Spike

June 19, 2020





 



 



Spike

Since the Florida Keys reopened to tourists on June 1^st, we have been expecting that the cases of Covid-19 would trend upward as people who had been cooped up for months were suddenly unleashed into our community and businesses began to reopen. There is always something of a lag between exposure to the virus and testing results showing the uptick in cases, which began as expected, first as a slight bump and now more of a rapidly growing spike that has seen the numbers in Florida break records on an almost daily basis. Today alone almost 4000 new cases were reported in the state in the highest daily total to date.

 









The numbers around the country are on the rise in 23 states with Florida being the current epicenter of the latest outbreak. Nationwide there have now been 2,194, 501 confirmed cases with a staggering 118,257 people who have died from the corona virus. Locally the numbers are spiking as well as there have now been 150 cases in Monroe County with 56 cases here in Key West and 4 deaths. The numbers continue to rise even though we have restrictions in place requiring that masks be worn in all public places and limiting the numbers of people who can go in to most venues.





 







The tourists have returned in droves as it has been as busy here in Key West as Spring Break usually is and way busier than the typical summer season. While that is good news for the local economy as businesses are seeing their first business booms in months, for the local health scene it is another story altogether. It has been just a strange time all around. Businesses report that many visitors are resistant to wearing masks and socially distancing and have created problems for the staff of many places as wearing masks has become shockingly politicized because of the stance of President Trump who refuses to wear one and suggests that wearing masks is somehow a statement against him personally rather than a public health issue.



 





Wait staff and bartenders have been put in the unenviable position of being enforcers of the county mandated rules with a public that often feels put upon by wearing face and mouth protection. It is a crazy scenario. There was even one crazy instance of a tourist who is Covid-19 positive leading police on a high speed chase up the Keys from Key West, before tire spikes led to him crashing his car and being arrested. He claimed he was late to catch a flight in Miami and admitted that he had been out socializing and not following proper etiquette even though he knew he was infected. They had to isolate him in a special cell at the local jail to prevent spread.

 

Erin

Carol





As frightening as the situation is, it hasn’t stopped life from going on and in that vein, this week featured the first local political forum hosted by Hometown at the Studios of Key West and as always I was on hand to take photos of all the candidates for local office who spoke at the Meet the Candidates forum. It was by far the weirdest and most unusual Hometown event I have attended in more than 20 years of attending. First off it was a virtual event only, meaning besides the candidates themselves, the camera and sound technicians and a couple of Hometown Board members, I was the only other person on-sire.

Mark

 





No members of the public were allowed in, only a limited number of spaced out candidates who were each given three minutes to speak while the event was broadcast live on local TV and the internet. It was something of a surreal experience as those running for offices ranging from County and City Commission seats, State Senators, Utility Boards etc. all were on hand. Probably the most interesting and potentially combative seats up for election in the Key West Mayor’s race. 







Overall I was not wowed by any of the candidates, for some it was their first foray into politics and it showed as they were nervous or didn’t really have much to say specific about much. I was especially disappointed that not one single candidate mentioned the Black Lives Matter movement that has been dominating current consciousness of late. Hopefully as the campaigns move along they will find their footing and get better than this initial outing. It has to be the most bizarre campaign season ever for these people.



 





Other than that Kathy and I have been maintaining our usual low profile. There has been some excitement locally as a rare Roseate Spoonbill has taken up residence with a local flock of Ibis that has been residing in the FAA fenced in lot just behind the Dog Park at Higg's Beach. While common in the Everglades and throughout much of South Florida, sightings of the species here is fairly uncommon and it had been cool to see him each morning when I take Jack for his daily beach walk.