​LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY

VIDEO UPDATE FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER

Individuals with questions related to the coronavirus should call the Florida Department of Health's Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-779-6121 which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week or email mailto:COVID-19@flhealth.gov. They can also visit http://pbchd.org for the latest health information. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus COVID-19

EXECUTIVE ORDERS ISSUED BY GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS

• *New*#2020-85 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Telehealth and Immunizations for State Group Insurance
  The State Group Insurance Program (SGI) provides coverage to State Employees. All SGI plan providers have in-network or contracted, Florida-licensed telehealth providers ready to provide health care services effective immediately which would allow state employees to remain in their homes, if sick, and avoid exposure to other sick individuals; or, if not sick, to attend physician appointments without fear of exposure to others.
• #2020-83 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 --  Protective Measures for Vulnerable Populations, Gatherings of Private Citizens and Density of the Workforce
  All persons over 65 years of age are urged to stay home and to take other measures as necessary to limit their risk of exposure to COVID-19. A public health advisory remains in effect against all social or recreational gatherings of 10 or more people.
• #2020-82 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 -- Isolation of Individuals Traveling to Florida
  All persons who enter Florida from an area with substantial community spread, to include the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York), must isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into the State of Florida or the duration of the person' s presence in the State of Florida, whichever is shorter.
• #2020-80 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 -- Airport Screening and Isolation
  Mandates airline passengers arriving into Florida on flights from New York and surrounding areas must undergo a 14-day quarantine. Travelers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will be subject to the mandatory quarantine.  Anyone who violates this could be fined $500 and face 60 days in jail. Airline employees and those performing emergency health or military duties are exempt.
• #2020-72 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Non-essential Elective Medical Procedures - 03/20/2020
  All hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, office surgery centers, dental, orthodontic offices, and other health care practitioners' offices in the State are prohibited from providing any medically unnecessary, non-urgent or non-emergency procedure or surgery which, if delayed, does not place a patient's immediate health, safety, or wellbeing at risk.
• #2020-71 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Alcohol Sales, Restaurants, and Gyms - 03/20/2020
  All restaurants and food establishments may operate their kitchens for purpose of providing delivery or take-out services. Such vendors may continue to sell alcoholic beverages in sealed containers for consumption off-premises.
• #2020-70 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Broward and Palm Beach County Closures - 03/20/2020
  All beaches remain closed in Palm Beach and Broward counties. All movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys, arcades, gymnasiums, fitness studios. This does not apply to gyms and fitness centers which are amenities of hotels, which have a capacity of 10 persons or less, or are an amenity of a residential building.
• #2020-69 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Local Government Public Meetings - 03/20/2020
  Local government bodies may utilize communications media technology such as telephone and video conferencing.
• #2020-68 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 regarding bars, beaches, and restaurants - 03/17/2020
  Establishments that attract gatherings of more than 10 people and are more susceptible for
  spreading COVID-19; must limit its occupancy to 50% of its current building occupancy and abide by the CDC's "social distancing" guidelines.
• #2020-52 Executive Order re: Emergency Management – COVID-19 Public Health Emergency - 03/09/2020
  Each State agency may suspend the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or the orders or rules of that agency.
• #2020-51 Executive Order re: Establishes Coronavirus Response Protocol and Directs Public Health Emergency - 03/01/2020
  The Florida Department of Health has been designated as the lead state agency to coordinate emergency response activities among the various state agencies and local governments.
  

Declaration of Continuing State of Emergency PBC
The Palm Beach County State of Emergency Declaration is in effect through April 3^rd.

Emergency Order Number 3
All parks and golf courses, both public and private remain closed until further notice.

Emergency Order Number 2
All Non-critical retail and commercial businesses in Palm Beach County have been ordered to close. The continuing operation of critical businesses is necessary to provide goods and services to the public, to keep the public healthy and to ensure availability of supplies.
A list of critical businesses can be found here:   Emergency Order Number 2

Amendment to Emergency Order Number 1
All boat docks, ramps, marinas, and any other venues utilized for launching any vessels to be used for recreational purposes, are hereby closed until further notice.

Emergency Order Number 1
Boat Ramps - all boat ramps and marinas are closed to all recreational boating activities to include boat launching, in/out storage activities, and boat rentals in Palm Beach County until further notice. Commercial marine operations are permitted to operate.

Airports

Teams have been deployed to Palm Beach International to screen passengers flying into Palm Beach County. This is in response to the Governor's order 20-80 that all people traveling to Florida from the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York), must quarantine for 14 days from the time of arrival.

Environmental Resources Management

All Natural Areas are closed to the public until further notice. This order will remain in effect until the expiration of the county's Declaration of Emergency.

Palm Beach County Constitutional Offices

Palm Beach County Constitutional Offices have modified their operations. Please visit their website for specific operational information.

Clerk and Comptroller                                                         Public Defender

Judges and Courts                                                                State Attorney

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office                                  Supervisor of Elections

Property Appraiser                                                              Tax Collector

Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning and Building modified services

Please visit the Planning, Zoning & Building website for specific information or click on the links below.

Code Enforcement - English
Code Enforcement - Spanish
Building -COVID-19 Notice
Contractors Cert - COVID-19 Update
Planning - COVID-19 Notice
Zoning - COVID-19 Procedures 

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 3/25/20

Local Call Centers

• Palm Beach County Emergency Information Center remains open
  7 days a week from 8 am – 6 pm. 561-712-6400
• Boca Raton 561-982-4900 
• Greenacres 561-642-2000 
• Town of Palm Beach 561-227-7070 
• Riviera Beach 561-812-6597 
• Wellington  561-791-4000
• West Palm Beach 561-822-2222

               Or contact your municipality. 

Animal Care & Control

There is no evidence that pets can contract or spread COVID-19.  While dogs and cats do carry their own versions of different viruses, these strains have been around for a long time, pets are vaccinated against many of them, and, except for rabies, are not transmitted to humans.

School Feeding Sites

The school district has a number of schools open for students who need access to food.  All other individuals can contact 211 for resources.

School Feeding Sites - Week of Spring Break
School Feeding Sites - As of Monday, March 30, 2020

Libraries

Library locations continue to remain closed to the public. Employees are available via phone and internet to answer questions and offer assistance. http://www.pbclibrary.org/locations

Palm Tran

Palm Tran continues to operate on a Saturday schedule. The reduced level of service requires fewer bus operators and minimizes interactions between bus operators and passengers. Palm Tran is operating fare free until further notice.

Partnering Agencies

• The Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County is open and connecting parents who are emergency response personnel and essential-business workers to open child care facilities and early learning centers. For more information, call 561-514-3300.
• CareerSource Palm Beach County has closed its offices to the public until further notice. The organization will continue to provide services online and by email and phone to serve job seekers and employers at this critical time.
  

Community Services

All Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) offices are closed for walk-in visits. The Division of Human and Veteran Services (DHVS)/Homeless and Prevention Services is not taking in-person appointments, but is still scheduling appointments over the phone through the Lewis Center at 561-904-7900. Appointments will be scheduled for a phone interview only. Veteran Services appointments are available only via phone at 561-355-4761.

The county's three (3) senior centers are closed.

Adult daycare centers at county senior centers are closed.

Contracted vendors continue providing in-home services by conducting assessments over the phone, as approved by the Department of Elder Affairs/Area on Aging Agency. Stipend Senior Companion Program volunteers and RELIEF volunteers are providing services by phone.

Youth Services Department

Summer Camp Applications are still being processed.  Deadline is March 31, 2020.  The application is online at http://discover.pbcgov.org/youthservices/Pages/Summer_Camp.aspx. Technical assistance in filling out the application can be obtained by calling 561-242-5713.

STATE PROGRAMS

Those impacted by the spread of COVID-19 in the state can File a Reemployment Assistance Claim through CONNECT, Florida's online Reemployment Assistance System  http://floridajobs.org/

RUMOR CONTROL

There is no curfew for Palm Beach County, except for the Town of Palm Beach which has a curfew in effect from 9 pm – 6 am until May 12th.

2020 Census

Palm Beach County residents should have received their invitation to complete the 2020 Census questionnaire. All residents are urged to complete the questionnaire as soon as they can. It will take about 10 minutes to complete. It's safe, secure, and confidential. Information and privacy are protected. Responding to the Census helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services. Results from the 2020 Census will be used to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress and political representation at all levels of government. You Count in Palm Beach County.

We remind everyone to practice good hygiene and we continue to make the health and safety of residents our top priority. We also are reminding everyone to follow social distancing, (a six-foot distance), guidelines recommended by the CDC.

For the latest information and updates from Palm Beach County, visit http://pbcgov.com/coronavirus.

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