JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — In the final White House Task Force report under President Donald Trump to the State of Florida, health experts recommended Florida take mitigation actions to slow the spread of the virus.
The report describes Florida as a ‘red zone for cases.’
“… The situation remains unstable and Florida should mitigate to contain ongoing community spread,” the report stated.
The report, dated Jan. 17, was the ‘... last state report from the team of Birx, Zaidi, Vitek, Cavanaugh, and Crabtree.’
It listed several recommendations for slowing the spread, including closing some businesses’ indoor spaces if masks cannot be worn 100% of the time.
“During increased community spread, any indoor space where masks cannot be continuously worn must be substantially curtailed or closed; this includes bars, indoor dining, gyms, etc. As any unmasking indoors creates viral spreading events,” the report states.
The report praised winterized outdoor dining as another option.
Other recommendations include using granular data to take immediate action, mandating masks, reminding the public indoor gatherings are considered ‘key viral spreading events,’ testing proactively, and proactively vaccinating the most vulnerable.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry had this to say about the recommendations.
“To that question about the coronavirus task force recommendations, it’s important that people know that this isn’t an us against them thing. This is their opinion, their expert opinion, there are other experts that have other opinions,” said Curry. ...
