In response to the growing Covid-19 coronavirus emergency, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority said it will allow bus drivers to limit the number of riders on their bus to no more than 10 people at any given time. PSTA also is planning to scale back overall service levels by approximately 40 percent starting Monday, March 30. "I am hoping everyone practices social distancing and allows the buses to be used by only those who have no option but to use transit to get to essential work, medical appointments or the grocery store.” said Brad Miller, PSTA CEO, in a news release. PSTA earlier suspended collection of fares at the bus’s front door to reduce crowding and required most patrons to use the bus’s back door.
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance has compiled this list of local and national grants, loans and tools for artists facing financial crisis during the Covid-19 emergency. The printable four-page pdf can be downloaded here.
Embarc Collective, the downtown Tampa startup and innovation hub, has developed an open source database to compile resources available to support entrepreneurs and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. This list includes professional and personal resources to help startup operators and their families stay healthy and effective during this time. Embarc said it welcomes contribution to the database here and is encouraging everyone to share the information.
Moody's Investors Service has placed SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment (NYSE: SEAS) credit ratings on review for downgrade due to the coronavirus outbreak's impact on the company's ability to operate its amusement parks. SeaWorld announced that all of its parks, including Busch Gardens in Tampa, would be temporarily closed until the end of March. There is a risk that the parks will be closed for an additional period of time which could substantially erode operating performance and significantly pressure liquidity for the rest of the year, Moody's said. "SeaWorld competes for discretionary consumer spending from an increasingly wide variety of other leisure and entertainment activities. The parks are highly seasonal and sensitive to weather conditions, changes in fuel prices, terrorism, public health issues, as well as other disruptions outside of the company's control. SeaWorld also has a significant capital spending program for new rides and attractions that is expected to help support attendance during normal business conditions, but would likely be curtailed during the coronavirus outbreak," the March 20 Moody's report said. "The rapid and widening spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating global economic outlook, falling oil prices, and asset price declines are creating a severe and extensive credit shock across many sectors, regions and markets. The combined credit effects of these developments are unprecedented. The amusement park sector could be one of the sectors most significantly affected by the shock given its sensitivity to consumer demand and sentiment."
McKibbon Hospitality has established an associate assistance fund in response to the profound impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic to the hospitality industry. The fund is designed to help McKibbon's recently laid-off employees with groceries and other necessities and will provide payments of $200 every two weeks for 90 days beginning on April 3, the company said in an announcement on HospitalityNet. "In the 94 years that McKibbon Hospitality has been in business, we have never endured more challenging times," the announcement said. The Tampa company, which builds, renovates and manages hotel properties and had a portfolio of more than 85 managed hotels in more than 30 cities, completely suspended operations at several hotels and laid off most of its workers.
Forty-four percent of hotel workers in every state are expected to lose their jobs, or already have lost their jobs, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the hospitality industry, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. In Florida, 88,631 hotel direct operations jobs will be lost, with 305,146 hotel-supported jobs at risk, the association said, citing research by Oxford Economics. Based on current occupancy estimates, the association said four million total jobs nationwide have been eliminated already or are on the verge of being lost in the next few weeks.
Gov. Ron DeSantis followed the precedent of states like California, New Jersey, Minnesota and many others Friday, closing all gyms and dine-in restaurants to mitigate the effects of Covid-19. DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-71, ordering restaurants and food establishments within the State of Florida to suspend on-premises food and alcohol consumption. Establishments are, however, allowed to operate their kitchens for delivery or take-out options
DeSantis also lifted the restrictions for specially licensed food service establishments to sell alcohol for delivery or take-out off-premises. To-go or delivery alcohol sales with food will be permitted, and will require an I.D.
The order requires the closure of the all gyms and fitness centers throughout the state, unless part of a hotel, residential building, police station, or single-occupancy office building.
Read the details of the order here: DeSantis Executive Order 20-71Following the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners' decision to close public beaches effective Friday night at 11:59 p.m., the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority announced it will immediately discontinue the free Park & Ride Spring Break Service, which provides free trolley service from downtown Clearwater to Clearwater beach. PSTA will continue to provide its regular service. That schedule can be seen here. PSTA also will continue regular service of the Jolley Trolley and Suncoast Beach Trolley. In order to reduce crowding and bunching, all transit services in Pinellas County are free. Customers are encouraged to use the back door of the bus to enter and exit.
BayCare Health System is postponing elective surgical procedures starting today and continuing through April 30 at its hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. BayCare said the move is intended to serve the public’s health amid the coronavirus pandemic. The change applies to procedures that can be delayed without danger to the patient and includes elective surgeries, screening colonoscopies,
Taubman Centers (NYSE: TCO) is temporarily closing most of the company’s U.S. shopping centers, including International Plaza in Tampa, in response to Covid-19. The closures took effect Thursday night and and will continue through March 29, or later if required by state or local government, Taubman said in a news release. "We are clearly in unprecedented times and this is right decision for our shoppers, retailers, employees and these communities," said Robert S. Taubman, chairman, president and CEO. Two open-air, street-front retail centers in Kansas City, Mo. and in Waikiki, Hawaii may continue to operate, the company said.
The Pinellas County board of county commissioners voted unanimously late Thursday to close all public beaches from Saturday, March 21 to April 6. The full story is here.
Tampa General Hospital temporarily is implementing new visitor rules, to prevent community spread of Covid-19 coronavirus. Under the new rules adult patients can designate one support person who will be the patient’s only approved visitors. For pediatric patients, including babies in the neonatal intensive care unit, both parents can be approved visitors. For patients giving birth, their partner and a certified birth assistant can be present during delivery, and the partner can remain after delivery. No other visitors will be allowed and each approved visitor must provide photo identification. TGH also is suspending all elective surgeries for out-of-state patients.
