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The Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group met yesterday as salons and barbershops reopened around the state and Hillsborough Commission Chairman Les Miller visited a grocery store and was “utterly shocked” at the lack of people wearing masks. “I was utterly shocked. I was probably among the 10 percent wearing masks, otherContinue Reading

The Florida Chamber Foundation’s new daily COVID-19 Tracker shows that Hillsborough County and Pinellas County are moving in the right direction when it comes to meeting important White House Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.  This free COVID-19 Tracker is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on www.TheFloridaScorecard.org and provides county-by-county dailyContinue Reading

The Hillsborough County commission voted on spending the $257 million received from the federal government in Cares Act coronavirus aid. Metropolitan Ministries, Feeding Tampa Bay and Career Source Tampa Bay top a list of wide-ranging assistance programs which will see money to help in the months ahead. Ron Barton, assistantContinue Reading

COVID-19 testing Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director Tim Dudley announced Monday that the county is expanding its point-in-time testing for COVID-19 coronavirus in order to get a clearer picture of how many residents may currently have the virus. Previously, pre-screening was required of persons wishing to be tested at oneContinue Reading

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported today that there are currently 303 long-term care facilities in the state with positive cases of COVID-19, including four in Hillsborough County. The facilities in Hillsborough County include Freedom Plaza in Sun City Center, Inspired Living At Tampa, Promise Pointe At Tampa OaksContinue Reading

In Hillsborough County, Florida, officials reported and additional three deaths in residents who tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the number of deaths to twelve. The fatalities occurred in people in ages ranging from 55 to 92 years. The county has seen 813 total cases through Monday. Statewide, the FloridaContinue Reading

On Monday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne, pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church for intentionally and repeatedly hosted church services with hundreds of members in attendance, despite knowing he was in violation of orders set in place by the President, the Governor of Florida,Continue Reading

On March 30, a 92-year-old female Hillsborough County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away. This is the third person to die in the county while diagnosed with COVID-19. To date, Florida has reports 85 COVID-19 deaths with Palm Beach County (14) and Broward County (12) reporting the most. Statewide, theContinue Reading

Hillsborough County Emergency Management announced today they have secured 1,000 additional testing collection kits from the State of Florida in anticipation of re-launching its COVID-19 community collection testing site at Raymond James Stadium. Officials are still working to secure the needed personal protective equipment that is required by the medicalContinue Reading

Hillsborough County issued a Safer-at-Home Order to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19. This applies to all residents within Hillsborough County including the cities of Plant City, Tampa,and Temple Terrace, effective as of 10:00 p.m. on March 27, 2020. Residents do not require a pass or a letter toContinue Reading

Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill issued a new Administrator Order 20-06 Tuesday afternoon confirming that no stay-at-home order has been directed. Here is the provision contained in this order: Pursuant to the discussions which took place at the Emergency Policy Group meeting of March 23, 2020 the vote by theContinue Reading

The Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group (EPG) Monday voted to move forward with plans to stand up a large-scale, COVID-19 coronavirus testing collection site at Raymond James Stadium. The site may open Wednesday if – and only if – the County has received from state government the necessary face masks,Continue Reading

Florida state health officials reported more than 150 additional coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 cases this morning reporting a new total of 1171 cases– 1096 confirmed cases in Florida residents and 75 cases in Non-Florida residents. The COVID-19 death toll has risen to 14. Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Hillsborough countiesContinue Reading