Coronavirus: Latest Numbers, School Meal Sites Added In Pinellas

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — In line with the State Emergency Operations Center, the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center upgraded to a Level 1 Virtual Activation on Wednesday

Virtual, in this case, means that many county staff and partners are working remotely to maintain safe social distancing and reduce the risk of spreading the new coronavirus. County or partner staff reporting to the EOC continue to be screened for illness before entering the facility.

Latest Positive Cases

As of Saturday, April 4, there have been 342 positive cases and seven deaths in Pinellas County.

Those who tested positive include 184 males and 158 females ranging in age from 6 to 95. Of those, 60 have been hospitalized.

Statewide, 10,268 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus and 170 people have died.

Coronavirus by city:

• St. Petersburg 85
• Clearwater 65
• Largo 51
• Palm Harbor 18
• Seminole 18
• Tarpon Springs 14
• Dunedin 10
• Pinellas Park 8
• Clearwater Beach 6
• Safety Harbor 4
• Oldsmar 3
• Gulfport 3
• Belleair 2
• Madeira Beach 2
• Bay Pines 2
• Indian Rocks Beach 2
• Belleair Bluffs 2
• South Pasadena 1
• Crystal Beach 1
• Belleair Beach 1
• North Redington Beach 1

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Refusal To Quarantine Could Mean Jail Time

Anyone believed to be infected with the coronavirus or who is believed to have been exposed to it – but refuses to quarantine – can be held without bond at the jails in Pinellas and Pasco counties, according to an administrative order signed by Anthony Rondolino, chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, March 27.

Meal Distribution Sites Doubled

To reach more families in need during this unprecedented period of school closures, Pinellas County Schools will more than double the number of school sites for meal distributions.

Seven new sites will go online starting Monday, April 6, followed by six more school sites on Monday, April 13. This will bring the district’s total number of meal distribution locations from nine to 22.

The times and days will vary next week between the original nine locations and the seven new schools as the school district transitions to a consistent schedule for all 22 meal distribution school sites starting on April 13.

The nine original school sites and times remain the same except for Friday. There will be no distribution on Good Friday, April 10. Thursday distribution will include meals for Thursday and Friday.

Sites include:

• Dunedin Middle School 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin 10:45 am-11:45 am
• Eisenhower Elementary 2800 Drew St., Clearwater 11:00 am-Noon
• Fairmount Elementary 575 41st St. S., St. Petersburg 10:15 am-11:15 am
• Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary 6505 68th St. N., Pinellas Park 11:00 am-Noon
• John Hopkins Middle School 701 16th St. S., St. Petersburg 10:30 am-11:30 am
• New Heights Elementary 3901 37th St. N St. Petersburg 10:45 am-11:45 am
• Plumb Elementary School has replaced Ponce de Leon Elementary School in Clearwater 11:15 am-12:15 pm
• Southern Oak Elementary 9101 Walsingham Rd. Largo 11:15 am-12:15 pm
• Tarpon Springs Elementary 555 Pine St. Tarpon Springs 10:30 am-11:30 am

The seven new school sites opening April 6 will distribute meals on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday only from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. These schools will distribute two days' worth of meals (two breakfasts and two lunches) on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

• Azalea Middle School 7855 22nd Ave N., St. Petersburg
• Bay Point Elementary School 2151 62nd Ave S., St, Petersburg
• Clearwater Intermediate 1220 Palmetto St., Clearwater
• High Point Elementary School 5921 150th Ave N., Clearwater
• Kings Highway Elementary School 1715 Kings Highway, Clearwater
• Largo Middle School 155 8th Ave SE., Largo
• Oak Grove Middle School 1370 S Belcher Rd., Clearwater

The six new school sites opening April 13 are:

• Anona Elementary School 12301 Indian Rocks Rd., Largo
• Garrison-Jones Elementary School 3133 Garrison Rd., Dunedin
• Gulfport Elementary School 2014 52nd St S., Gulfport
• McMullen Booth Elementary School 3025 Union St., Clearwater
• North Shore Elementary School 200 35th Ave NE., St. Petersburg
• Sawgrass Lake Elementary School 1815 77th Ave N., St. Petersburg

All school sites switch to a Monday, Wednesday and Friday only schedule from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All schools will prepare meals in the school site kitchens.

Grab-n-Go bags include meals for two days (two breakfasts and two lunches) per student adding Saturday for total of six days per week.

Breakfast includes: cereal or breakfast bar, juice (orange juice, apple juice or mixed fruit) and milk.

Lunch includes: Sandwich (PBJ or meat and cheese; fruit cup (either applesauce, strawberries or peaches), juice (orange juice, apple juice or mixed fruit) and milk.

• Meals are free for anyone 18 years old and under
• The child or teen must be present to receive the meals
• Meals will be served as drive-through at the car/bus circle. Walkers should go to the main entrance of the school.

9 New Donations Sites Open

Due to the critical need for personal protective equipment and disinfectants, the county is coordinating nine new donation sites at local fire stations and nonprofits that will operate this week, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Donation sites:
• Fire Station 29, 11195 70th Ave. N., Seminole
• Fire Station 57, 3375 Tarpon Lake Blvd., Palm Harbor
• Fire Station 54, 225 Pine Ave., Oldsmar
• Fire Station 35, 11350 N. 43rd St., Pinellas Park
• Fire Station 25, 250 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach
• Fire Station 24, 180 108th Ave., Treasure Island
• Fire Station 23, 7301 Gulf Blvd., St Pete Beach
• St. Pete Free Clinic, 3115 44th Ave. N., St Petersburg
• RCS Pinellas, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater

Supplies will be delivered to local hospitals, long-term care facilities and first responders to ensure their safety.

Items needed:

• Surgical face masks (note: homemade face masks can't be accepted at this time)
• P100 masks
• N95 masks
• Face shields
• Nitrile exam gloves, powder free
• 5 and 7 mil nitrile gloves
• Eye protection - safety glasses
• Surgical tear away gowns
• Safety eye goggles
• Hand sanitizer (any size) 60 percent alcohol
• 91 percent isopropyl alcohol
• Clorox wipes
• Lysol disinfectant spray
• Sani-cloth wipes
• 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• Invasive positive pressure ventilators that can be used for intubated patients
• CPAP for sleep apnea
• BiPAP/BiLevel for sleep apnea
• High-Flow Nasal Cannula Set-ups

Items must be unopened and unused.

Residents and businesses can continue to help local food banks by taking nonperishable food items to one of the following food banks:

• Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center, 304 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• RCS Pinellas, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• St. Pete Free Clinic, 863 3rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Pinellas County coronavirus donations page.

Advice And Information

• The city's public information staff continues its outreach to all residents, including Spanish- and Vietnamese-speaking residents as well as the deaf/hard of hearing community through American Sign Language public service announcements.
• County staff continues to answer hundreds of inquiries through the Citizen Information Center, online chat and social media.
• The Pinellas Regional 911 call center has enacted stress reduction programs for the operators on the front lines.
• Visit the county's coronavirus website for the latest county information on the coronavirus.
• For questions, call the Citizen Information Center at 727-464-4333 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those with a hearing impairment can chat online.
• Report violations of the Safer at Home order for businesses by calling the Sheriff's Tip Line at 727-582-TIPS. Businesses can also call that number with questions about how the order applies to them. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Tip Line received more than 365 tips as of March 30.
• Register for emergency alerts.