Article Title

Palm Beach County Operations Update on Coronavirus - Monday, March 30, 2020

Post Date

Posted on Monday, March 30, 2020

Rollup Image

Palm Beach County Operations Update on Coronavirus - Monday, March 30, 2020

Body

 

*New* VIDEO UPDATE: GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ALONG WITH STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY TESTING SITE

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management Jared Moskowitz and Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner held a press conference on Monday, March 30, 2020 at the Palm Beach County COVID-19 Testing Site at The FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The site is set to open tomorrow morning by appointment only.

LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY:

PBC Orders, Actions & Announcements

  • *New* Beginning tomorrow at 8 a.m., physicians, dentists, nurses and medical support team members with the Health Care District's C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics will begin staffing the drive-thru test site in West Palm Beach. The Health Care District is commencing the drive-thru testing with 1,000 test kits and anticipates receiving supplemental kits and PPE's as early as tomorrow. The Health Care District's COVID-19 Screening Hotline opened today at 8 a.m. and received over 330,000 calls in the first 4 1/2 hours of operation. Appointments are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for patients who met the CDC screening criteria for testing. The Health Care District plans to reopen the COVID-19 Screening Hotline tomorrow morning to .continue scheduling appointments as more tests become available.
    The number to call is 561-642-1000.

  • *New* Home Chemical and Recycling Centers (HCRC) to Close
    Please help minimize risk to your solid waste workers. At the close of business Monday, March 30, the SWA will close five Home Chemical and Recycling Centers. This is due to continuing developments around the county's COVID-19 response, specifically Palm Beach County's Amendment to Emergency Order 3 on March 29 implementing the Stay Home-Stay Safe: Safer at Home Policy and Florida's Emergency Order 20-83.

    Two HCRCs will remain open for crucial customer needs only. They are:
    West Palm Beach Home Chemical and Recycling Center
    6161 N. Jog Road in West Palm Beach
    Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Saturday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    Delray Beach – West
    Southwest County Transfer Station
    13400 S. State Road 7 in Delray Beach
    Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

    As always, commercial quantities of hazardous waste require special disposal. Call 561-687-1100 for details on your business becoming registered as a small quantity generator.

    Garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulk waste collection are operating as scheduled.
    The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County has developed a COVID-19 website [swa.us3.list-manage.com] where impacts to solid waste services and programs are outlined.

  • *New* To ensure the safety and well-being of staff and the public during the current COVID-19 outbreak, and following discussion at the March 26, Board of County Commissioners Hearing, all Planning, Zoning, and Building public meetings for April are canceled. All public hearings scheduled at those meetings are postponed to dates to be determined. Once revised dates have been determined, the meetings will be rescheduled and all appropriate parties will be advised.

  • *New* You can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) at any lending institution that is approved to participate in the program through the existing U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) lending program and additional lenders approved by the Department of Treasury. You are eligible for a loan if you are a small business that employs 500 employees or fewer, or if your business is in an industry that has an employee-based size standard through SBA that is higher than 500 employees. For more information go to the U.S. Small Business Administration website.
  • All Non-critical retail and commercial businesses in Palm Beach County have remain closed until further notice. 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 2a
  • Click here to view all Local and Governor Executive Orders.
     
  • Palm Beach County remains under a State of Emergency
    Declaration of Continuing State of Emergency - 3-25-2020

SCHOOL INFORMATION

  • *New* Please be sure to check the full list of food distribution locations as some have changed.
  • Starting Monday March 30th, schools across Palm Beach County will be distributing 'Grab and Go' bags.
  • Students no longer need to be present to pick-up food.
  • Hours for Food distribution will be from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.


Originally Published

3/29/20

LOCAL CALL CENTERS
Palm Beach County Emergency Information Center remains open 7 days a week
from 8:00 am – 6:00 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.

TRANSPORTATION

  • PALM TRAN
    Palm Tran continues to operate on a Saturday schedule, except on Sundays which are operating on a Sunday schedule. Routes 1, 2, 3, 43 and 62 only will operate on a typical weekday schedule starting Monday. Palm Tran is operating fare free until further notice.
  • TRI-RAIL
    Trains have suspended fares and is operating on a modified schedule:
    18 trains on Weekdays, 12 trains on Saturday, 12 trains on Sunday.
  • BRIGHTLINE
    Brightline has suspended all train service until further notice.

PARKS & RECREATION
All parks and golf courses, both public and private remain closed until further notice.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
All Natural Areas are closed to the public until further notice.

RUMOR CONTROL

Is my homeowner's association pool considered a community pool?

  • Yes. Any pool that is used by multiple families or residences is considered a community pool. Pools located at a single family residence are private pools.


Tips for Caregivers?

When providing daily care to a person with Alzheimer's or dementia, caregivers face special challenges. COVID-19 may present additional concerns because dementia-related behaviors, increased age, and common health conditions may create additional needs. 

People living with dementia may need extra and/or written reminders and support to remember important hygienic practices from one day to the next.

  • Consider placing signs in the bathroom and elsewhere to remind people with dementia to wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds. 
  • Demonstrate thorough handwashing. 
  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be a quick alternative to handwashing if the person with dementia cannot get to a sink or wash his/her hands easily.
  • Inquire about fulfilling longer prescriptions that require fewer trips to the pharmacy. 
  • Make plans for the person with dementia should adult day care, respite, etc., be modified or canceled in response to COVID-19 common health conditions may create additional needs. 
  • Make plans for the person with dementia's care management should the caregiver become sick themselves.
  • Inquire about COVID-19 precautions occurring at long-term care facilities. Ensure they have your emergency contact information as well as a backup.

Who do I contact if I'm having symptoms?

    • Contact your primary doctor. If they are unable to provide you with a COVID-19 test, ask them for instruction on how to self-isolate at home.

What if I don't have a Doctor?

    • You can contact any urgent care center, or the county primary care clinics.

How long does it take to receive test results for COVID-19?

    • Testing results will be reported to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County who will notify the patient. Results can be expected within 2-3 days, however, it may take longer.
    • Individuals testing positive will be advised of isolation and quarantine protocols and referred for medical care if necessary.

I need assistance:

    • All seniors can access meals on wheels by calling the elderly helpline at 866-684-5885.
    • If your employment has been impacted by COVID-19, you may file a Reemployment Assistance Claim through CONNECT, Florida's online Reemployment Assistance System  http://floridajobs.org/.
    • Looking for work? You can search for jobs 24/7 by accessing the Virtual Career System from your computer or mobile device. Learn more ----> http://ow.ly/F0QZ50yX3cO
    • Food Assistance: United Way: https://211palmbeach.org/emergency-palmbeach

Follow us:

Twitter - http://twitter.com/pbcgov
Facebook - http://facebook.com/pbcgov
NextDoor - https://nextdoor.com

 

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


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

###

 

Attachments