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ALACHUA COUNTY – The COVID-19 pandemic is making a resurgence worldwide, especially in the U.S. and in Florida. Much of it has become politicized with some believing it is serious and following guidelines for social distancing and mask wearing while others feel it is overblown or even a hoax and ignoring the guidelines.

Cities and states have handled it differently and have even been at odds over how and when to open back up. While there are disagreements and ambiguities, one thing is certain: COVD-19 is a highly infectious virus.

Scientists and researchers are constantly tracking infections and recoveries. But they have data only on confirmed cases, so they can’t count people who don’t get COVID-19 tests. Experts also don’t have information about the outcome of every infection. However, early estimates predict that the overall COVID-19 recovery rate is about 97 percent with the majority of deaths among the elderly or people with other health complications. However, medical experts are now seeing an increase in mortality among healthy younger people who are also emerging as the most infected age group.

The most common sign is a fever, which for most adults is 100.4 F or higher. Nearly nine in 10 people who test positive for the disease have a high temperature. It’s a sign that your body is trying to fight off an invader. About 70 percent of people who become ill have a dry cough. Other common signs include new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Other signs emulate symptoms of the flu. Up to 30 percent of people may initially be asymptomatic and show no signs. The incubation period before getting symptoms range between four days to two weeks—but these people can still spread it before showing symptoms. It may take two weeks or more for the body to get over the illness. That’s the average recovery time for mild cases, according to the World Health Organization. For those with health issues or critical cases, recovery can take up to six weeks. About 14 percent of people who have the new coronavirus need to stay in the hospital to get help breathing in an ICU facility. The hospital stay can last another two to six weeks.

Because of this timeline, all statistics do not happen simultaneously. Any surge in cases will take another two to four weeks before becoming serious enough to see an upsurge in hospitalizations and a similar or even longer time to increase the mortality rate.

During the current surge, which began in early June, several weeks after reopenings and relaxation of guidelines in various states such as Texas, Arizona, Florida and California, the numbers began to climb dramatically. While increased testing accounted for some of the numbers, many of the confirmed cases came from an upsurge in emergency room patients.

Organized testing is still having issues with people in hard hit cities waiting for hours for a test and labs running out of testing kits. In Florida, most testing is performed by private labs; the state has tested 9,888 cases while private labs and doctors have tested 268,779. Overall, Florida has conducted 2,639,574 tests of which 278,667 tested positive with a positivity rate of 10.4 percent. This is a dramatic increase from a month ago when only 6 percent tested positive and 8 percent two weeks ago. Some days in the past two weeks have seen as much as a 19 percent positivity rate.

Globally, there are 12,945,505 cases with a daily increase of 437,656 cases as of July 13. It has taken the lives of 571,444 people, while 7,001,675 have recovered. That presents a mortality rate of 4.5 percent. Currently the United States accounts for 25 percent of all cases and deaths with 3,366,515 cases and 137,191 deaths for a mortality rate of 4 percent. The daily infection rate increased by over 75,000 on July13.

The state of Florida reopened despite not meeting the CDC established guidelines for reopening. As of April 1, there were 7,700 cases in Florida with a daily increase of under 1,000 new cases. Florid Governor Ron DesSantis reluctantly put the state in quarantine, although a mask order was not issued statewide. However, several counties including Alachua County did mandate face masks, which kept the rate lower in Alachua than 17 other counties.

The Stay-at-Home order closed most businesses and as a result unemployment surged, as it had throughout the rest of the country. The state quarantine kept the number of new cases down, with small peaks and valleys, but below the high on April 1.

Based on this steady number, DeSantis canceled the quarantine order on May 1. Businesses were allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity with social distancing enforced. Two weeks later he allowed bars, resorts and parks to reopen. However, many people ignored social distancing and mask requests. Two weeks later the rates began to rise again and continued to climb dramatically with two- to three-day small dips in numbers only to come back higher.

Since late June, Florida has seen an alarming increase in Coronavirus cases, with 10 times the daily infection rate of the initial spike in March. On July 13 the state set a record for number of daily new cases, higher than any previously reported by any state with a daily increase of 12,343 out of a total of 282,435 cases with 4,277 deaths, including an increase of 35 overnight. Based on the timeline, cases spiked while hospitalizations and deaths remained lower than new cases but are now beginning to catch up as the timeline progresses.

There have now been 18,498 hospitalizations during the pandemic in Florida. Current hospitalizations are filling 80 percent of the state's 5,023 ICU beds with less than 950 still available. Out of Florida's 67 counties, 25 have at least one hospital with no ICU beds available as of last week. Ten counties have less than 10 percent of their ICU beds available, and two counties have completely run out of adult ICU beds.

Testing has doubled over the last month, going from about 25,000 tests per day to almost 50,000, but the percentage of people testing positive has risen even more dramatically. A month ago, fewer than 5 percent of tests came up positive on a daily average. Over the past week, the daily average exceeded 11 percent per day.

Alachua County has fared better than 17 other counties partially due to stricter rules on masks and social distancing as well as a good medical base. As of July 13, Alachua County had 2,173 cases with 75 new cases in 24 hours. The county has administered 51,794 tests with a positivity rate much lower than state average at 4.2 percent although it has climbed from 3.2 percent two weeks ago.

Gainesville has a younger demographic than much of Florida with a median age of 29 among the cases. The mortality rate in Alachua County has remained low at 12 for more than five days. However, hospitalizations are rising and 80 percent of ICU beds are filled out of total of 320 beds. Unfortunately based on the timeline, the mortality rate is likely to climb in the next few weeks as hospitalized patients succumb.

While the economy needs to be revived with jobs recreated and schools reopening, allowing relaxation of the rules and people ignoring guidelines may force another shutdown to halt the ever-increasing surge as Florida is now the national hot spot.

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ALACHUA – Alachua based Ology Bioservices Inc., is receiving Department of Defense (DOD) biomanufacturing contacts valued at over $16 million. Through the Joint Science and Technology Office of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), DOD has awarded the company with three biomanufacturing contracts with a combined value of more than $16 million.

Ology Bioservices specializes in biologic drug substance manufacturing from early stage through commercial product. The company has 183,000 square feet of manufacturing, process development and QA/QC space in its state-of-the-art Advanced Development and Manufacturing Facility in Alachua. Ology Bioservices has more than 20 years of experience developing and manufacturing drugs and biologics for the U.S. government, with over $1.8 billion in government contracts awarded.

In the first program, valued at $8.5 million, Ology Bioservices will manufacture a conjugated vaccine candidate comprising the conserved protein from the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei and the adjuvant CPS-CRM-197. The vaccine candidate, developed at the University of Nevada, Reno, will be tested in a Phase 1 clinical trial and is being developed to prevent the disease melioidosis.

In the second program, valued at $4.6 million, Ology Bioservices will manufacture outer membrane vesicles from Burkholderia mallei as a potential vaccine against the bacterial disease glanders, an infectious disease primarily affecting horses. The vaccine candidate was developed at Tulane University. The material produced in this program will support a Phase 1 clinical trial.

In the third program, valued at $3.2 million, Ology Bioservices will manufacture a DNA vaccine against Venezuelan equine encephalitis to support a Phase 1 clinical trial. The vaccine was developed at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

“We are pleased to be working with DTRA on these important programs,” said Peter H. Khoury, President and CEO at Ology Bioservices. “The diverse biomanufacturing technologies employed in these three programs clearly demonstrate the capabilities of our team at Ology Bioservices and the functionality of the Advanced Development and Manufacturing Facility.”

The company’s infrastructure provides unique services to its clients, including full regulatory support from preclinical through licensure, clinical trial operational support and bioanalytical testing, as well as the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations manufacturing up to Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3).

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 NEWBERRY – A petition by the Oak View Village Homeowners Association (HOA) to close Southwest 251^st Way at Southwest 15 Avenue failed to pass during the July 13 Commission meeting. The HOA request specified placement of an unlocked gate across Southwest 251^st Way as a means to deter speeding drivers.

Although the roadway is owned and maintained by the HOA, Oak View Village is not a gated community. Since the road has been open to public traffic, the City has the right to determine whether the road should be closed or continue to be open to non-residential traffic.

The potential road closure has been discussed at several previous City meetings. Oak View Village HOA President Naim Erched, Vice-President Sherry Starbird and other residents encouraged Commissioners to approve the gate, which Erched said he would open and close himself each day.

Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas made the initial presentation to Commissioners and recommended against approval of the gate as a traffic deterrent. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic study while school was still in session and their report did not support the HOA’s claim that cars were speeding through that section of the subdivision.

During discussion Erched said that the temporary gate would be in place for one year to see how that worked. If it worked well, he said the HOA would consider an electronic gate for the future. Commissioner Monty Farnsworth moved to approve the gate and his motion was seconded by Commissioner Rick Coleman. Although they both specified there would be no time period conditions, the city attorney pointed out that the resolution was written with language that the issue would be reviewed in two years.

Further discussion as to whether the time period should be six months, a year or some other sunset date confused the issue further. In addition, comments made by Thomas, Commissioner Rocky McKinley and a call in from the City’s Planning Board member Linda Woodcock all suggested that other ways to curb speeding should be employed prior to installing a gate.

All three suggested that speed limit signs be installed within the subdivision by the HOA along with the implementation of other traffic calming devices. Woodcock said that a traffic signal at that intersection may also be required. Considerations involving emergency vehicle turnaround space and emergency access were also discussed.

Additional concerns that the City was not following its own Land Development Regulations (LDRs), which could put Newberry in an untenable situation down the road, also impacted deliberations.

Following the lengthy discussion and comments by all concerned parties, the earlier motion and second were voted on with Commissioners Marden, McKinley and Coleman voting no, despite the fact that Coleman had seconded the motion earlier.

Rather than Commissioners suggesting other options, Mayor Jordan Marlowe suggested the HOA meet again and let the City know how they plan to proceed with traffic calming.

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ALACHUA COUNTY – The voter registration deadline for the 2020 Primary Election is July 20.

Additionally, any voter who desires to change his or her party affiliation must do so by the July 20 deadline for it to be in effect for this election.

All Alachua County voters will be able to vote in this election, which will be held August 18.

Florida is a closed primary state, meaning that voters who want to vote in a partisan primary election must be a registered voter in the party for which the primary is being held. 

Voters registered with the Florida Democratic Party by July 20 will vote in Democratic contests, while voters registered with the Republican Party of Florida by that date will vote in Republican contests. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, will vote in nonpartisan contests, such as those for seats on the Alachua County School Board.

Registered voters are encouraged to verify and update voter registrations. This can be done at https://www.votealachua.com/My-Registration-Status or by calling 352-374-5252.

There are numerous ways for prospective voters to register:

• Online: Florida residents can register to vote online. The online voter registration portal — found at gov — is a safe and secure option for voter registration.
• In person: The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections’ office, located in Gainesville at 515 N. Main St. on the third floor of the Josiah T. Walls Building, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Registrations can also be completed and turned in at any Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office or Alachua County Public Library.
• After hours: The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections’ office has a secure after-hours drop box outside its main entrance. Completed forms received through the drop box by 11:59 p.m. July 20 will be accepted.
• By mail: Forms are available online at VoteAlachua.com. Mailed forms must be completed and postmarked by the July 20 deadline.

Currently registered Florida voters will be able to update their information through Election Day. It is recommended that they do so sooner, however, as it could mean a change in voters’ assigned polling places.

For more information, contact the Supervisor of Elections at 352-374-5252.

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GAINESVILLE - During a special meeting/workshop July 15, the School Board of Alachua County voted to push back the first day of school for students to Aug. 24. That two-week delay will allow for more preparation and planning before school begins. The Board’s vote included additional training days for teachers and staff.

The other item the School Board approved during the meeting was a mandatory mask policy. With limited exceptions, mainly for medical issues, students and staff will be required to wear masks at schools and on school buses.

Under a state order issued last week, all Florida public schools must reopen in person five days a week in August. Florida districts must also submit reopening plans that meet state requirements to the Florida Department of Education for approval. Those plans are due July 31 and must include an estimate of the number of students who plan to attend school online.

Under the district’s reopening plan, local families will have three options for instruction this fall. They include the traditional, brick-and-mortar option requirement mandated by the state and two online options—a Digital Academy and the Alachua eSchool. Families are being asked to choose the option they prefer by 11:59 p.m. on July 19.

More information about the three options, the Choose Your School Option form and a Frequently Asked Questions document that answers many of the most commonly-asked questions about the proposed return to school is available on the district’s website at: https://www.sbac.edu/Page/29815

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HIGH SPRINGS – An organization that brings comfort and joy to ease suffering during times of traumatic events, medical challenges and loss has been named SunState Federal Credit Union’s June 2020 Charity of the Month. This is the third time High Springs-based Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses has won the award. A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the organization along with a $300 nomination prize.

A charity can only be entered into the contest once every two years. Gentle Carousel won two years ago and then two years prior to that. However, they can’t win unless they are nominated and receive the greatest number of votes during a given month. In addition to the prize money, the Charity of the Month program provides local organizations community awareness in the local area and beyond.

The money will be used for transportation costs for the therapy horses. “Yes, they are still making visits with social distancing,” said Debbie Garcia-Bengochia, one of the organization’s administrators. “This week the horses will be outside the windows of several assisted living programs using indoor and outdoor iPads to talk to the residents and answer questions,” she said. Following their “window visits” residents receive stuffed toy horses as a remembrance of their visit.

According to Sunstate, Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses bring love to over 25,000 adults and children each year inside hospitals, hospice programs, assisted living programs, and with families, veterans and first responders who have experienced traumatic events.

A SunState spokesperson said, “Our number one goal for the Charity of the Month program is to give smaller, local organizations…the very ones that are the heart and soul of our communities…some much needed exposure.

“When you think about it, it’s hard to believe something as small and easy to accomplish as voting for a Charity of the Month could have such a big impact…but it does”

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