Duval County — Mayor Lenny Curry held a virtual press conference with Duval County leaders and health officials to address the area’s rise in COVID cases today. Those in attendance included the mayors of the three beach communities in Duval County, Ellen Glasser, Elaine Brown and Chris Hoffman.
Dr. Saman Soleymani, from Avecina Medical and Charlie Cofer, Jacksonville’s public defender, were also included in the lineup.
Curry addressed those yet to be vaccinated with an urgency to do so as quickly as possible. His theme of “getting more shots into more arms” was carried consistently throughout the panel.
“To put it simply, the vaccine is the best tool we have to stop this virus,” he said. “It is the best tool we have to protect our health systems. It is the best tool to keep our economy thriving, prevent encroachment on personal freedoms, and put this pandemic behind us once and for all.”
Despite having administered 15,000 vaccines in the past two weeks, Jacksonville’s COVID hospitalizations - which can be directly attributed to the unvaccinated - tally in numbers not seen since last year, Curry says.
Dr. Soleymani addressed the risks associated with the highly infectious Delta variant to those who remain unvaccinated.
“The Delta variant is significantly more virulent than the original COVID-19,” he said. “Last year, 40 percent of the patients who tested positive were asymptomatic. This year, the ratio of patients that are asymptomatic are almost non existent. And the patients who test positive are quite sick and quite symptomatic.”
Atlantic Beach Mayor Ellen Glasser described her message as one of love and concern. She encouraged testing and wearing masks.
“The virus is the enemy,” she said.
Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown blamed “the unvaccinated as the reason that we’re here.”
Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman thanked Curry for the opportunity to present a united front for the safety of the community.
At this time, Curry has no intention to institute a mask mandate but he does encourage everyone to follow masking guidelines where they apply.
“Please get vaccinated,” concluded Curry. “In most cases, the vaccine is a safe and effective answer. It works, it’s effective and it could save your life.”