERS. ARE YOU ABLE TO FIND QUALIFIED STAFF TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS?
IF SO, WHAT RATE? >> THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS MOVING AS RAPIDLY AS THEY CAN TO ASSIST US. AND IN THE LAST, LAST WEEK AND OUR UPCOMING WEEKS, WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO SOME OF OUR UNIVERSITIES TO ASSIST AS WELL AS WELL WITH ANY STAFFING OR STUDENTS THAT THEY MAY HAVE, THAT MAY BE ABLE TO WORK WITH US IMMEDIATELY.
AND WE HAVE IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, MOVED THROUGH, PROBABLY HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE ABOUT 27 WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. WE HAVE -- THEY HAVE TO BE FINGERPRINTED OF COURSE AND GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS IN ORDER TO BE ON BOARDED. BUT WE HAVE STREAM LINED THE PROCESS IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS STRATIFIED BY A RISK STRATIFICATION METHOD, SO IT'S FASTER AS WELL. WE HAVE ABOUT 27 THAT WE SHOULD BE BRINGING ON BOARD WITHIN THE
NEXT WEEK OR SO. >> 27 IN ADDITION TO THE 30? >> 27 IN ADDITION TO EVERYBODY I HAVE ON BOARD RIGHT NOW, WHO HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DOING COVID-19.
WHAT I HAVE TO REMEMBER TO SHARE IS THAT COMMISSIONER, YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH, I MADE A REQUEST TO ASSIST US WITH SPACE FOR THE CONTACT TRACERS FOR THEM TO OPERATE. WHILE SOME CAN OPERATE FROM HOME, IT IS A NECESSITY IN ORDER FOR TRAINING AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SPACE AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DEVELOP OUR CALL CENTERS MORE OPTIMALLY. AND YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO WORK WITH US TO HELP US LOCATE SPACE. AND SO WE ARE SETTING IT UP IN SOME OF IT HERE AT HHS, IN THE COLBY BUILDING. WE ARE WAITING A MECHANISM IN PLACE, TO MAKE IT SAFE, THE NECESSARY BARRIERS IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN OPERATE.
SO ONCE WE GET THESE 27 MOVING INTO, WE WILL HAVE SOME SPACE HERE.
SO YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN KIND AND I KNOW THEY ARE WORKING WITH OUR STAFF HERE TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. >> THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEM AND IF SO, WHERE IT WOULD BE. THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT. JUST GOING BACK TO IT, YOU RECEIVED CARES ACT FUNDING THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO FILL AT LEAST WHAT APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 57 OF THE 75 NECESSARY. THEY CAN WORK FROM HOME AFTER THEY SPEND SOME TIME THERE.
WITH THAT BEING UNDERSTOOD, THERE IS STILL A GAP IN THE REQUEST AND I WOULD AGREE TO THAT COMMISSIONER DEAN. COMMISSIONER JOHNS, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON IT?
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU STARTED IN THAT DIRECTION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE BOTTLENECK IS BASED ON QUALIFIED HUMAN RESOURCES, NOT STATE PROVIDED FINANCIAL RESOURCES, WOULD THAT BE
ACCURATE? >> YES. THE CHALLENGE WE HAD IS WE HAD TO REMOVE OURSELF FROM OTHER CORE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ALL OF OUR STAFF IN COVID-19. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO, AT A MINIMUM, DO ACTIVITIES, SOME OF THE OTHER CORE HEALTH SERVICES THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO.
IT COMES A TIME WHEN I NEED TO HAVE ABOUT 75 TO 80 DEDICATED TO CONTACT TRACING TYPES OF ACTIVITIES FOR COVID-19 AND UTILIZE SOME OF MY OTHER STAFF, AS WELL AS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME ABILITY TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE DAY OFF A WEEK.
SO THAT THEY CAN BE MORE FUNCTIONAL AND MORE OPTIMAL. SO IT DOES REQUIRE, WE HAVE FUNDING AND WE HAVE RECEIVD FUNDING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND ACTUALLY PAY FOR ABOUT 75 INDIVIDUALS TO HELP US WITH COVID-19. THAT IS GOING TO BE A CONSIDERATE HELP ONCE THEY'RE ON BOARD. WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR MEDICAL RECORDS AREA OF REMOVING FILE CABINETS AND STAFFING THAT AREA ALSO WITH CONTACT TRACERS.
[00:35:05]
SO YES. WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FOR COVID-19.OUR CHALLENGES ARE STILL WORKING CORE PUBLIC HEALTH HAS TO OCCUR.
>> THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO THE PROGRESS ON A VACCINE? I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT REPORTS THROUGH THE MEDIA, BUT I WOULD
APPRECIATE IT THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION. >> NOT DIRECTLY THROUGH MY ORGANIZATION. BUT I CAN RESEARCH THAT FOR YOU AND GET BACK, GET THAT
INFORMATION BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. I ALSO HEARD A COUPLE OF REPORTS THIS WEEK REGARDING THE NUMBER OF PLYS OF CLOTH TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR A FACE MASK. I'VE HEARD THAT AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATERIAL HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EFFECTIVENESS AS FAR AS HOW FAR THROUGH A MASK WATER DROPLETS COULD TRANSMIT.
AND ONE OF THE SUPPOSED SCIENTIFIC REPORTS INDICATED ONE, TWO OR THREE PLYS MAKES A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MASKS IDENTIFIED AS APPROPRIATE TO
USE. >> UNDERSTAND. I WILL RESEARCH THAT.
I DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR THAT. I KNOW THAT, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I'M JUST NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE CLOTH MASKS IN TERMS OF THEIR, HOW MANY SWATHS OF CLOTH TO USE THAT MIGHT BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
I WILL LOOK INTO THAT. >> THANK YOU. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
IF I HEARD CORRECTLY, YOU'RE STILL SAYING THAT THIS VIRUS IS CONVEYED BY WATER DROPLETS, SALIVA, SPIT, ET CETERA, HAS THERE BEEN ANY DEFINITIVE CONSENSUS AMONG THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, REGARDING AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION OF THE DISEASE OR IS THAT STILL BEING STUDIED?
>> I BELIEVE IT'S STILL BEING STUDIED. I THINK THAT WHILE WE DON'T HAVE DEFINITIVE EVIDENCE, IT IS PROBABLY MORE, WHEN WE THINK OF IT, IT MUST BE HAPPENING AND OCCURRING. AND THAT ONE STUDY I RECALL SEEING, OUT OF WUHAN, CHINA, THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WERE ON THE VENT IN THE SYSTEM AND THOSE AROUND THEM ACTUALLY IMPACTED, THOSE THAT WERE NOT IMPACTED. SOME EVIDENCE, I'M JUST NOT SURE AS TO HOW DEFINITIVE IT IS AS OF YET. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ARTICLES
THAT HAVE TAKEN US ANY FURTHER THAN AT THIS TIME. >> OKAY.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. APPRECIATE YOU TELLING ME THAT.
OBVIOUSLY LISTENING VERY CAREFULLY FOR SCIENTIFIC BASED REPEATABLE OBJECTIVE MEASURABLE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO GUIDE PEOPLE ON. WHEN PEOPLE BRING UP MANDATORY MASKS OR ANY OTHER CDC GUIDELINES, I REFER TO YOU AND OTHERS AS THE HEALTH CARE EXPERTS TO RELY ON SCIENTIFIC METHOD PROVEN OBJECTIVE INFORMATION TO PROVIDE TO PEOPLE. A SINGLE STUDY, AS I UNDERSTAND, UNIVERSALLY IS NOT ACCEPTED AS A BASIS TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AND TO IDEALLY TRY TO NOT REPEAT THE SITUATION. BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO PURPOSELY AFFECT PEOPLE, BUT TO PURPOSELY REPEAT AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU CAN DETERMINE IF SOMETHING IS AIRBORNE OR NOT, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE, TWO OR THREE PLYS OF ANY GIVEN TYPE OF CLOTH MATERIAL, ET CETERA.
OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WANT TO KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND WE RELY ON THE HEALTH CARE EXPERTS TO COME TO A CONSENSUS TO PROVIDE US WITH THAT FACTUAL, OBJECTIVE, SCIENTIFICALLY BASED INFORMATION, OBVIOUSLY IS THE CONSIDERATION FOR SCHOOL OPENING WILL BE GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE RESULTS OF THAT SCIENTIFICALLY BASED INFORMATION. WE WAIT TO HEAR FOR CONCLUSIVE RESULTS THAT WE CAN RELY ON TO NOT JUST FLATTEN THE CURVE, BUT TO ELIMINATE THIS VIRUS FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER DEAN.
>> IF I UNDERSTOOD DR. A, YOU INDICATED THAT MOVING FORWARD, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH FINANCIAL RESOURCES BUT YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRAINING OR RECRUITING STAFF TO REACH THAT NUMBER OF 75 STAFF WORKING ON CONTACT TRACING.
BUT BEFORE THAT, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT UP UNTIL THIS POINT, THAT YOU'VE HAD TO ACTUALLY TRANSFER A NUMBER OF YOUR STAFF FROM QUOTE CORE ASSIGNMENTS, PROVIDING THE
[00:40:03]
NECESSARY CORE SERVICES TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY WHO RELY ON OUR LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE, AT LEAST IT'S MY POSITION, THAT IF WE HAVE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM DOING CORE WORK, THEIR MISSION, THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TODAY TO ENSURE THAT WE RECRUIT, TRAIN AND PLACE EVEN IF IT REQUIRES RENTING ADDITIONAL SPACE, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF DOING CONTACT TRACING, BUT ALSO YOU HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES, ENOUGH STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CORE MISSION. I WOULD SIMPLY ASK THAT A COMBINATION OF EITHER DR. A AND/OR JOY ANDREWS KEEP ME POSTED, KEEP THIS BOARD POSTED IF YOU NEED ANY FINANCIAL RESOURCES, IF FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE A CONSTRAINT, LIMITING FACTOR, I WANT TO KNOW THAT AND I WANT TO KNOW IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS WE GO FORWARD.BECAUSE I FOR ONE, WOULD LIKE TO, WHETHER IT'S 200,000 OR $300,000, OVER THE COMING 6 MONTHS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFF TO COVER OUR CORE MISSION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LOCALLY AND AT THE SAME TIME DO CONTACT TRACING AS RECOMMENDED
BY THE CDC GUIDELINES. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.
ALICOTT? SEEING NONE. NANCY, ARE YOU ON THE PHONE?
>> I AM. GOOD MORNING. >> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE? >> I AM THE CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER AT FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON HOSPITAL OPERATIONS REGARDING COVID-19. WE HAVE 44 BEDS DEDICATED TO COVID INFECTED PATIENTS.
FOUR OF THESE ARE ICU LEVEL. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 35 PATIENTS WITH COVID DIAGNOSIS AND OUR ICU LEVEL OF CARE WITH SIX ON VENTS. WE CAN INCREASE OUR BED NUMBER TO 73 BEDS, IF NEEDED. WE ARE MAINTAINING A HEALTHY SUPPLY OF PPE.
AND WE HAVE A HEALTHY SUPPLY OF RAPID TESTS, WHICH ARE CRITICAL FOR US TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY PATIENTS WHO ARE PRESENTING TO THE ED WITH COVID SYMPTOMS. AS FAR AS REGULAR OPERATIONS, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ALL THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED ELECTIVE SURGERIES OR HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR NON-COVID. THAT IS MY BRIEF UPDATE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> THANK YOU. SURELY APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CALLING
IN AND APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. >> THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> YOU TOO. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF THE PRESENTATION OF MANAGEMENT UPDATE.
WE'LL NOW OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT. COMMISSIONER DEAN.
>> >> MR. CHAIRMAN, DO I NEED TO READ THE REVISOS.
>> YOU CAN. >> ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SHOULD COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE HIS OR HER ADDRESS, OR CALLING IN, EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD'S RULE OF DECORUM.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE. NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH PERSONAL, SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR. I WOULD ASK THAT ANY SPEAKER THAT PRESENTS ANY OVERHEAD MATERIAL, PLEASE PRESENT THAT MATERIAL TO THE STAFF OF THE CLERK OF COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD AND WE WILL START, IF WE MAY WITH CALL-IN COMMENTS. ARE THERE ANY CALLS HOLDING? CALLS.
>> GO AHEAD. PLEASE. >> WENDY SETH, PALENCIA.
>> DO YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS? >> YES. 2714 LOS CALINAS BOULEVARD.
>> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. >> WELL, I WANT TO THANK THE
[00:45:03]
DOCTOR FROM THE DOH FOR THE VERY INFORMATIVE TALK THAT SHE GAVE.AND I WANT TO ALSO REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS PLEASE BRING UP A MOTION TO VOTE YES ON A MASK MANDATE IN PUBLIC PLACES. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS SPREADING IN THE COMMUNITY. I MYSELF, AM WAITING FOR A TEST TO COME BACK BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN FEELING WELL. A NEIGHBOR WHO I HAVEN'T SEEN AND HAD NO CONTACT WITH AND HER HIS IS A VERY VERY BIG . THEY'RE SAYING THAT BASICALLY THE SPREAD IS TEN TIMES MORE THAN THE DOH HAS A RECORD OF. SO THE AMOUNT OF TESTS THAT ARE BEING GIVEN, THE SPREAD IS HIGHER. IN ADDITION, SOME PEOPLE ARE WAITING 14 DAYS TO GET THE RESULTS BACK FROM THEIR TESTS. WHICH MEANS BEFORE THEY GOT THE TEST, THEY WERE YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ALSO, THEY ALSO HAD COVID BEFORE THEY KNEW IT.
THEY MAY HAVE SPREAD IT TO OTHER PEOPLE. IF THEY WERE WEARING A MASK AND THE PERSON WHO IN FRONT OF THEM WERE WEARING A MASK, THE COVID WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE SIGNIFICANCE OR THE COVID WOULD BE, PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE AS AT RISK OF GETTING COVID IF EVERYONE WAS WEARING A MASK. STILL PEOPLE IN PUBLIC PLACES NOT WEARING A MASK.
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE SNEEZE AND THE PEOPLE WEARING A MASK EVEN DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PREVENT COVID WILL BE INFECTED. IT'S EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS. IF THE SHERIFF IS WATCHING, COULD YOU PLEASE HAVE YOUR POLICE OFFICERS WEAR A MASK. IN MOST OF THE COUNTIES IN THE STATE, THE POLICE ARE WEARING A MASK, AT LEAST WHEN YOU HAVE PICTURES TAKEN ONLINE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE IN THE COMMUNITY OF WEARING A MASK TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID. IT ALSO SHOWS AN EXAMPLE OF FOLLOWING SCIENCE.
IN ADDITION, I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL VOTE YES TO A MASK MANDATE.
A LOT OF THE COUNTIES AROUND US HAVE VOTED YES. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED. IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT, THAT IS NOT FOLLOWING SCIENCE. SCIENCE SAYS THAT WATER DROPLETS FROM PEOPLE'S MOUTHS.
>> MS. SETH, THAT IS THREE MINUTES. IF YOU CAN WIND UP, THAT IS
THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANOTHER CALL-IN
SPEAKER? >> GOOD MORNING, TOM REYNOLDS, 50 BRIGINGTON COURT.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IF YOU COULD ASK DR. ALICOTT THIS, HOW MUCH THAT JOB PAYS, IS THAT A JOB THAT YOU DO AT HOME. MOST IMPORTANT, HOW DOES AN INDIVIDUAL KNOW THAT IT'S ACTUALLY A STATE CERTIFIED OR COUNTY CERTIFIED TRACER CALLING THEM? I DIDN'T HEAR ANY PRECAUTIONS TAKEN THERE. SO THOSE ARE I BELIEVE VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. ALSO, COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO TELL YOU THAT SAFETY GLASSES AGAIN, I WANT TO MENTION THAT, IT IS SO IMPORTANT PLEASE PUT THE WORD OUT TO YOUR FRIENDS, EVERYBODY, WEAR SAFETY GLASSES IN ALL OF THE AIR CONDITIONED BUILDINGS.
I TAKE A LOT OF PRECAUTIONS. I WANT TO TELL YOU, COMMISSIONERS, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY WHEN I SAY THAT, I WANT TO TELL YOU, PEOPLE ARE GARGLING WITH LISTERINE.
I WANT THAT FRESH ALCOHOL TO KILL ANYTHING THAT MIGHT GET THROUGH MY MASKS.
I'VE ASKED AND I NEVER GET AN ANSWER. THE THE OTHER THING, THE
[00:50:03]
DEPUTIES RECEIVING HAZMAT PAY. THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC.IT IS ALL PART OF THE CARES ACT AND I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE THEM RECEIVING HAZMAT PAY THAN WHAT IS GOING ON UP IN MINNESOTA. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING ALL OF THAT STUFF. 140 PLUS OFFICERS ARE NOW OUT ON DISABILITY OVER THE COVID.
OKAY. AND THAT IS WHAT I'M AFRAID IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF POSTTRAUMATIC SYNDROME IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMT THROUGH THE NEXT NEW YEAR'S BECAUSE IT'S REAL. THE COVID IS A KILLER.
IT SHOWS NO MERCY ON ANYBODY. YES, IT GOES TO THE VULNERABLE MORE.
HAZMAT PAY, THE MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED. WHEN I HEAR COMMISSIONER DEAN WANTING TO TRY TO GIVE AWAY MORE MONEY, WHEN DR. ALICOTT SAID THEY HAVE ENOUGH, I DIDN'T HEAR COMMISSIONER DEAN SPEAK ABOUT THE HAZMAT PAY. I SAY TO MYSELF, AM I REALLY REALLY ASKING THAT MUCH FOR MY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR AN ANSWER FOR THE FIRE, SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES THAT ARE PULLING PEOPLE OVER, COUNTY WORKERS IN CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC, ARE THEY RECEIVING HAZMAT PAY. BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING IT.
FURTHERMORE, COMMISSIONERS, THIS CRAZINESS NOW -- >> TIME'S UP.
FINISH UP, TOM. FINISH UP. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER CALL-INS? GO AHEAD IF WE DO.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE REMENTER. I LIVE AT 476 SPARROW BRIDGE CIRCLE IN ST. JOHNS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CALL IN AND VOICE MY OPINION, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MANDATING MASKS IN ST. JOHNS. IT'S PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE THAT THESE MASKS ARE WORKING. NUMBERS ARE GOING UP, BUT YET, EVERYBODY APPARENTLY IS WEARING THESE MASKS. I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY ACTIONS, MY HEALTH, MY PERSONAL WELL-BEING. IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO WEAR A MASK TO PROTECT SOMEBODY ELSE. I UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT BEFORE THIS EVEN BECAME A THING. ALL OF THESE COUNTIES AND CITIES IN FLORIDA AND THE STATES AND ALL OF THE OTHER STATES ARE MANDATING MASKS WHILE YOU'RE INSIDE A BUSINESS, OUTSIDE, EXERCISING AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THEM WEAR THEM IN THEIR HOMES. I MEAN, WHEN IS THE GOVERNMENT OVER-REACH GOING TO STOP? WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES. IT'S NOT MY GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM HEALTHY. IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT MY RIGHTS ARE BEING FOLLOWED. AND MET.
JUST LIKE THE BILL OF RIGHTS. CONTINUING TO SHOW THE FEAR OF IT ALL, IT'S ALL FEAR MONGERING. MASKS DO NOT, CANNOT, WILL NOT, WERE NEVER INTENDED EVEN WHEN USED CORRECTLY, STOP VIRUSES FROM EITHER DIRECTION. IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO WEAR ONE, GO RIGHT ON AHEAD. IT'S YOUR PERSONAL CHOICE. I WILL NOT WEAR ONE.
AND I HOPE THAT ST. JOHNS DOES NOT PASS THIS MANDATE TO REQUIRE EVERYONE EVERYWHERE TO WEAR ONE. BECAUSE THIS PERSON WILL NOT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PHONE CALL, COMMENTS?
>> YES. LARRY FARNSWORTH. FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING. YOU'RE NOT WEARING MASKS.
YOU NEED TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR EVERYBODY. AFTER MY THREE MINUTES IS UP, I WOULD LIKE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENFORC YOU GUYS WEARING A MASK.
OKAY. THE FACE MASK ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PROPOSED MANY TIMES BY COMMISSIONER DEAN. SADLY IT HAS BEEN REJECTED BY TWO COMMISSIONERS IN PARTICULAR. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT ANYONE SAYS, EVEN BY THEIR OWN HEALTH EXPERT DR. ALICOTT SAYS EACH WEEK. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE ANY
[00:55:04]
DIFFERENCE IF PEOPLE GET SICK, EVEN DIE. TWO OF YOU COMMISSIONERS WILL DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS. SO I GOT TO ASK MYSELF WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? FIRST OF ALL, SOMEBODY, INCLUDING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WON'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT APPROVAL OF GOVERNOR DESANTIS.GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS NOT EXACTLY RECEIVING HIGH APPROVAL MARKS ON THE HANDLING OF THIS VIRUS. SECOND, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, WHO PAY FOR YOUR SALARY AND BENEFITS. YOU DON'T WORK FOR RON DESANTIS. RON DESANTIS HAS SAID HE IS OKAY IF COUNTIES WANT TO HAVE A MASK ORDINANCE. SECOND, SOME OF YOU HAVE WHAT I CALL A MISPLACED IDEOLOGY ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY. NONE OF YOU WILL ADMIT IT IN PUBLIC, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE PRACTICING WHEN YOU MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND JUST LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE. HERE IS THE QUOTE I HEARD LAST NIGHT ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY.
IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CAN SAY REOPEN THINGS ALL THEY WANT, BUT IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T FEEL SAFE THEY WILL STAY AT HOME AND NOT SPEND THEIR MONEY. TELL YOU THIS ONE MORE TIME, YOUR FIRST PRIORITY HAS TO BE TO GET THIS VIRUS UNDER CONTROL SO PEOPLE FEEL SAFE. I FOR ONE WILL NOT WILLINGLY BE JOINING YOUR HERD. I WILL BE WAITING FOR AN EFFECTIVE VACCINATION.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OTHER CALL-INS?
>> >> HELLO. >> GO AHEAD, NAME, ADDRESS.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. VICE-CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN. ED SLAVEN.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. ALICOTT FOR HER FINE WORK, JUST LISTEN TO HER AND DO WHAT SHE SAYS. NEXT TIME WE NEED TO HAVE A REPORT ABOUT THE HIPAA RULE ON WORKING AT HOME WITH CONTACT TRACING INFORMATION. IT MAKES ME A LITTLE UNEASY TO THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE PERSON'S PRIVATE INFORMATION AND BE WORKING ON IT AT HOME. PRIVACY IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. PRIVACY IS IMPORTANT.
IT HAS TO BE PROTECTED. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE TIMELINESS ON TURN-AROUNDS OF TESTING RESULTS. IF THE TESTING RESULTS COME IN 11 DAYS, THERE IS A 14-DAY PERIOD FOR QUARANTINE, THE TESTING RESULTS ARE JUST ABOUT WORTHLESS.
SAME WITH CONTACT TRACING. CONTACT TRACING DOESN'T WORK UNLESS YOU HAVE TIMELY TESTING.
I THINK IT'S IN FIRST CORINTHIANS, WHO WILL HEED AN UNCERTAIN TRUMPET, BETWEEN DONALD JOHN TRUMP, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS, WE'VE HEARD VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF COHERENT SCIENCE BASED EVIDENCE. DURING WORLD WAR II, HARRY TRUMAN WAS A CAPTAIN IN THE MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD. HIS TROOPS WERE UNDER FIRE BY GERMAN MUSTER WEAPONS AND GAS AND OTHER POISON GASES. BUT HARRY TRUMAN, AS A CAPTAIN IN THE ARMY AND IN THE NATIONAL GUARD FACING ENEMY COMBATANTS FIRING AT HIM WITH POISON, HE EMPHASIZED PPE.
HE PROTECTED HIS TROOPS AND HIS HORSES. THEY GET MASKS TOO.
IT'S A SIMPLE TECHNOLOGY WEARING MASKS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE YOU MISGUIDED, ILL-INFORMED AND THEY HAVE DELAYED THINGS.
PEOPLE HAVE DIED. HARRY TRUMAN SAID WHEN HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT THAT SOME PEOPLE SAID HE SHOULD GIVE THEM HELL. HE SAID NO, I JUST TELL THE TRUTH.
I THINK GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS A DISGRACE AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A DISGRACE.
WE COULD DO A LOT BETTER. I THINK DR. ALICOTT, YOU MADE HER WAIT AROUND.
TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED. WE NEED NOT TO BE, WE NEED TO GIVE IT OUT TO THE WORKING PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF MAILING IT TO THE EMPLOYERS.
BOTH CITIES HAVE NO WAY OF CALLING IN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I APPLAUD Y'ALL FOR DOING IT.
I HAD TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
>> ED, I WAS A LITTLE SLOW ON THE CLOCK. TIME IS UP.
THANK YOU. >> YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE DOC.
[01:00:02]
>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM CALL-IN? NO. OKAY.
THAT IS ALL THE CALL-INS WE HAVE THIS MORNING APPARENTLY. GOING ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES.
OKAY. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FROM OUR LIVE AND IN-PERSON AUDIENCE?
>> SHERI BADGER. 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. THE GOVERNMENT ASKED US LET'S SHUT DOWN, SOCIAL DISTANCE, STAY HOME. OKAY.
WE DID THIS. THE MASKS. THE MASKS ONCE AGAIN IS HERE.
IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT. IT'S OUR RIGHT.
IF WE CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK, AND WE CHOOSE TO BE SAFE, THE CALLER SAID SHE DOES EVERYTHING SHE IS SUPPOSED TO DO BUT HER AND HER DAUGHTER ARE BOTH SICK. SO THIS MAKES YOU WONDER, IF SHE IS DOING EVERYTHING SHE IS SUPPOSED TO DO, HOW WOULD SHE CAME IN CONTACT BEING SOCIALLY DISTANCED SIX FEET APART. WEARING THE PROPER MASKS. THIS MORNING ON THE NEWS, DISNEY WORLD HAS JUST PUT OUT THAT THEY'RE ONLY ACCEPTING TWO KINDS OF MASKS.
THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FROM THE BEGINNING. Y'ALL SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE CDC AND WHAT THE CDC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE. WHICH THE CDC IS A MASK.
A FACE SHIELD AND GLOVES. ARE Y'ALL GOING TO TRY TO MAKE EVERY ONE OF US WEAR FACE SHIELDS, MASKS AND GLOVES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF HERD MENTALITY.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS. WE'VE TAKEN IT, WE HAVE GOT TO BE HALFWAY THERE NOW SINCE THIS STARTED WAY BEFORE Y'ALL CLOSED STUFF DOWN. IF Y'ALL APPROVE THIS, Y'ALL ARE STEPPING ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OURSELVES. OKAY. NOW THEY'VE ASKED US, OKAY, GIVE US SIX WEEKS. I GOT THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF MASKS IN MY CAR.
GUESS WHAT, NONE OF THEM ARE THE KIND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
BUT AT LEAST I DON'T GET PUBLICLY SHAMED. LIKE YOU COMMISSIONERS ARE GETTING PUBLICLY SHAMED UP THERE. BECAUSE YOU WON'T VOTE TO MAKE US WEAR MASKS, WHICH IS AGAINST OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. IF YOU'RE AFRAID OF GETTING SICK, STAY HOME OR WEAR THE MASK, WEAR THE FACE SHIELDS, WEAR THE GLOVES.
DR. FAUCI, I SEEN HIM ON TV YESTERDAY, AFTER HE THREW OUT THE FIRST PITCH, HE IS SITTING IN THE FOOTBALL STANDS, SIDE BY SIDE WITH ANOTHER PERSON AND NO MASK ON.
I HAD TO GO TO ONE OF THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, NOT MENTIONING ANY NAMES, BUT THERE WAS A NAIL HANGING UP WITH A BUNCH OF MASKS ON IT. YEAH.
ALL HIS EMPLOYEES WERE WEARING MASKS AND FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES.
EVERY TIME YOU TAKE THE MASK OFF, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO THROW THEM AWAY OR WASH THEM.
WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE, YOUR SUPPOSED TO GO HOME AND CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES AND TAKE A BATH.
THIS IS THE STUFF THAT THE CDC RECOMMENDED AND THERE IS NO WAY Y'ALL CAN ENFORCE THAT.
IF Y'ALL ARE BEING PUBLICLY SHAMED, I GUESS Y'ALL NEED TO GET YOUR BIG BOY PANTIES ON AND GET OUT THERE AND STAND UP FOR WE THE PEOPLE. NOT JUST A FEW.
THANK YOU, GOD BLESS. PAUL WALDRON NEEDS OUR EXTRA PRAYERS, SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYBODY TO PUT HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS. THANK YOU.
>> LET ME SAY APPARENTLY DR. FAUCI WAS THROWING TO FIRST BASE, NOT THE CATCHER.
IF YOU SAW HIS PITCH. THAT IS A JOKE. >> I LAUGHED.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? APPARENTLY NOT.
SO WE'RE DONE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 1. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
>> TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A FEW COMMENTS.
BY THE WAY, UNDER THE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY ORDER FOR THE MASKS PERTAINING TO COUNTY FACILITIES, THAT PERTAINS WHEN NOT MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING.
AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IS DEFINED AS KEEPING A SPACE AT LEAST SIX FEET BETWEEN ONE'S SELF AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FROM THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, ET CETERA.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE THAT ARE MAINTAINING SIX FEET AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS PRESENTLY SITUATED ARE MORE THAN SIX FEET APART. THAT WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY
[01:05:05]
ORDER PERTAINING TO COUNTY FACILITIES. ALSO, JUST AS KIND OF A COMPARISON, IN ST. AUGUSTINE, THE SAME RULE IN THE ST. AUGUSTINE RESOLUTION, EVERY PERSON WORKING, LIVING, VISITING ET CETERA IN ST. AUGUSTINE SHALL WEAR A FACE COVERING IN ANY INDOOR LOCATION OTHER THAN HOME OR RESIDENCE WHEN NOT MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING FROM OTHER PERSONS. SO THEREFORE, IF THE SOCIAL DISTANCING, EG, THE SIX FEET PLUS APART, THAT IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THE MASK IS NOT REQUIRED.MR. CHAIR, ALSO, PART OF THESE KIND OF CMT PROCEDURES, THE COUNTY HAS A PROCEDURE FOR THE PUBLIC TO E-MAIL IN FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND THOSE E-MAILS THAT COME IN PERTAINING TO ANY PARTICULAR MEETING DO BECOME PART OF THE RECORD.
THERE HAVE BEEN E-MAILS PERTAINING TO THIS MEETING AND JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST KIND OF SUM UP SOME. ONE, THERE IS A REGARDING THE PLEDGE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY WHERE IT, I THINK COMPLIMENTS THE PLEDGE, IT SAYS HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT GIVE BUSINESS OWNERS THE BACK-UP TO ENFORCE MASK WEARING. I WOULD NOTE THAT PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND I BELIEVE MANY HAVE DONE SO THEMSELVES, REQUIRE MASKS.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF IT'S THEIR PROPERTY, THEY GET TO MAKE A RULE SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO.
THERE WAS ALSO COMMENTARY, YOU HEARD SOME IN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY ABOUT THE SERIOUS DELAYS IN THE TEST RESULTS. SO MORE CONCERN ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, FURTHER REQUESTS TO HAVE A COUNTY-WIDE MASK MANDATE. SOME ON THAT.
AND LET'S SEE. OH. THE SCHOOL ISSUE.
AND I WOULD JUST YOU KNOW, THERE WAS KIND OF AN ADVOCATING THAT KIDS NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE LISTENING AUDIENCE AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS THE SCHOOL BOARD IS AN ELECTED BOARD WHICH HAS THE PURVIEW TO DECIDE THE TIMING AND PROCEDURES FOR
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> THANK YOU.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE CONCLUDING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1.
WE'LL MOVE ALONG TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2. >> MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> IT SAYS JIMMY JOHNS. >> I'M SORRY. >> IF I MAY AT THIS TIME, RELATED, IT'S GERMANE TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, AS OPPOSED TO 2 OR 3.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A SOMEWHAT SIMPLE LITTLE MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OR PROCLAMATION, WE ONLY HAVE THREE MEMBERS AS A FORUM TODAY. SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WE CAN NOT ADOPT AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, THIS IS A MOTION I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER THIS MORNING. MY MOTION WOULD BE TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION STATING QUOTE, IT IS THE POLICY OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY THAT ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WEAR MASKS WHERE SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION TODAY. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DEAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SEEING NONE, IT FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND. COMMISSIONER DEAN, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE ON THIS.
THE SCREEN TELLS ME THAT YOU'RE JAMES JOHNS. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
>> I CAN GUARANTEE YOU I'M NOT JAMES JOHNS. HE'S BETTER LOOKING THAN ME.
I WILL CONCEDE THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ALONG TO AGENDA ITEM
[2. Extension of Local State of Emergency]
NUMBER 2, EXTENSION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY. MR. MCCORMACK.>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU HAVE IN YOUR MATERIALS A PROPOSED EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
[01:10:07]
NUMBER WHICH WOULD BE 2020-25, SHOULD THE BOARD DECIDE TO EXTEND THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR A SEVEN-DAY PERIOD, AS YOU KNOW THE SEVEN-DAY PERIOD IS THE MAXIMUM LENGTH UNDER STATE LAW THAT THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY CAN BE EXTENDED.THE BOARD HAS DONE THAT. MANY SEVERAL TIMES. AND IF EXTENDED HERE, AGAIN,
THIS WILL BE 2020-25. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD?
>> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> I'LL MAKE MOTION NUMBER 2020-25.
PROCLAMATION EXTENDING THE DECLARATION OF THE STATE OF EXTENDING THE LOCAL EMERGENCY.
>> SECOND. >> HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PROCEED TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 2. LET'S GO TO THE PHONES.
ANY CALL-IN COMMENTS? >> IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE, FOR THE
RECORD. >> TOM REYNOLDS, 50 BRINGINGTON COURT.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IN YOUR AUTHORITY AND POWER, THAT YOU COULD ADD SOMETHING TO THIS EXTENDED. AND I HIGHLY URGE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND KEEP THE BARS AND THE BREWERIES AND THE DISTILLERIES CLOSED.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALCOHOL IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SPREADING THIS COVID-19. WE DON'T NEED ANY BARS. WE DON'T NEED ANY BREWERIES.
WE DON'T NEED ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE A BUNCH OF DRINKING.
THEY CAN STAY AT HOME. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY. >> THANK YOU. OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 2? NO. ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WISH TO SPEAK?
NO. THAT COVERS PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> PUBLIC COMMENT NOW CLOSED ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? WITH NO DISCUSSION, PLEASE CALL FOR A VOTE. PLEASE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. IT PASSES 3-0. ALL RIGHT.
[3. Any Other Business]
WE'LL MOVE ALONG TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3. MR. MCCORMACK, I KNOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING. I WANT TO SAY THIS TO THE PUBLIC, THIS IS, I DON'T LIKE HAVING THINGS ADDED HERE THAT COULD BE VERY ESPECIALLY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT WE DO HAVE A NEW MATTER THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE IS, HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY OUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.MR. MCCORMACK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE ADDRESS THAT THIS MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS THE BOARD KNOWS, THERE HAD BEEN A PROCEDURE TAKEN TO PROVIDE FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSION REPRESENTATION ON THE PRIMARY, ON THE AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION. AUGUST 18TH PRIMARY ELECTION. HOWEVER, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION HAS ASKED FOR THE COUNTY TO MAKE PROVISIONS FOR REPRESENTATION ON THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION CANVASSING BOARD. AS I THINK EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS KNOW, NORMALLY THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS REPRESENTED BY THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THE CANVASSING BOARD. AND THEN NORMALLY THE CHAIR CAN SELECT AN ALTERNATE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SERVE AS ALTERNATE FOR THE CHAIR. SO I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION IS THE CHAIR AVAILABLE TO SERVE ON THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION CANVASSING BOARD. AND IF SO, THEN THAT WILL BE, THERE IS NO VOTE REQUIRED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT JUST OCCURS.
>> YES, I AM ABLE TO SERVE. >> OKAY. SO COMMISSIONER SMITH IS AVAILABLE TO SERVE ON THAT. THE NEXT QUESTION IS THE LAW PROVIDES THAT THE CHAIR SHALL APPOINT A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER OF THE
[01:15:06]
CANVASSING BOARD. AND TO DO THAT, AGAIN, IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A, NOT OR REASONABLY MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR THAT GENERAL ELECTION OR AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE CAMPAIGN OR CANDIDACY OF ANY CANDIDATE WHO HAS OPPOSITION IN THE ELECTION BEING CANVASSED, THAT WOULD BE THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. IF NEED BE, I'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST, I CAN GO THROUGH WHAT ACTIVE PARTICIPANT INCLUDES. SO BACK TO THE BOARD.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOTH OF YOU WOULD NOT BE QUALIFIED TO DO SO, HAVING GOING THROUGH THE GENERAL ELECTION. THE ONLY OTHER ONE WOULD BE COMMISSIONER BLOCKER AND COMMISSIONER WALDRON, THEIR AVAILABILITY AND THEY'RE NOT HERE TO SPEAK TO IT. WHEN DOES THERE NEED TO BE A DECISION FOR AN ALTERNATE MADE?
>> RIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, I'LL LET THE SUPERVISOR KNOW THAT THE CHAIR IS AVAILABLE TO SERVE AND FOR THE ALTERNATE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE QUESTION WOULD BE WHETHER COMMISSIONER BLOCKER MAY BE AVAILABLE. I HAVE NOT ASCERTAINED THAT.
AS YOU KNOW, HE IS CURRENTLY ON MILITARY ORDERS. AND I WILL TELL YOU FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, BEING ON MILITARY ORDERS, THERE IS NO CERTAINTY ON THAT.
THE SUPERVISOR I WOULD CHARACTERIZE WANTS TO KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO I WILL, MR. CHAIR, KIND OF REACH OUT TO COMMISSIONER BLOCKER TO GET HIS SENSE ABOUT HIS AVAILABILITY. UNLESS HE FEELS YOU KNOW, BASICALLY FULLY CONFIDENT BEING AVAILABLE, MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO GO THROUGH AGAIN, THE STATUTORY PROCEDURES, WHICH WOULD BE HAVING THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT APPOINT THE ALTERNATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SEEING THERE IS NOTHING, NO NEED TO VOTE AND IT'S JUST MERELY A PUBLIC DISCUSSION, I DON'T SEE A REASON TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT.
>> THERE IS NOT. >> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THIS BOARD
THIS MORNING? MR. BRADLEY. >> YOUR HONOR, MS. ANDREWS WAS
GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CARES ACT. >> YOUR HONOR?
>> I'M SORRY. I'M USED TO BEING IN COURT. MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'M USED TO TALKING TO JUDGES. MS. ANDREWS -- HERE SHE IS. GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE
CARES ACT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY PER REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER BLOCKER,SINCE HE IS ABSENT I'LL PROVIDE THE
UPDATE BRIEFLY. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> SO BASICALLY WE HAVE NOT ALLOCATED ANY FUNDS AT THIS MOMENT YET.
WE JUST RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED $11.5 MILLION IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT FROM THE STATE. SO NOW WE HAVE THE FIRST TRUNCHE OF THE WHOLE $46 MILLION. ANYTHING PROCEEDING FROM THAT WOULD BE THE REVERSEMENT BASIS.
AT THIS TIME WE HAVE VETTED A NUMBER OF PROJECTS. I WANT TO KIND OF OUTLINE WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE SO THAT THE BOARD AND THEN THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW THAT THERE IS EXTENSIVE REVIEWING PROCESS AND INVOLVES MANY DEPARTMENTS. EACH COUNTY DEPARTMENT CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, PROVIDED THEIR LIST OF ITEMS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPENT OR REQUEST NEW PURCHASES AND THEY WILL SMITH THEIR APPLICATION TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS VETTING EACH ITEM TO DETERMINE IF IT MEETS ALL OF THE CRITERIA TO BE COVERED BY THE FUNDING. AND OUR REVIEW TEAM BASICALLY IS CONSISTED OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE REVIEW PROCESS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FINANCIALLY SOUND AND AS WELL AS LEGALLY ELIGIBLE BASED ON THE CARES ACT REQUIREMENT. ONCE THE PROJECT IS APPROVED AND THEN WE'LL GIVE THEM THROUGH CLERK'S OFFICE A PROJECT NUMBER AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTING FOR ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES USING THE SAME UNIFORM PROJECT NUMBER SO THAT WE CAN KEEP
[01:20:03]
TRACK AND TO MEET ALL OF THE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE AUDITS.DOCUMENTATION WILL BE MAINTAINED FOR EACH EXPENDITURE BY DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RECOVERY. SO BASICALLY MR. JOE AND HIS TEAM WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE COMPLIANCE IS IN PLACE AND WILL BE PREPARED FOR FUTURE AUDIT. AT THIS TIME FOR THE BIGGEST ALLOCATION OF THE $29 MILLION THAT THE BOARD HAS ALLOCATED IS THE GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IF I WOULD, IF I MAY JUST REMIND THE BOARD THAT THERE ARE THREE GRANT PROGRAMS, ONE IS RESIDENT ASSISTANCE, BACK TO BUSINESS AND THE LAST ONE IS THE NON-PROFIT.
AT THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL APPLICATION PROCESS PREPARED TO PRESENT YET.
SO THERE IS NO NEW INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONSUME OR APPLY.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN FIELDING QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INFORMED, ALL OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL BE TRANSPARENT AND MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR THEIR REVIEW ONCE IT'S READY. AND WE HAVE PREPARED THROUGH OMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT A SINGLE PHONE NUMBER AND THE SINGLE E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR ANY GENERAL INQUIRES. SO ANY PUBLIC WHO IS LISTENING, IF YOU HAVE ANY GENERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CARES ACT FUNDING, YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER AND IT IS ACTUALLY LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE ON THE FRONT PAGE.
OR E-MAIL. SO I CAN GO INTO DETAILS ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED, IF THE BOARD DESIRE OR I CAN PROVIDE THAT IN OUR MONTHLY REPORT THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED IN THE PAST. SO WHATEVER THE BOARD'S DESIRE IS, JUST LET ME KNOW.
>> MONTHLY REPORT. >> OKAY. WE CAN DO THAT.
SO THAT WOULD CONCLUDE MY UPDATE TODAY. >> THANK YOU, MS. ANDREWS.
IT'S APPRECIATED. >> MS. ANDREWS, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS NOT READY FOR DISTRIBUTION FOR APPLICANTS. WHEN WILL THAT BE READY?
>> STAFF IS DILIGENTLY WORKING ON FINALIZING. THERE ARE A LOT OF CAVEATS AND REALLY IT'S, WE'RE AT THE FINAL STAGE OF TO BE PREPARED TO DISTRIBUTE THE APPLICATION.
SO I WOULD SAY NEXT WEEK OR SO THAT WE WILL HAVE A FINAL PRODUCT TO DISTRIBUTE.
>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. ANDREWS? THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. AND ANYTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THIS BOARD IN THIS SPECIAL MEETING? ALL HEARTS AND MINDS CLEAR, HEREBY WE WILL BE ADJOURNED AT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.