- April 24, 2024
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Volusia County Council Chair Ed Kelley is asking citizens to wear a face mask when in public for the next 30 days in hopes to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
He announced the initiative during a press conference on Thursday, July 2, saying that, while Volusia wants residents to "mask up," county officials will not make it a mandatory because they believe residents are responsible enough to follow the "Step Up Volusia" plan, which encourages residents to wash their hands, wear a mask and practice social distancing due to the coronavirus.
“You should be able to choose for yourself," Kelley said. "It shouldn’t be up to the Volusia County government."
The county continues to see a rise in cases. Volusia County Florida Department of Health Administrator Patricia Boswell said more COVID-19 cases have been reported in the past two weeks alone compared with the cases reported between March and early June. The county currently has 2,372 cumulative cases of coronavirus, and 58 people have died. The 14-day positivity rate is now at 10%, Boswell said; During the county's press conference on June 26, the 14-day positivity rate had been 6.5%.
“The data that I’m sharing with you says one thing: The virus is spreading in our community," Boswell said.
Dr. Margaret Crossman, chief medical officer at Halifax Health, said there are currently 16 people in the hospital's 30-bed COVID-19 unit. Six of those people are on ventilators. The hospital's intensive care unit has 30% of its beds open as of Thursday, July 2, a figure Crossman said has fluctuated daily between 20-35%.
The press conference included reminders for people to continue practicing social distancing while at the beach as the Fourth of July celebration approaches. The beaches will remain open.
If everyone masks up for the next 30 days, Kelley said he believes the number of new coronavirus cases will decrease significantly.
“Let’s do something and exercise our freedom to make a difference in the lives of everyone else that we come in contact with," he said.
Kelley shared that his brother's 21-year-old granddaughter, a student at the University of Tennessee, recently tested positive for COVID-19. She had contact with several family members, all of who have tested negative at this time.
COVID-19 is real, the chair said.
“It’s not a fig newton of your imagination," Kelley said. "It is out there. It is serious. It is dangerous.”
