*New* VIDEO: May 22 COVID-19 Press Conference at FAU
Palm Beach County officials hold a press conference at the new drive up testing site located at the FAU Tech Runway.

LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY

PBC ORDERS, ACTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Palm Beach County issued Executive Orders on the following:

*New* Emergency Order Number 9 – Repeal of Emergency Order 2020-002a

Palm Beach County Emergency Order 2020-002a is repealed effective from 12:00 p.m. on May 22, 2020
This new order repeals the previous order that closed noncritical retail and commercial businesses.

Emergency Order Number 6 – Beaches: All public, municipal, and private beaches including all beach parks shall be open sunrise to sunset subject to CDC guidelines by limiting gatherings to no more than 10 persons and distancing themselves from other parties by 6 feet. Beach concessions may operate following CDC guidelines. County-owned South Inlet Park will remain closed until such time as the City of Boca Raton opens their beaches. This order is effective 12:01 a.m. on May 18, 2020  Español   Kreyòl 

Emergency Order Number 7 – Recreational Facilities: Amends Palm Beach County Emergency Order 2020-005 for Public Parks, Private Parks and Natural Areas. Specific amendment changes are identified here.  Español Kreyòl This order is effective 12:01 a.m. on May 18, 2020. Español  Kreyòl 

Emergency Order Number 8 – Additional Directive on Wearing of Facial Coverings: Amends Palm Beach County Order 2020-004 for facial coverings. Effective 5:00 p.m. on May 16, 2020. Español Kreyòl 

Palm Beach County has extended the State of Emergency until May 29  
State of Emergency  

Governor's Executive Orders
Governor's Executive Order Number 20-123 Governor Ron DeSantis issued order, which brings
all Florida counties into Full Phase 1: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida's Recovery effective
May 18.

Governor's Executive Order Number 20-120 Governor Ron DeSantis issued order, regarding Palm Beach County entering Phase 1 and the reopening of barbershops, hair salons and nail salons.

Governor's Executive Order Number 20-112  Governor Ron DeSantis issues order implementing Phase 1 of Florida's recovery. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Governor's Order Number 20-120.
Frequently Asked Questions about Governor's Order Number 20-112.

Click here to view Executive Orders.

For up-to-date re-openings go to PBCGOV.com click here.

PALM BEACH COUNTY ADDS INTERACTIVE MAP TO COVID-19 WEBSITE
Palm Beach County has added an Interactive Testing Map with over 50 testing sites and locations to the comprehensive COVID-19 website located here. This map will help residents find the closest private or community based testing location for them. Several of the sites are government supported and have free testing with a variety of restrictions and processes. Many others are private labs, urgent care facilities or pharmacies that will bill your insurance.

*NEW* TESTING SITES
Health Care District of Palm Beach County's Testing for Friday, 5-22-20:

South County Civic Center-Cleveland Clinic Florida Testing
Anyone over the age of 16 who has the following signs and symptoms will be eligible for testing at our South Palm Beach County drive-through location:

• Fever or Non Febrile respiratory illness (such as cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, new loss of taste or smell, and/or sore throat)
• Fever and gastrointestinal illness (such as diarrhea and/or vomiting)

Individuals must still call 561-804-0250 first to speak with a nurse to ensure they meet criteria and make an appointment for testing. Testing will be closed at the South County Civic Center Sunday and Monday.

Village of Wellington Testing Site
The Village of Wellington has partnered with Premier Family Health to provide FREE walk-up COVID-19 testing for all western communities' residents age 12 and over. Health officials from Premier Family Health will conduct tests at the Village Park Gymnasium. Testing will be available daily by appointment, and is available for both symptomatic and asymptomatic residents. To make an appointment, go to www.wellingtonfl.gov/testing  or call 561-868-8624. Closed on Monday.

Homebound Resident Testing
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, with the support of the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Division of Emergency Management will begin the testing of homebound residents this week. Residents eligible for the new testing option include homebound elderly or individuals with disabilities who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and cannot leave their homes to access one of the drive-up or walk-up test collection sites.

Residents who believe they are eligible for the in-home testing option should call the Palm Beach County Emergency Information Center (EIC) at 561-712-6400 for a pre-qualifying assessment. The testing line is open from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.

Florida Atlantic University Testing Site
The drive up testing site is located at the FAU Tech Runway on the north end of the FAU campus at 901 NW 35th Street, Boca Raton, 33431. Residents should enter the testing site from Spanish River Boulevard.

Appointments are required for testing. To make an appointment, call 1-800-209-7919 Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Testing is available to anyone over the age of 12, with or without COVID-19 symptoms. No doctor referral needed. Proper ID will be required with name, date of birth, and photo. Tests will be administered by healthcare professionals from AMR. Results are not immediate. Please remember to wear a face covering. Testing will be closed at FAU on Sunday and Monday

RESOURCES

'Help Is Here' WEB PORTAL LAUNCHED TO HELP JOB SEEKERS, EMPLOYERS ACCESS RECOVERY ASSISTANCE
As businesses across our region reopen, CareerSource Palm Beach County is launching a new 'Help Is Here' web portal to assist job seekers and employers in their efforts to access assistance needed for recovery.

 Help Is Here is CareerSource Palm Beach County's focused public and business outreach effort to:

• Connect job seekers and businesses to critical resources for local, personalized help
• Develop innovative solutions to generate job recovery/retention and business continuity, driving economic recovery
• Provide links to state and federal assistance programs

Many businesses are ramping up to rehire staff as well as hire new candidates. The CareerSource Business Services staff connects employers with qualified candidates – at no cost. They can be contacted at www.careersourcepbc.com [careersourcepbc.com] or call 561.340.1060 and select option 3. CareerSource also is scheduling virtual hiring events. Business continuity is being supported through grants that help employers train and upskill employees.

Job seekers can gain a competitive edge in searching for a new career by accessing online virtual job readiness workshops. There is no cost to view any of the workshops covering key skills needed when looking to get hired in in today's labor market:

• Creating a professional resume and cover letter
• Building a LinkedIn profile and using social media in your job search
• Handling online job applications
• Conducting an effective job search and networking campaign
• Preparing for job interviews
• Online job, industry and employer research
• Following up after a job interview
  

*NEW* CARES RESTART BUSINESS GRANTS PROGRAM OFFERED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND ECONOMICAL STABILITY
The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved the CARES Restart Business Grants Program to accelerate the reopening of businesses hardest hit by COVID-19.  The program application process began today.

The $60 million Business Restart Program uses a portion of the county's $261 million allocation from the Federal CARES Act approved by Congress.  The BCC has dedicated $50 million toward businesses with 25 or fewer employees and $10 million towards businesses with greater than 25 employees.

The program guidelines, including eligibility criteria, are currently posted on the County's website.  The BCC gave approval for individual grants up to $25,000 to help Palm Beach County businesses forced to close or limit operations and are now planning to "restart" based on the county's phased opening process.

Required documents will include a fully executed application from the county's online portal, certifications, affirmations and acknowledgements, tax returns, payroll reports, an active Palm Beach County Business Tax Receipt and an active registration on SunBiz. These documents will be required to be uploaded into the system by the applicant.

Interested businesses are encouraged to prepare for the Restart Program Application as they will be processed on a first come, first eligible basis. The online application launched on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 8:00 A.M. and is accessible through the Palm Beach County website.

The criteria for the grant can be found at: http://pbcgov.com/hes

***As of 5 pm, 4,986 registered users were identified in the system. Currently, there are 4,208 applications in the system. Of those applications, 2,526 have been completed and submitted. The remaining 1,682 applications are in a draft status awaiting completion by the business operator. So far, there are a total of 378 completed applications that have been assigned to staff for review and verification. The next step is for the completed applications to be audited by a CPA then ultimately approved for check processing. It is our intention to issue the first checks to the approved applicants within the next week.   

LIBRARIES
The Palm Beach County Library System is offering a walk-up holds pick-up service

The walk-up service will work as follows:

1. Place hold requests by phone, library app or through the library catalog at www.pbclibrary.org.
2. Wait for library staff to contact you letting you know your hold is ready to pick up.
3. When you arrive at the library, call the branch phone number listed on a sign in front of the building.
4. After verification, a staff member will check the item(s) out to your account and place the item(s) on a table or cart immediately outside the front entrance.
5. Remain at least 6 feet away from the front entrance behind a designated marker until the staff member closes the doors. Once the staff member is back inside, please pick up your item(s).
   

At this time, all Library locations are still closed to the public. Library employees are available for assistance virtually during business hours. To access online services, please visit www.pbclibrary.org/virtual-library. The Palm Beach County Library System has many resources available to help students, parents and job seekers during this time.

BEACHES RE-OPENING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY
The county reopened all public, municipal and private beaches, including beach parks, in Palm Beach County, with the following conditions and restrictions:

• Beaches will be open between sunrise and sunset only.
• Parties accessing the beaches shall follow CDC guidelines by limiting gatherings to no more than
  10 persons and distancing themselves from other parties by six feet.
• Municipalities may keep beaches closed at their discretion. Beach operations at the county-owned
  South Inlet Park will follow restrictions for Boca Raton municipal beaches.

Peanut Island will remain closed until further notice.

PBC TAX COLLECTOR ANNOUNCES SERVICE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Appointments will be required for in-person service beginning June 1. The agency's website at www.pbctax.com offers the convenience of completing common transactions online without the need to visit a tax collector office. Many transactions can also be completed by mail. The Tax Collector's Office located at 301 N. Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach remainsclosed until further notice. All other offices remain open.

Department of Business and Professional Regulation - State of Florida
For the latest information on the reopening of businesses visit the COVID-19 page at DPBR.

COVID-19 TAX TIPS: ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS
IRS.gov has answers to many questions people may have about their Economic Impact Payment.
Taxpayers who are required to file a tax return, can go to IRS Free File to file electronically. If they aren't required to file, they should go to the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool and submit their information to receive an Economic Impact Payment.

For the complete lists of FAQs, visit the Economic Impact Payment and the Get My Payment tool pages on IRS.gov. The IRS updates these FAQs regularly.

FOOD FINDER MAP
United Way has launched an Interactive Food Finder map to assist in locating food and hot meals across Palm Beach County.

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
The Pre-Summer Food Service Program operated by the Palm Beach County Youth Services Department and Library System is offering meals at distribution sites in West Palm Beach, Greenacres, Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, Lake Worth and Boca Raton.

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, the pre-summer food service program will not be distributing meal kits on Monday, May 25, at Highridge Family Center, Palm Beach County Main Library, and the Greenacres Branch Library. Instead, those locations will distribute meals the following day, Tuesday, May 26, along with regularly scheduled distribution sites at the Lantana Road Branch and West Boca Branch libraries.

Meals are distributed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am. to 1 pm., or until all meal kits are distributed. Each eligible child receives a week's worth of meals. Currently, the pre-summer feeding sites will be distributing food once per week, at each location through Wednesday, May 27.

Parents picking up kits without their child present must bring identification for the child. Acceptable forms 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. Proper safety measures must be practiced.

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

Tuesday Distribution:
Lantana Road Branch Library, 4020 Lantana Road, Lake Worth
West Boca Branch Library, 18685 State Road 7, Boca Raton

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

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that school-aged children, 18 years and under, continue to receive nutritious meals beyond the school year and during the summer months (June - August) as well as times of emergency school closures.

CAREER SOURCE ONLINE VIRTUAL JOB READINESS WORKSHOPS
Get a head start on getting ready for your first – or next – job opportunity with new online virtual job readiness workshops now being offered by CareerSource Palm Beach County. Job seekers can access a series of 18 professional workshops from their home computer or mobile device 24/7 available from the organization's home page at www.careersourcepbc.com.

211 HELPLINE AND CRISIS LINE is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
211 provides crisis support, suicide prevention, and assistance with available resources and services-
for people of all ages, and is multilingual capable.

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 .

SBA DISASTER LOAN VIRTUAL OFFICE
The U.S. Small Business Administration South Florida District Office will host virtual office hours to answer questions about the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Limited to 250 callers at one time. Participants may call at any time and are welcome to enter and exit at will. Callers will be muted upon entry and will be taken in the order they are received. The virtual office hours are 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Skype: https://meet.lync.com/sba123/jfhein/DRJCSWGT [lnks.gd]
Phone: (202) 765-1264; Conference ID – 143765659

PBC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Distance Learning
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, Friday, May 29.

School Feeding Sites
School Food Service will continue its twice-a-week food distribution on Tuesday, May 26, and Thursday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 51 school locations. The distribution site at Woodlands Middle School is closed due to maintenance. Families who would visit Woodlands will be directed to either L.C. Swain Middle School or Indian Pines Elementary School on Tuesday. On Thursday, Freedom Shores Elementary School will open as a distribution site.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Online services available here.

Rental & Utility Assistance
Individuals and families experiencing loss of employment 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, visit our website.

Florida Department of Health Resources in Multiple Languages

COMPREHENSIVE Mental Health Resources

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.

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

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.

TRANSPORTATION
Palm Tran
The lobby at 3201 Electronics Way in West Palm Beach, FL now open, no bus pass sales nor Palm Tran eligibility activities happen at this location. The lobby at 50 S. Military Trail, WPB 33415 remains closed. If you need assistance please call 561-841-4200 or visit our website at www.palmtran.org

Palm Tran Fixed Route and Paratransit Resumes Regular Service

• A mask or facial covering is required to ride Palm Tran. The number onboard is limited to no more than 20 passengers on fixed-route buses.
  

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 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.

Brightline

• Train service is suspended until further notice.
  

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

JURY DUTY
All jury selection proceedings are suspended through May 29. Jurors who were summonsed for jury duty through May 29 do not have to report for service. 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. 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 Monday-Friday from 8 am – 5 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

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 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.

NO DAILY UPDATES ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY OR MONDAY
INDIVIDUAL EMAILS WILL BE SENT OUT IF THERE IS NEWS TO RELEASE