Coronavirus: Second case reported in Lake as cancellations continue

A second person in Lake County has tested positive for COVID-19, the state Department of Health said on Wednesday.

This case was a 56-year-old man and is connected to travel to Colorado, the state said. His hometown was not available.

Earlier, the state said a 75-year-old Lady Lake woman tested positive for the coronavirus. Her case related to her travel to New York, the department said.

Overall as of Thursday morning, 10 people had been tested in Lake, with two positive, seven negative and one with no result yet.

Meanwhile, a 68-year-old man from Sumter County has tested positive and was being treated as of Wednesday at UF Health Leesburg Hospital. The man’s illness was related to his travel to Egypt, the state said, but no other details about the man were available.

These numbers were as of Thursday. For the latest, check OrlandoSentinel.com/lake.

The cases come as coronavirus outbreak has prompted several cities and organizations in Lake County to cancel events and programs. Other counties and state cancellations can be found at OrlandoSentinel.com/coronavirus.

The Leesburg Bikefest officially was canceled Monday. It was scheduled for April 24-26. The Leesburg Partnership, which is an organizer of city events, also said it has canceled the Leesburg Fish Fry and Food Truck -N- Flick Nights through May.

The Lake County Jail plans to release 44 inmates accused of non-violent misdemeanor crimes as a coronavirus precaution, allowing them to await upcoming court dates outside confinement, the Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. Inmate visitation at the Lake County Jail is suspended until April 13

The City of Clermont declared a local state of emergency Tuesday because of the coronavirus outbreak, closing all city building and some parks from Wednesday to March 30.

And the state said late Tuesday it plans to keep students off public school campuses until April 15. It also will cancel standardized testing this spring, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.

In Clermont, Bishop, Hancock, Lake Hiawatha, McKinney, Palatlakaha and West parks will close, and all events at city facilities are canceled until May 11.

Clermont’s decision and the school closing comes a day after a 75-year-old woman became the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 in Lake County.

Lake Sumter State College said all courses will be conducted remotely through the end of the semester, which is in line with other state public college and universities. “Dual enrollment students are also expected to continue their coursework on the College’s schedule,” according to the college.

Lake County’s libraries closed, effective Monday, because of the coronavirus threat. Events, meetings and gatherings that were scheduled to take place at the libraries are also canceled through March. Item reservations will be paused but will resume once libraries open. Fines at all 16 Lake County Library locations will be waived during this time. Lake County Library System patrons are encouraged to utilize the digital resources available 24 hours a day via http://www.mylakelibrary.org/.

The Lake County school district, following a state education directive, will be out until April 15 and state testing is canceled.

The school district also is providing free breakfast and lunch meals to students who are 18 years old and younger during the extended school closure, now expected to last until April 15. The district said: “Initially, meals were to be distributed at five locations next week in response to school closures that are part of a worldwide effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Now, meals will be distributed at all traditional Lake County public school campuses, with the exception of Lake Hills School, and at Mascotte and Minneola charter schools. Addresses for the schools can be found on the district’s web site: www.lake.k12.fl.us. Students should go to the school nearest their home address to get their meals … Staff will distribute the meals directly to those in their vehicle (drive-through service) upon arrival. In addition, staff will hand-out meals directly to any walkers and/or bike riders that may lack motor-vehicle transportation. Students must be present to receive the meals. Students are not required to have parents with them when they come, but parents are not allowed to pick up meals without a student accompanying them.”

Montverde Academy will switch to virtual classes on March 23 after spring break until April 14. “We provisionally plan to commence our normal program on Tuesday, April 14 and hope to open campus for boarding students who did not remain on the campus on Saturday, April 11,” the school said on its website, noting that the situation is fluid.

Leesburg is suspending all meetings and activities at the Venetian Center, Resource Center, gymnasium, splash pad and Leesburg Public Library through March 30. This includes all City sponsored programs and use of meeting rooms by outside organizations and individuals. Recreation athletic programs including baseball, softball, pickleball and field rentals are also suspended during this period. The Downtown Leesburg Business Association’s BBQ and Blues event scheduled for March 21 and the Leesburg Partnership’s Spring Fish Fry, set for April 2, have been postponed. The canceled Leesburg Art Festival, originally scheduled for March 14-15, will likely be rescheduled for a later date. For updates go to LeesburgFlorida.gov.

The Sonnentag Theatre at the IceHouse in Mount Dora has canceled its performances of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder.”

The Melon Patch Players in Leesburg has postponed its production of “Caberet.”

The Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra canceled its March Fire and Ice concerts and will reevaluate its April concert dates, as needed.

Mount Dora canceled the Taste In Mount Dora, along with the Mount Dora 110 celebration. A new date will be announced. The Spring Festival, scheduled for March 21-22, also is being postponed. From a city news release: City events have either been postponed or cancelled until April 3, including “smaller events in the parks and/or alleyways and city streets, up to the larger festivals that shut down roads. Other organized events that occur at places like the Simpson Farmhouse and Martin Luther King building are postponed until April … Again, businesses and restaurants throughout the city remain open. At this time the City will not be renting any facilities for new events or parties through the month of March.” The city also is postponing through March the recreational programs for basketball, soccer and “Babe Ruth has been advised to postpone through the month,” the release said. Spring Break Camp, however, is going on as normal.

Mount Dora also canceled its its Spring Break Camp and Before and After Care programs until at least March 30, because they were to be held at Round Lake Charter School, which along with other county schools, is closed. “Families whose children were registered for these programs will receive a credit to their online registration account.,” according to a news release.

The W.T. Bland Public Library in Mount Dora will close Wednesday evening until further notice.

Lake County government officials have canceled all county-sponsored events through the end of March and future events are tentative. The events include n accordance with these recommendations, postponed events include the ribbon-cutting at Miracle League Field lasts week, the Engine 15 push back ceremony at Station 15 on Tuesday, the groundbreaking ceremony at Marianne Beck Memorial Library on March 20 and the How to Win Government Contracts seminar on March 23. UF/IFAS Extensions Services events, including the Spring Plant Sale on March 28, are also postponed. Also, For the latest event information, residents are encouraged to visit https://www.lakecountyfl.gov.

Lake County and other governments are encouraging residents and vendors to use online services when possible to pay bills, get permits, etc.

The Florida Department of Health in Lake County has canceled the county-wide Community Improvement Planning Consensus Workshop scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. March 24 at the Lake County Extension Office, 1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares.

The Florida Supreme Court also ordered the suspension all grand jury proceedings, jury selection proceedings, and criminal and civil jury trials March 27. Lake County jurors who were summoned during this time period will be excused and do not have to report. The Lake County Clerk’s office remains open at this time.

Tavares has closed its Pavilion on the Lake until further notice, with weddings and events rescheduled to the month of May. Recreation programs are suspended as well. The following special Events have canceled or been postponed: the Sunnyland Antique Boat Show, which was supposed to run March 19 to 22, Powerboat P1 Jet Ski Races, Lake County Pride Event in June, and the Seaplane-A-Palooza scheduled for March 28-29.

Trout Lake Nature Center in Eustis has suspended group activities until the coronavirus crisis abates. The park’s natural history museum has been closed as well, but the park’s trails are open to visitors.

Eustis is canceling or postponing the following events: 5th Annual Eustis Busker Festival on March 28th; Eustis Classic Car Show on March 28; 7th Annual Amazing Race for Charity rescheduled for May 30; Eustis Memorial Library will remain open, these programs are canceled — Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration (originally scheduled for March 16, Toddler & Preschool Story Times (originally scheduled for March 17), Crochet Circle & Reading Paws (originally scheduled for March 18), Mr. Rodgers Birthday Celebration (originally scheduled for March 19), Toddler & Preschool Story Times (originally scheduled for March 24), Adult Coloring & Reading Paws (originally scheduled for March 25), Toddler & Preschool Story Times, Boost Your Mood & Fitness (originally scheduled for March 31).

Groveland is canceling all city-sponsored and community events. These include Groveland’s Founder’s Week Celebration, such as the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association Softball Clinic at Jimmy Thomas Memorial Park on March 21, the Historic Society Scavenger Hunt at the Puryear Building on March 21, Groveland’s Downtown Festival Park Chili Cook Off on March 27, the Farmers’ Market in Downtown Festival Park on March 28 and the Cherry Lake Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on March 29.

The Leesburg Utility Customer Service Department has adjusted operations to promote social distancing standards, so customer wait times may increase. Utility customers are encouraged to pay their bill using the department’s drive through window or payment drop box instead. Customers may also pay their bill using a credit card, debit card or e-check using on-line services at leesburgflorida.gov or by telephone at 352-728-9810. In addition, Leesburg has suspended utility cut-offs and late fees until further notice, for all residential and commercial accounts.

If you know of an event that is being canceled, please email lake@orlandosentinel.com.

Clermont Police Seek Re-Accreditation

The Clermont Police Department (CPD) will be evaluated for state re-accreditation by a team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) come April 14, Police Chief Charles Broadway recently announced.

The assessors, all law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies, will examine all aspects of the CPD’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, including many standards that are critical to life, health and safety issues.

Clermont Police has received the accreditation continuously since 2004, and it lasts for three years at a time. The department must comply with over 240 standards in order to received accredited status.

As part of the onsite assessment, agency members and the public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team.

The assessment team will review written materials, interview people; and visit offices and other places they can observe compliance

CFA Assessment Team Leader Marie Reese, of Naples Police Department, will be joined by team members Capt. Keith Clark, of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and Nicole Abreu, of the West Palm Beach Police Department.

Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report to the full commission, who will decide if the agency will receive accredited status.

A copy of the standards may be requested through Clermont Police’s Public Information Officer at 352-536-8408.

Details and information on submitting written comments: CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302, or email info@flaccreditation.org.

Dream Finders Homes starts construction

Dream Finders Homes recently started construction on the Arlington, a four-bedroom, four-bath model planned for completion by this summer at the Ardmore Reserve community near Lake Minneola.

The 2,945-square-foot Arlington with Bonus model – at 1300 Blarney St. in Minneola – features a second-story bonus room and a three-car garage, according to Gerry Boeneman, president of Dream Finders Homes’ Central Florida division.

Four- to eight-bedroom homes are available at Ardmore Reserve with prices starting at $339,900. This 30-home community offers floor plans that range from 2,510 to more than 5,000 square feet on oversized 70-foot homesites.

The community is close to the scenic seven-mile South Lake Trail, downtown Winter Garden and main arterial highways (US 27, Hwy 50, Turnpike) providing easy access to dining, shopping and theme parks.

Details: 888-208-0483.

John Cutter is the Lake Sentinel editor. Reach him at jcutter@orlandosentinel.com. Correspondent Rosemarie Dowell contributed to this report.