Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014INSIDE 1:13 PM Page 1 Mangoes for mom Flair for Food / B1 Make a sweet treat for Mother’s Day. THURSDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 76 Sunny and LOW comfortable. 50 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 7, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 212 Hospitals shifting focus Non-emergency procedures to resume as coronavirus restrictions begin to ease Gerry Mulligan FRED HIERS again opening their doors and allow hospitals to once Crystal River is offering been preparing for weeks OUT THE Staff writer to elective procedures again offer non-emergency only outpatient proce- to once again offer elective canceled to stop the virus’ procedures and surgeries. dures this week and begin- procedures and have been WINDOW As businesses tiptoe to- spread. Citrus Memorial Hospi- ning next week inpatient working with local doctors ward reopening their The change follows Gov. tal in Inverness, beginning surgeries that require pa- to ensure patients are safe. doors amid easing corona- DeSantis’ first phase of this week, will offer both tients to remain in hospital “Besides your home, I virus restrictions, Citrus easing his stay-at-home outpatient and inpatient at least overnight. cannot think of a safer place We’re County’s two hospitals are order and allowing busi- procedures. Bayfront The leadership of both joining the dance and nesses to partially reopen Health Seven Rivers in hospitals say they have See HOSPITALS/Page A2 here to help Having fun, but staying careful ‘CPR’ to assist local businesses itrus County’s small businesses Chave been dam- aged by the COVID-19 virus and subsequent closing of all non- essential enterprises. For thousands of em- ployees of those busi- nesses, the seven-week shut down has been miserable. But now there is a glimmer of light. Talla- hassee has slowly begun the reopening process of businesses throughout the state. There is a phase-in that has started and it is time for local con- sumers to start paying attention to local businesses. The Chronicle wants to play a role in help- ing our local busi- nesses get their feet under them as the re- opening starts. Today, we announce the im- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle plementation of our Citrus County resident Kurt Launer tosses his grandson Josh Karleszko into the air Wednesday morning at Fort Island Gulf Beach west of Community Pandemic Crystal River. Citrus County opened the beach Wednesday and encouraged visitors to practice safe social distancing. Relief (CPR) program for local Citrus County businesses. Residents eager for relaxation hit the beach, maintain social distancing To start, we are IKE RIGHT But Wednesday afternoon fresh air,” Frees, of Citrus Gulf Beach after water-quality going to give — free of M W was a great day to recline under Springs, said. “Everybody’s tests cleared it for public use. charge — a quarter Staff writer blue skies while her 8-year-old practicing social distancing like The parking lot wasn’t full, page advertisement to Samantha Frees doesn’t know son, Fletcher Finn, played in they should be.” but a steady stream of beachgo- every local business as if it’s too soon for the govern- the surf. Frees and a smattering of oth- ers came and went, spread they open their doors. ment to reopen the country due “We’ve been inside so much ers took advantage Wednesday The advertisement to the COVID-19 pandemic. it’s nice for sure to get some to the reopening of Fort Island See BEACH/Page A9 can be used to announce the re-opening, establish hours of business and explain any process changes necessitated by the pandemic. Dudley’s is going, going, gone — to online auctions There are no strings attached. It doesn’t MICHAEL D. BATES Auction in Inverness. The conducting six to 10 live auction company during by appointment only, with matter if you have Staff writer COVID-19 pandemic auctions per month with this time, offering a clean, her crew bringing items never done business forced her to scrap live crowds between 100 to hands-free auction ap- curbside to clients. Dudley with the Chronicle be- Unusual times call for un- auctions for the time being 200 people at her gallery proach while following Cen- will send videos, photos and fore, we still want to usual methods, even when and resort to no-contact off U.S. 41. ters for Disease Control and other product details via extend the offer. Every it comes to auction houses. online events. “We have readjusted our Prevention social distancing text/phone/email to clients business owner and Just ask Emily Dudley, Before the pandemic, policies and procedures to guidelines,” Dudley said. See CPR/Page A2 manager of Dudley’s Dudley said she was be a fully online-only Product pickups are done See AUCTIONS/Page A2 Classifieds . .B5 Crossword . .B8 INDEX Sports . A6 Obituaries . .A5 Comics . B4. Editorial . A8 Lottery Numbers . .A6 TV Listings . .B3 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment Lottery Payouts . .A4 . .A6 000YC77 A2 Thursday, May 7, 2020 LocaL Citrus County (FL) ChroniCLe “We’ve been able to accom- the Florida Department of 125th birthday. We survived World modate the procedures they Health. Eleven died. War I and the 1918 pandemic. We HOSPITALS want done,” Stockton told the Carroll said it is difficult to CPR struggled through the Great De- Continued from Page A1 Chronicle. “And we want pa- predict when elective sur- Continued from Page A1 pression of the 1930s and World War tients to know this is a very gery volumes will reach II. The recession of 2007 hurt our than your hospital,” said Cit- safe place to come.” pre-coronavirus levels. employee in Citrus County has been local economy, but only the current rus Memorial CEO Ginger Car- Stockton said to prepare But in order for that to begin negatively impacted by this crisis. pandemic resulted in the manda- roll. “Here we know who is for the additional patients happening, Carroll said pri- We all have a responsibility to help tory closure of most local sick and not sick.” electing to have non- mary care offices will have to each other get back on our feet and businesses. In contrast, when people emergency procedures, hos- see more patients and emer- move things forward. As businesses begin to reopen shop or are generally out in pital staff are taking precau- gency rooms will have to get to Regular readers of the Chronicle and we launch this CPR program, public, they don’t know the tions to ensure their safety. previous levels. know the newspaper has been hurt consumers have the responsibility status of the person standing Stockton said that includes Also making it difficult for and that local advertising has pretty to be smart. It is important to con- next to them, she said. limiting access points into the county’s two hospitals is much disappeared from our pages. tinue to follow all the safety rules to At CMH, patients with the hospital, social distanc- that many local residents lost Businesses that are not open aren’t stop the further spread of the virus. coronavirus are kept in a sep- ing, everyone working in the their jobs and, with it, their going to spend money on At the same time, consumers must arate area and hospital staff hospital wearing masks, and health care insurance, mak- advertising. remember that the health of the caring for them do not work everyone coming into the ing people more hesitant to Now that the reopening has local economy is an important fac- in the general patient popu- hospital is screened. seek medical care, Carroll begun, we need the support of our tor that impacts the quality of life lation, Carroll told the Surfaces in the hospital said. advertising partners to remain for everyone who lives here. Chronicle. that are frequently touched In addition, part-time resi- viable. Small businesses are the largest A patient at CMH will know are now cleaned and disin- dents with homes outside The second phase of our CPR employer in Citrus County. When that the person next to them fected more often. Florida are also now leaving program will be an investment in you spend money with them, they is not infected with coronavi- In addition, visitor restric- Florida, Carroll said, and not your businesses marketing effort have the resources to pay their em- rus, Carroll said. tions for inpatients remain in going to the hospital here. going forward. The Chronicle will ployees. Those employees are your The hospital originally effect, with exceptions for But for those staying and match your advertising spending up relatives, friends and neighbors. It planned for the governor’s mothers in labor, pediatric wanting procedures, Carroll to $1,000 a month during May and is this cycle of the economy that we executive order that ended patients and end-of-life situa- said her hospital is safe. June. The program will involve both want to help kick-start. elective surgeries to be lifted tions, Stockton said. She said that none of her print and digital advertising in Cit- We hope to put this pandemic in May 9 and started planning Elective surgeries account hospital employees have rus County. the rear view mirror. with doctors and hospital for about half of hospitals’ in- tested positive for the corona- If your business spends $1,000 on We are all stakeholders in this staff two weeks before then to come, according to industry virus, “which speaks volumes advertising, we will match that in the process of firing up our economy.