Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Health & Life: Coping and grieving during pandemic /B1 TUESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 85 Sunny with lower LOW humidity. 62 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com APRIL 21, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 196 VIRUS UPDATE Latest figures as of Twister in Homosassa 7 p.m. Monday, April 20. CITRUS COUNTY Tornado knocks out n Positive cases of COVID-19: 86 . power for 1,000 n Total tests: 1,286 . BUSTER THOMPSON n Negative results: AND JEFF BRYAN 1,199 . Staff writers n Men (positive test): 43 . A tornado from a Monday morning front of thunderstorms shook up Homosassa, n Women (positive test): damaging buildings and knocking out 43 . power. n Deaths: 8 . In a statement Monday afternoon, the National Weather n Hospitalizations: 23 . Service (NWS) in n To see video of the Tampa Bay con- storm in action, STATE OF firmed a water- visit chronicle FLORIDA spout came online.com. ashore at 9:39 a.m. n Positive cases of as an EF-0 tornado, near a mobile home COVID-19: 27,058 . park on the Buzzard Point peninsula off of n Total tests: 273,552 . West Halls River Road. It spun east toward U.S. 19 and West n Deaths: 823 . Grover Cleveland Boulevard, where it dis- — Florida Department of Health sipated at 9:48 a.m. after traveling a total 7.25 miles, according to the NWS. NWS’ report shows that within and NEWS around its 35-yard wide path, the tornado caused minor damage to seven structures, BRIEFS and major damage to two, not including a roadside billboard. Chronicle No injuries were reported by the NWS. EF-0 tornados have maximum wind delivery safe speeds of between 65 and 85 mph, accord- The Citrus County Chronicle ing to the NWS, which estimated Mon- is taking every safety precau- day’s local twister as having peak wind tion in the wake of the corona- speeds of up to 80 mph. virus alert. Citrus County Sheriff ’s Office spokes- We have instituted a new woman Jodi Sanders said the tornado was policy where gloves will be reported to the agency at 9:58 a.m. Chronicle staff at the scene saw an used by all employees who empty gas station with its roof ripped off, touch the finished product be- damage to area neighborhoods, along fore it comes to your home. with a lot of downed signage and trees. The raw materials used to create the newspaper (ink and See TWISTER/Page A5 paper) are never touched prior to the creation of the paper. ABOVE: This video still provided by John Mick In our offices and with our shows a waterspout Monday morning near Halls product, we are following all of River Road in Homosassa. The National Weather the recommended procedures Service classified it as EF-0 tornando, which have to use sanitizer and approved maximum wind speeds of between 65 mph and hygiene procedures to stop the 85 mph, according to the NWS, which estimated spread of the virus. Monday’s local twister as having peak wind speeds of up to 80 mph. Chronicle JOHN MICK/Special to the Chronicle office closed The Chronicle main office in Meadowcrest has been closed since April 1. The deci- RIGHT: Contractors with a nearby sion has been made in an road construction crew pick up equipment effort to discourage unneces- blown away by a strong Monday morning sary travel and to protect the storm. The awning that used to cover the rear health of Chronicle employ- pumps at an old gas station along U.S. 19 in ees. Customer access will not Homosassa was twisted into a metal pile. be permitted until further no- JEFF BRYAN/Chronicle tice. The main switchboard at the Chronicle is open at 352-563-6363. More than half of Chronicle employees are working from Getting tested for virus home or remote locations on a Citrus facility daily basis, but they are still available via email or phone. The practice will change when the coronavirus impacts in our brings anxiety, then relief on state list community subside. can’t imagine being told your I saw health department director Er- JEFF BRYAN information out as you CCSO activates COVID-19 test came out positive. nesto “Tito” Rubio there and I waved News editor can,” the governor said. info lines I But I know what it’s like being at him. But what it did not in- told the test is negative, that I don’t “How are you doing?” he asked. When Gov. Ron DeSan- clude were those who In an effort to keep Citrus have the coronavirus, that tomorrow is “I’ll know in two or three days,” I tis ordered Florida’s sur- tested positive for County residents informed on the same as today. responded. geon general to release a COVID-19 and recov- the impacts of COVID-19 in Relief? Of course. But We both laughed. list of long-term care fa- ered, said Kerry Jensen, the community, the Citrus not like you’d think. But it’s not funny. Not at cilities and nursing the owner of Crown County Sheriff’s Office Let me explain. all. homes statewide af- Court. When the list was (CCSO) has activated a Citi- A week ago, I noticed I’ve been tested for stuff fected by COVID-19, the made public, Jensen zen Information Line (CIL) in that I was having shortness in the past and thankfully Florida Department of spent a number of hours it’s all turned out well. That dealing with the Citrus partnership with the Florida of breath and it wasn’t Health immediately going away. I’ve experi- space between the test and tweeted a list of facilities County Department of Department of Health in Cit- enced this before and it al- the result, though, included that have residents and Health for an rus County. ways passes, so I normally many sleepless nights. staff members who explanation. This line is designed to an- wouldn’t give it much This was worse, far tested positive for the Jensen spoke to Er- swer questions and concerns thought. worse. I had taken a coro- coronavirus. nesto “Tito” Rubio, Cit- specific to Citrus County. All cit- Normally. navirus test, which meant I More than 1,000 nurs- rus County health izens with medical questions But once I told Deb, she Mike Wright could have COVID-19. ing home residents and department director, are still urged to contact the was on the phone Wednes- WRIGHT ON Now, I know what you’re staff members across the about the release and ad- Florida Department of Health in day morning with our doc- saying. The odds are so state have tested positive dressed concerns about Citrus County at 352-527- tor’s office. They wanted to TARGET small. You’re really not that for the virus, according the negative impact it 0068. Citizens with general know if I’d traveled lately, sick. Stop being dramatic. to the Florida Depart- could have. Jensen said COVID-19 questions not spe- and when I responded that I took a Hey, until Wednesday, I would be ment of Health, includ- Rubio told him the De- cific to Citrus County should quick trip to Michigan the first week- right there with you. I study those Flor- ing Crown Court in partment of Health was contact the COVID-19 hotline end in March to see my family, I appar- ida Department of Health reports that Inverness. All told, more working to clarify the list ently triggered the COVID-19 test come out twice a day. I’ve seen the than 1,600 cases involv- made public. at 866-779-6121. number of cases increase, but so has “He apologized up and If you have Citrus County criteria and received a phone number ing nursing homes in the to call at the Citrus County Health the number of tests. Citrus is testing state right now. down,” Jensen said. specific questions, contact the Department. about 7% positive, down from 8% two “One of the things According to the DOH CIL at 352-249-2775 where an I called the number and was sched- weeks ago. The fact that number has that’s come up is: you listing’s Monday, it clari- operator will assist you from uled that afternoon for a test in the Cit- stayed steady tells me social distanc- have fatalities generally fied that the listed long- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday rus Springs Community Center ing is working. I’m a firm believer in identified by county, term care facilities that through Friday. parking lot, one of those drive-thru test self-isolating, and I don’t go anywhere what about individual have or have had COVID- Many general COVID-19 sites I keep reading about in the in public without a mask. counties and individual 19 cases may or may not questions can be answered by Chronicle. The test itself was 2 to 3 sec- So if someone had told me the same nursing homes? I told currently have positive visiting www.FloridaHealth onds of unpleasantness and I was on story, I would have shrugged it off. the surgeon general from cases of COVID-19 in res- COVID19.gov. my way. The overall experience was Living it was much worse. It was, the beginning that we idents or staff. — From staff reports very professional and efficient. See WRIGHT/Page A7 want to put as much See FACILITY/Page A5 Classifieds .