With more testing going on here in Highlands County, positives for the Corona virus have increased. The number has increased by by six over the weekend. Since numbers started being kept nearly two months ago, there have been 87 positive cases of the disease registered locally.
The negatives also have increased. Of the 1,312 tests done here so far, 1,221 were found NOT to have the disease.
Some 30 people now have been hospitalized at some point during their illness in Highlands County.
Seven deaths have been attached to the Corona virus locally. Florida Department of Health officials say anyone who dies with the virus is listed as a fatality of the virus.
Governor Ron Desantis has announced that restaurants and many dry goods stores are being permitted to re-open today on a limited basis. Restaurants may open at 25-percent of their indoor capacity and can have outdoor seating with physical distancing. Most stores also will be permitted to re-open at 25-percent capacity.
The City of Sebring has announced the reopening of most of their city parks, recreation facilities, and beaches.
However, Sebring’s Charley Brown Park playground remains closed for renovation. One of the baseball fields at the Max Long Complex has recently been sodded and also will remain closed until it has had a chance to establish.
A couple of car crashes have kept law enforcement and first responders busy over the weekend. According to reports, there was a bad wreck late last night. According to Florida Highway Patrol reports a pickup truck was westbound on State Road 64. It left the highway and slammed into a stand o trees. A 38-year-old Punta Gorda man apparently was critically injured in that one.
A pickup truck was involved in an accident Saturday night on South Sun ‘n Lakes Blvd, south of Lake Placid. At least one victim was transported from that one.