Learn how to stay healthy, help others Coronavirus tips and how-tos. … Page 6-7A. The Florida Orchestra goes quiet Orchestra announces that it will cancel the rest of its concerts through the end of the season in May, … Page 2, 4B but will still hold virtual performances. April 23, 2020 www.TBNweekly.com Volume 42, No. 5 * Visit TBNweekly.com/coronavirus for more TRACKING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS Outbreaks in Seminole, Palm Harbor Also Inside Cases mount at nursing facilities 13 residents, 8 staff members test Freedom Square director: 41 residents positive for virus at St. Mark Village and 21 employees have tested positive Tampa Bay Newspapers Tampa Bay Newspapers The good news PALM HARBOR — A nursing facility in north Pinel- las County has reported 13 residents and eight staff SEMINOLE — The number of positive cases of corona- members have tested positive for coronavirus. People of all ages from around the virus at a Seminole nursing facility continues to rise. county are showing what it means to St. Mark Village in Palm Harbor is the latest facility Freedom Square executive director Michael Mason an- to see a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases within the last be a good neighbor by helping out in a nounced Monday that 41 residents have tested positive week, according to an email exchange between the variety of ways. 12A for the virus and 77 have tested negatively. Additionally, county administrator’s offi ce and county commission- 21 employees have tested positive and 37 have tested ers Monday. negative. What’s open? Photo by CHRIS GEORGE “Families are being contacted by the facility and our “Discussions are also underway with local, state, and EMS team is being deployed to assist in the transfer of Freedom Square executive director Michael Mason Find out what Pinellas County events federal leaders about the offer to provide additional testing the patients to local hospitals,” the Monday afternoon to all employees and symptomatic residents for COVID-19 announced Monday that 41 of the facility’s residents are canceled or facilities are closed on the Freedom Square campus,” Mason said in a press See ST. MARK, page 4A 4A and patients and 21 employees have tested positive and for how long. See SQUARE, page 4A for the virus. Clearwater The four Scientologist members of Pinellas County the Downtown Development Board PANDEMIC TAKES TOLL ON FAMILIES, BUSINESSES pleaded with the City Council to not let a new council member join them on « Losses 10A the board. Their pleas didn’t work. Schools to stay closed Madeira Beach piling up City leaders and residents say speeding boaters have been causing a safety hazard to people and wildlife. for travel So, they are taking action. 11A Pinellas Park industry Deputies arrested a 36-year-old Photos by, from St. Pete man April 16 for operating a top to bottom, Empty hotels, airport terminals The Pinellas School Board said virtual learning was going well. It’s a good thing, too, PCS, CHRIS nonessential business in violation of HENDERSON and a sign that virus has hit it hard 11A because the governor announced this past week that schools will remain closed for8A the CHRIS GEORGE the safer-at-home order. rest of the year. In-person graduations could still happen in June or July, though. By SUZETTE PORTER Tampa Bay Newspapers Also Online « Beaches to stay closed Visit TBNweekly.com for plenty more Hotel bookings have plummeted in Pinellas County. The fl ight status page from around Pinellas and updates at St. Pete-Clearwater International Air- about the coronavirus crisis, including: port shows a list of cancellations — ar- rivals and departures. The coronavirus is having a huge negative effect on one of the county’s most important industries. Travel nationwide experienced a rath- er dramatic nosedive beginning in mid- March, according to a report posted on Visit St. Pete/Clearwater’s website. Many travelers began canceling and postponing their trips due to the ongo- After a lengthy discussion and listening to public comments for more, which than means two hours, beaches county and leaders public ing threat from the pandemic. agreed to keep local safer-at-home restrictions as written for now St. Pete-Clearwater International Air- rst pools will remain closed. 4A port, call letters PIE, reported the fi Schools v. vaping flight cancellations due to COVID-19 Citing the need to protect the safety of « concerns during the week of March 16. Wallets to start to open For the fi rst time in years, passenger students, the Pinellas County School numbers declined, decreasing by 38% Board approved a request to initiate in March. a lawsuit against manufacturers, Local hotels, motels and resorts re- main open; however, bookings are way distributors and sellers of electronic down. And, the governor signed an ex- cigarettes and vaping products. ecutive order closing all Airbnb-type vacation rentals. Information from STR Inc., formerly E-edition known as Smith Travel Research, post- Want to share the paper with family ed on VSPC’s partner website, provides statistics on the year-over-year change or friends? Visit The shows must go on Ruth Eckerd Hall beginning to reschedule some of its shows. … Page 3B. in hotel demand for Florida and the Since you’re stuck at home, it’s time to TBNweekly.com break out the books United States as of April 12. Demand Our entertainment editor has put together a list of novels about rebuilding civilization. … Page 1B. Largo leaders agree to move Volume 43, No. 43 www.TBNweekly.com April 2, 2020 hit negative numbers on March 1 and to check out an CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES TO TAKE TOLL ON PINELLAS COUNTY City of Clearwater working on Also Inside The Good The Bad Pinellas County begins to form forward with a grant program dropped to a negative 77% in Florida on Number of $4 million program that could electronic version cases and deaths not a plan that could provide up that could provide as many as March 29. Public transit slowing Citing a lack of ridership, the Transit Authority • County issues ‘safer at home’ order provide as much as $5,000 to Pinellas Suncoast suspended service on its downtown • Schools to stay closed until May 1 St. Petersburg Looper and South By SUZETTE PORTER of this week’s Clearwater Beach Jolley Trolley Tampa Bay Newspapers to $4,000 to individuals and Losses in hotel revenue as of March effective. 4A As of press time March 31, Pinellas 358 small businesses with a County’s coronavirus virus cases were up Cancellations to 144, according to information released by the Florida Department of Health. Find out what Pinellas County DOH announced the death of a 58-year- old male Sunday night, events are canceled or facilities are « « small businesses and $2,500 bringing the county’s closed and for how long. 4A death toll to fi ve. TBN Finding a way to keep people fed. 2A DOH Pinellas report- weekly.com ed Saturday morning Online Business that three county res- families and up to $5,000 to 3A paper that you Local restaurants face a daunting idents had died due to For the latest the coronavirus. Two of numbers from $1,000 grant. challenge of trying to keep their the dead are males, age the Department 2A doors open after being forced to 52 and 64, and the third of Health, visit See TRAVEL, page 4A was an 83-year-old fe- TBNweekly.com close their dining rooms. 9A male. No additional in- Kindness formation was readily available. to fi rms that help them. The county’s first death attributed to More cases COVID-19 was reported on March 24. A A second case of COVID-19 67-year-old man in Pinellas died March 23. also proves to be The case was not travel-related and DOH is linked to a South Pasadena says the man did not have contact with a small businesses. 3A condominium complex. 7A confi rmed case. can download According to the latest report, 127 of the cases in Pinellas are in Florida residents Opinion and 17 are non-residents. Forty-fi ve were hospitalized. Eighty-three cases were men Our Pinellas County editor, Suzette Porter, says you should Contagious See PINELLAS, page 4A heed offi cials’ warnings because staying inside could help save a The Ugly life. 6A Much of Pinellas County may be under some degree of self-isolation, but that doesn’t mean those who are in need are alone. That’s the message Dear TBN Readers Pinellas is or share. many residents have sent out to fi rst responders, health care workers, We want to thank all of you for your loyal readership and patronage. All of struggling businesses and at-risk seniors this past week. running low us at Tampa Bay Newspapers (TBN) are proud to publish one of the best and largest groups of weekly commu- nity papers in the country. on supplies As we continue into these unprece- dented times, we all are facing a mul- titude of challenges that have already Seeking out donations of personal impacted our daily lives. This is cer- tainly no different for the over 100 fi ne protective equipment from public folks who produce, print and deliver our papers. By SUZETTE PORTER Tampa Bay Newspapers GREAT PRICES Although we are hoping to maintain our print schedule, please understand that schedule could be temporarily dis- Pinellas County offi cials announced on SHOP LOCAL rupted at any time. Health risks to our March 27 that only two weeks of needed employees, government mandates and « « « « « « medical supplies remain for fi rst respond- fi nancial considerations are all factors ers and health care workers on the front- that could necessitate that decision.