The latest Coronavirus test numbers released yesterday by the Florida Department of Health show that there have been 15 additional positives, and 145 negatives added to Highlands County’s ongoing count.
Of the 18,648 tests administered locally – 16,800 have been negative with 1838 positive cases recorded.
There have been 196 people hospitalized at some point during their illness and 67 deaths have been tied to the corona virus since numbers started being kept.
Several members of the Avon Park city council had a dust-up last night over the issue of raising taxes. While councilwoman Brenda Gray wanted to hold the line on the current .3-mil level, several other council members pointed to staffing issues and looming repair bills that are going to be costing money in the City of Charm.
Formal action on the millage will come later this month. On a unanimous vote, the council approved new regulations on parking lots that could help restaurants expand their outdoor dining facilities.
Highlands County commissioners this morning turned back yet another effort to impose a mask mandate on local citizens. A number of residents have repeatedly come before the commission asking for the decree.
Commissioners also talked about the issue of trash collection and recycling. They gave County Engineer Gator Howerton direction to move forward on a plan to simplify the recycling program, starting with a single recyclable item. Company officials say they will be happy to work with the county on working out a solution.
First, the Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring was moved back to September due to the Coronavirus. Now comes word they will be going head-to-head with another road race. The FIA apparently has moved the date of the 8 Hours of Bahrain up a week and now matches Sebring’s planned November 14th race date.
Sebring raceway officials say the change will not be a large challenge – citing the numerous travel restrictions in place worldwide. They also note not many of the drivers had been scheduled for both races.