PORT ORANGE
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOUR TOWN: Pranav Swaminathan, of Spruce Creek High School, was a finalist in the 2020 Dr. Ying Science Competition. He received $1,000.
FREE • APRIL 2020
VOLUME 3, NO. 9
County tables motion barring citizens’ signs during meetings
Food, face shields and thank-you cards
The resolution stated this was meant to reduce disruption and prevent an audience member’s view of the meeting from being obstructed. JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Volusia County Council decided unanimously to table a resolution that, if passed, would have prevented the public from holding up signs and banners inside the council chambers during a meeting, an action some residents believed infringed on their First Amendment rights. The purpose of the resolution was to make sure that signs didn’t obstructing an audience member’s view of the meeting, as well as to reduce disruption. If it had been passed, it would have also prohibited audience members from issuing unauthorized remarks, including yelling and outbursts; it would have also prohibited obscene language, “fighting words,” or the encouragement of meeting disruptions. The county chair would have been responsible to determine whether one of these regulations had been broken. Councilwoman Barb Girtman made the motion to table the item, in light of earlier public comments — delivered via video to the council’s livestream — as well as comments she had received SEE COUNTY PAGE 4
Courtesy photo
Health care workers and first responders at local hospitals received a free meal this week courtesy of the Daytona Auto Mall, Food Supply Inc. and Houligan’s. Hosted by Fields BMW, the businesses held a luncheon for 500 at AdventHealth Daytona Beach on Monday, April 13, and Halifax Health Hospital on Wednesday, April 15. The luncheon was held to show appreciation for those on the front lines of COVID-19.
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Social distancing is here to stay
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AdventHealth’s experts discuss what reopening businesses might look like. BRIAN MCMILLAN
Local Postal Customer
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
In the future, when businesses are encouraged to reopen, how will employees and customers be kept safe? Dr. Vincent Hsu, infection control officer at AdventHealth, and Dr. Scott Brady, an internal medicine physician and president of AdventHealth Centra Care, answered this and other questions April 21 at a new Facebook Live show. The show will be streamed at 8:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at https://www.facebook.com/LifeAtAdventHealthCFL. Previous episodes can be watched after the fact.
“Social distancing is going to be with us for the foreseeable future,” Hsu said. “Keeping customers, keeping people six feet apart. Restaurants, for example, may need to space their tables farther apart. When lines form, there may need to be markers on the ground so customers know to stay 6 feet apart. We do need to get this open, but we can do that in a way that reduces the risk of transmission.” Brady also said AdventHealth employees wear masks and take their temperatures; other businesses may need to do the same as the economy eventually reopens. Employees and businesses will also need to take very seriously
the advice to stay home if you’re feeling sick. CAN YOU GET COVID-19 BY TOUCHING A PACKAGE?
Hsu also discussed the likelihood of getting the virus from handling groceries or deliveries. It is possible to touch an infected package, then touch your mouth, and then become infected. Hsu said washing your hands after handling packages is recommended. However, Hsu said, “We have not heard of anyone who has developed COVID from touching a package.” Email editor@palmcoastobserver.com.
ARE WE PAST THE PEAK? Data indicate that the curve is flattening, according to Hsu. “We may be at our peak, and we are starting to see a slight decline now, which may indicate we are past our peak,” he said. The initial numbers, he said, indicated that the spread would be even worse than it has been. The fact that the number of new cases has slowed down is encouraging.