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*New* DOH- Palm Beach COVID-19 Thank You to Employees
"Public Health employees are the unsung heroes." "The community needs us now more than ever," says Dr. Alina Alonso in this heartfelt message to Palm Beach County Department of Health employees working through #Covid19 #HeroesWorkHere.

LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY

PBC ORDERS, ACTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Palm Beach County remains under a State of Emergency

Executive Order 20-104 suspends the requirement of those seeking unemployment compensation to report the required biweekly "actively seeking work."  

Click here to view Executive Orders.

*New* TESTING SITES SUMMARY

South County Civic Center-Cleveland Clinic Florida Testing for Thursday, 4-23-20:

During today's drive-thru testing for COVID-19 at the South County Civic Center, Cleveland Clinic Florida tested 146 patients. The Cleveland Clinic Florida COVID-19 Screening Center representatives have scheduled 122 appointments so far for tomorrow. Appointments can be made at 561-804-0250. Cleveland Clinic Florida has expanded criteria for individuals eligible for COVID-19 testing. Anyone over the age of 16 who has a fever or non-febrile respiratory illness (such as cough, shortness of breath, runny nose) or fever and gastrointestinal illness (such as diarrhea, vomiting), will be eligible for testing at our South Palm Beach County drive-through location. You must call to be screened and confirm an appointment time.

Health Care District of Palm Beach County's Drive-thru Testing for Thursday, 4-23-20:
West Palm Beach Testing Site-
Today, the Health Care District of Palm Beach County's C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics surpassed 10,000 total patients tested after completion of tests for 558 patients at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach. There were 140 patients who did not show for their scheduled appointments. The average age of the patients tested was 53. A total of 19 children were tested and the youngest patient was one year old. Patients are notified when their results are in. A total of 10,037 tests have been administered at the site since it opened on March 31^st.  Drive-thru testing at the West Palm Beach test site is by appointment only through the Health Care District's Testing Hotline, 561-642-1000.

Belle Glade Testing Site-
The Health Care District's C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics tested 88 patients at the expanded COVID-19 testing site in Belle Glade. There were 21 patients who did not show for their scheduled appointments. The average age of the patients tested was 43. A total of 9 children were tested and the youngest patient was five years old. Patients are notified when their results are in. The testing site is located on the grounds of the Health Care District's acute care, teaching hospital, Lakeside Medical Center, at 39200 Hooker Highway in Belle Glade. Individuals can be any age, and need not be symptomatic to be registered and tested, but they must call the Health Care District's Testing Hotline, 561-642-1000, to be scheduled in advance for testing. Patients who do not have a personal vehicle or use public bus transportation must also have an appointment. Since March, the Health Care District has tested 579 patients at the Belle Glade clinic site.

The Health Care District thanks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the State Department of Emergency Management, the Florida Army National Guard and Palm Beach County personnel for supporting operations at the West Palm Beach and Belle Glade drive-thru testing sites.

UP TO DATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 DASHBOARD
Find the latest information about your specific zip code and cases of COVID-19. The Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard can be found here at the bottom of the page: COVID-19 Dashboard . An example of a zip code map can be found here: Zip Code Map 4/21/2020. Information is updated at least twice a day and you can see statistics for the whole state as well as each county.

STATE OF FLORIDA – GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS

More information on the Governor's orders: FL Executive Orders, Governor's Orders FAQs

RESOURCES

*New* DELRAY BEACH TAX COLLECTOR OFFICE TO REOPEN APRIL 27 FOR DRIVER LICENSE APPOINTMENTS ONLY
This agency is taking a critical first step toward reopening offices to the public in a limited capacity. The Tax Collector's Office at 501 South Congress Avenue in Delray Beach will reopen Monday, April 27, 2020, for Palm Beach County residents only who have a driver license appointment. All other office locations will remain closed to the public until further notice. Click here to read the latest update from
Tax Collector Anne Gannon.

• Only Palm Beach County residents who cannot renew their driver license online will be
  served in-person.
• Clients must schedule an appointment.
• Clients MUST wear a face mask or cloth face covering to be admitted into the office.  

*New* AGING & DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER (ADRC HELPLINE)

Seniors 60+ are encouraged to call the ADRC Helpline 1(866) 684-5885 the gateway to services for seniors in need of Meals, Electric Bill Assistance, Respite for the Caregiver, Adult Day Care, In-home Services, Personal Care, Food Stamps (SNAP), Extra Help for prescription drugs, COVID 19 information and questions on Medicare or Medicaid. Specially trained counselors are available to help in English, Spanish or Creole Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. 

Seniors registered through the Agency Helpline and served by the Volen Center and Palm Beach County Division of Senior Services are able to receive food on a scheduled basis in a "drop and go" fashion without leaving their cars.

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM TO OPEN EARLY TO FEED CHILDREN IMPACTED BY COVID-19

On April 27, Palm Beach County Youth Services Department's Summer Food Service Program, in partnership with the Palm Beach County Library System, will begin pre-summer feeding at six sites throughout Palm Beach County. Sites will distribute seven days' worth of meals to each eligible child.  

Meal distribution will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 1 pm, or until all meal kits are distributed. Currently, pre-summer feeding sites will distribute food once a week through Wednesday, May 27. 

Parents picking up kits without their child present must bring identification for the child. Acceptable forms of identification include student ID, child's passport or other government-issued ID, birth certificate, adoption decree, immunization records, and school demographics. Meal kits will not be provided to parents who do not bring their child or do not provide proper identification.  

Families without transportation may walk up to collect meal kits. Proper COVID-19 safety measures must be practiced by all families, including but not limited to social distancing and wearing facial coverings.  

Monday Distribution:
Highridge Family Center, 4200 N. Australian Ave., West Palm Beach
Main Library, 3650 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach
Greenacres Branch Library, 3750 Jog Road, Greenacres 

Wednesday Distribution:
Belle Glade Branch Library, 725 NW 4^th Street, Belle Glade
Loula V. York Branch Library, 525 Bacom Point Rd., Pahokee
Clarence E. Anthony Branch Library, 375 SW 2^nd Ave., South Bay 

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT 

ONLINE SERVICES ONLY! WALK-IN VISITS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

Rental & Utility Assistance

Individuals and families experiencing economic hardship because of loss of employment, or sickness can apply for assistance through the Community Services Department.  Residents who are eligible can access emergency rental and utility assistance online by visiting the website or by calling the following phone numbers:

• Online application for all services including rent and utilities: www.pbcgov.com/OSCARSS
• Phone number for rent: 561-904-7900
• Phone number for utilities: 561-355-4792
• Phone number for seniors EHEAP: 561-355-4746

Courts have temporarily suspended hearings on evictions, and a moratorium has been placed on utility shutoffs. Visit the website for more information about how to prepare and budget: www.pbcgov.com/communityservices 

Free Telemental Health Services to Residents of Palm Beach County

• For information about Telemental Health and other services provided by Palm Beach County Youth Services, please visit our website.  

Florida Department of Health Resources in Multiple Languages 

Comprehensive Mental Health Resources 

Discover the Palm Beaches Launches Help Desk for Essential Lodgers, Medical Personnel and First Responders

Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB) has opened a virtual help desk for essential lodgers to ask questions as they navigate hotel resources and special offers. Essential lodgers range from healthcare professionals and first responders to displaced residents and visitors.

The help desk can be reached by email at sales@thepalmbeaches.com, or contacts and times are as follows:

• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT
  Yvonne Williams, 561-233-3057
• Joseph Garcia, 561-233-3039
  2 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT
• Caroline Meadows, 561-233-3034
• Ashley Medeiros, 561-233-3056
• For group reservations or venues, contact Mike Jackson at 561-233-3050 or mjackson@thepalmbeaches.com 

FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA

Feeding South Florida Calendar of Food Distributions at www.feedingsouthflorida.org/covid19

These sites provide groceries in a drive-thru style. The list is updated daily, dates, times and locations may change. 

PBC SCHOOL DISTRICT

PBCSD campuses will remain closed for the 2019-2020 school year. Distance learning (info here) will continue through the last day of the school year in Palm Beach County, Friday, May 29.  

School Feeding Sites

The School District of Palm Beach County continues feeding students while schools are closed.

• Until further notice, the 35 feeding sites will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Two days' worth of meals will be provided each day. Meals distributed will be lunch and dinner only.
• Click here for School District locations distributing 'Grab and Go' bags filled with breakfast, lunch, supper, and a snack, from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
   

HOUSING & ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
Palm Beach County Housing and business assistance programs can be found here.  

ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

Donations Needed for Local Pet Food Banks
Several pet food banks in Palm Beach County are running desperately low on resources and donations. Items most needed:

• Dry cat food (no open bags)
• Dry dog food (no open bags)
• Canned adult cat food and canned kitten food
• Canned adult dog food
• Cat litter

Items can be ordered online and shipped directly to the food bank of your choice, or dropped off at their location.  To donate or to receive help, reach out to one of the pet food banks: Pet Food Banks

PBC Animal Care & Control is asking to help empty the rest of the shelter after making history by clearing an entire kennel. Adoptable pets are still available in the other two kennels:

• View adoptable pets online: https://secure.co.palm-beach.fl.us/snap/home
• For more information about fostering, click here.  

LIBRARIES

The Palm Beach County Library System has many resources available to help students, parents and teachers during virtual schooling. Staff are available by phone, email and chat to answer technology and other research questions through Ask-A-Librarian at www.pbclibrary.org.

Visit the Library COVID-19 page for all of our program  

PALM BEACH COUNTY VICTIMS SERVICES

The Palm Beach County Victim Services & Certified Rape Crisis Center helpline is available for information, options and support: 561-833-7273. Services are free, confidential and private.  

PARKS AND RECREATION

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

Virtual Recreation Center - PBC Parks TV 

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

PLANNING, ZONING & BUILDING
some of the Planning, Zoning and Building public meetings for May and early June are being cancelled. All public meetings for April have been cancelled.  

TRANSPORTATION 

Palm Tran Fixed Route and Paratransit

• All passengers should have a mask covering their nose and mouth while riding.
• The number of people onboard has been limited to no more than 15 passengers.
• Palm Tran Fixed-Route continues to operate on a Saturday schedule except routes 1, 2, 3, 43  
  and 62 which are on a regular weekday schedule. Sundays continue to operate on a Sunday schedule.
• Palm Tran Connection is essential trips only.  

Go Glades Service

• Palm Tran's western community bus service, Go Glades, Routes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are currently not running a regular service. You will be able to book a trip on directly to and from your destination by calling: (561) 649-9838.
• The Palm Tran call center (561) 841-4BUS (4287) is operating from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Many trip planning functions may be done through the Palm Tran app and on palmtran.org.  

Tri-Rail

• Passengers are urged to wear masks while riding. Tri-Rail continues to offer an amended schedule until further notice, with 18-trains every 2 hours starting at 4:17 a.m. on weekdays, and 12-trains every 3-hours starting at 5:17 a.m. on weekends. 

• Trains have suspended fares and are operating on a modified schedule:
  18 trains on Weekdays, 12 trains on Saturday, 12 trains on Sunday.  

Brightline

• Train service is suspended until further notice.  

SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY: https://swa.org/632/6702/COVID-19-Updates.

CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL

Hunger relief, baby and household supplies, and assistance with calls to 211 Helpline are among the programs supported through $234,690 in COVID-19 emergency funds released by Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County (CSC). Council's funds are earmarked for food, basic needs (excluding shelter), and direct services to children and families. More info. 

EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

Offering a limited number of child care scholarships for those serving on the front-line of the COVID-19 response. This is available for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old for up to 60 days for these critical employees. For more information, call: 561-514-3300. 

SUICIDE PREVENTION
For resources to help cope during the coronavirus pandemic please follow this link: Suicide Prevention and COVID-19. 

FLORIDA HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES

The Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles authorizes the changes and extensions to driver licenses, identification cards, Registration, delinquent fees and in-person interviews. FLHSMV COVID-19 Emergency Order 041320 

JURY DUTY

All jury selection proceedings are suspended through May 29. Jurors who were summonsed for jury duty through May 29^th do not have to report for service. They do not need to take any further action.  Those with questions regarding jury service can call 561-355-2930 or visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/jury.  

CIRCUIT COURT

The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit is limiting most face-to-face hearings. In order to protect the public's constitutional right to access and to ensure the progress of essential proceedings, the courthouses have remained open. Anyone who enters the courthouse will undergo a non-invasive temperature scan. Any person who refuses to have their temperature taken or has a temperature of 100.4 º F, or higher, will not be permitted to enter the courthouses. For updated information, visit http://15thcircuit.com.   

LOCAL CALL CENTERS
PBC 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

Frequently Asked Questions 

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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 COVID-19@flhealth.gov. They can also visit http://pbchd.org for the latest health information. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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