Jacksonville Record & Observer 3/19/20

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Mathis Report: Commercial real estate leaders urge patience, perspective

March 19-25, 2020

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jaxdailyrecord.com

JACKSONVILLE

Record & Observer CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC JACKSONVILLE

‘One day a time’ Record &at Observer DAVID VUKICH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER UF HEALTH

TESTING AT TIAA BANK FIELD

JACKSONVILLE

Record & Observer Tents for a drive-thru coronavirus testing site were set up March 18 in Lot J at TIAA Bank Field. Mayor Lenny Curry announced March 16 that the facility could be operating by the weekend.

Hospital prepares and doctor takes own precautions

JACKSONVILLE

UF Health Jacksonville’s Chief Medical Officer David Vukich said working in a hospital during the coronavirus outbreak is unlike anything he’s experienced in his 36 years at the institution. “I think it’s fair to say that nobody in this country, unless they’ve worked with Doctors Without Borders, has experienced anything Vukich like this,” Vukich said. UF Health Jacksonville started making operational changes about four weeks ago, preparing the hospital to treat and contain the virus. It hasn’t seen any positive cases as of the morning of March 18, but Vukich said that could change. He and other hospital leaders meet three times a day to update each other. The hospital is limiting access to visitors, conserving its personal protective equipment like masks and gloves so it doesn’t run out, and setting up a screening area at UF Health North. It also sent medical students home. Vukich, 69, is “concerned for myself and my wife,” and is taking his own precautions to avoid contracting the virus. Older adults are more likely to become seriously sick. But that fear isn’t keeping him or UF Health staff from coming into work. “I have absolutely no intention of stopping or backing out,” he said. “I think it’s the same at the other hospitals. Everybody is showing up for work, despite perhaps having a little bit of fear.”

Record & Observer

A

new seafood restaurant faces

home. The business impact on Northeast

a crisis as sales suddenly

Florida and the U.S. was immediate as

plummet. A grocery store

state and federal officials moved to slow

owner must deal with the

the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

sudden demand for toilet paper, rice and

Business leaders share their stories as they

other staples. A commercial real estate

face the uncertainty of a shutdown with an

broker has visits canceled and must work at

unknown timeframe.

READ THEIR STORIES, PAGE 6

KATIE GARWOOD

Photo by Monty Zickuhr

Mendenhall Report: Concerns about an increase in city oversight PAGE 4 Basch Report: Weak fourth-quarter results at Stein Mart PAGE 8 The top 10 home sales of the week PAGE 10

THE SAILER REPORT

Apprehension, concern in residential real estate circles But there’s also a bit of optimism. PAGE 11 VOLUME 2, NO. 42 • ONE SECTION


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