Jerry Holland, Duval County Real Estate Appraiser, Wife Hospitalized with COVID-19

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Duval County real estate appraiser Jerry Holland and his wife Beverly have been hospitalized with COVID-19, Holland confirmed to News4Jax.

Holland said he might be able to go home on Sunday, but his wife is not doing as well and is currently consuming 60 liters of oxygen.

“Keep us in your prayers,” he said via text message.

Holland said he didn’t feel well enough to talk further, but confirmed a Florida Times-Union report in which he said he and Beverly had been at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville since Monday.

Holland told The Times-Union that neither he nor his wife needed a ventilator.

None of them had been vaccinated, Holland told TU, but “I wish we had.”

Holland confirmed to News4Jax that her 39-year-old son has also tested positive for the virus but is recovering at home and has not been hospitalized.

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According to the TU report, Holland said he was one of seven employees at the real estate appraiser’s office to fall ill with the virus.

Holland is the latest Jacksonville elected official to report being hospitalized with COVID-19.

City Councilor Sam Newby has tested positive and was hospitalized with COVID-19 last year. He said he was praying for Holland and his family.

“I can tell you that it was twice when I was in the hospital that I thought I was going to die. That’s, that’s how bad it was,” Newby said. . “I lost 19 pounds in four days. And it’s a serious and serious virus. And I just want people to get vaccinated and wear their masks as well.”

City Councilor Ju’Coby Pittman was released from hospital late last month after spending time in the intensive care unit.

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While encouraging all eligible Jacksonville residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Mayor Lenny Curry said he does not plan to force the vaccination on anyone, including the city’s 8,000 employees.

In a tweet to Curry, News4Jax asked him if he would reconsider requiring masks inside city buildings, following the spread in Holland’s office. News4Jax received an email response, saying, on Friday, “17 city workers are positive for COVID-19. We continue to encourage our employees to get vaccinated. Data shows that almost everyone in need of treatment at our local hospitals is not vaccinated. The vaccine is the best tool we have to fight COVID-19. “

The statement did not relate directly to the masks. At a press conference earlier this week, Curry said there was little data on its effectiveness unless it was a properly fitted mask, such as an N-95, which did not is not intended to be worn for long periods of time.

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“I don’t discourage wearing masks if people want to wear masks, businesses want to demand it, they should, and people should honor and respect that,” Curry said. “If people get vaccinated, we won’t be in this situation. “

Newby agrees with the mayor. He was hospitalized with COVID-19 last year and wants his colleagues to take him seriously.

“I sent an email on Thursday encouraging all city council members to get vaccinated and wear masks while they are in the hallways and then at city council,” Newby said. “I mean, you know, I can’t mandate, but I encourage him.”

Some large employers and small businesses have demanded masks for their employees.