*New* VIDEO: Palm Beach County Covid-19 News Conference

Palm Beach County Ready to Enter Phase 2
During an afternoon news conference June 5 at the Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center, County Mayor Dave Kerner discussed plans to reopen more businesses in Palm Beach County.

"Palm Beach County is ready to go into Phase Two, but we want to do it with some particular carve outs that are necessary for the unique nature of Palm Beach County," he said.

While most of the state has already entered Phase Two reopenings, Palm Beach County was excluded, along with Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Earlier Friday, Mayor Kerner and County Administrator Verdenia Baker sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking for Palm Beach County to be allowed to enter "Phase Two" with restrictions.

Among the restrictions: stand-alone bars that only serve alcohol and not food. "We're not prepared to have stand-alone bars open just yet," said Mayor Kerner. Bars that are located inside restaurants will be allowed to operate at no more than 50 percent capacity.

Other businesses that would be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity include entertainment and amusement centers such as water parks, movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, zoos, bowling alleys, and arcades. Retail stores and gyms and fitness centers can operate at full capacity. Personal service businesses such as tattoo studios, acupuncture clinics, tanning salons and massage establishments may also operate, but they must follow guidelines issued by the Florida Department of Health.

LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY

PBC ORDERS, ACTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

*New* Executive Order to Require Face Coverings in Palm Beach County Government Buildings
Emergency Order Number 10 – Additional Directive on Wearing of Facial Coverings: Amends Palm Beach County Order 2020-004 for facial coverings. Effective 12:01 A.M. on June 8, 2020.

Click here to view Palm Beach County Executive Orders

Palm Beach County has extended the State of Emergency until June 12. 

Click here to view Governor DeSantis' Executive Orders.

EVICTIONS AND FORECLOSURES
Governor DeSantis issued an executive order extending the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until July 1. We are committed to getting Floridians back on their feet as we move forward with plan for Florida's recovery. 

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

PALM BEACH COUNTY INTERACTIVE TESTING MAP
Palm Beach County's Interactive Testing Map with over 62 testing sites. 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, 6-5-20: 

Florida Atlantic Testing Site in Boca Raton
This site tested 137 residents today. The 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. Appointments are required for testing. To make an appointment, call American Medical Response at 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.

South County Civic Center Site in West Delray Beach
This site tested 106 residents today. The drive through testing site is located at the South County Civic Center located at 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446. Appointments are required for testing. To make an appointment, call American Medical Response at 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.

Homebound Resident Testing
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.

Upcoming Pop up Testing Sites
Pop up testing continues across the county and is being performed by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, non-profit groups, the Health Care District and several municipalities. For more  information on testing, visit: Testing Sites.    

Cabana Colony Park
3855 Holiday Road, Palm Beach Gardens
11 AM to 2:30 PM
Monday, June 8 / Lunes, 8 de Junio / Lendi, 8 Jen

SAN CASTLE COMMUNITY CENTER
1101 MENTONE ROAD, LANTANA
11 AM to 2:30 PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 12 / VIERNES, 2 DE JUNIO / VANDREDI, 12 JEN

*NEW* Community Services Announces CARES Act One-Time Assistance for Rent and Utilities
The Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) announces the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Coronavirus Relief Fund Rent and Utilities Assistance Program will be offered to residents effective June 5.

The CARES Act Rent and Utilities Assistance Program provides one-time rental and/or utility assistance to eligible Palm Beach County residents who have experienced loss of income, reduction in hours, or unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are for applicants who reside in apartments, houses, townhouses, or mobile homes.

To be eligible for this assistance program applicants must:

• be a resident of Palm Beach County;
• provide documentation to prove loss of income, reduction in hours, or unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• provide documentation to show they have applied or are receiving state or federal unemployment benefits;
• meet gross Area Median Income (AMI) limit not exceeding 140% AMI for the household;
• have a lease and other utilities in their name or a household member's name;
• not have received any other financial assistance for rent and/or utilities for the period payment is requested;
• have less than $5,000 in liquid assets in checking, savings, and cash card balances;
  

Applicants can only receive assistance once, but may apply for multiple services.  All assistance must be applied for at same time. Other restrictions may apply.

Assistance will be provided only for past due rents and/or utilities.  The due dates must be after March 1, 2020 and before December 30, 2020. 

Applications must be submitted through the CSD's online portal. To apply, visit www.pbcgov.com/OSCARSS.

To learn more, visit www.pbcgov.com/communityservices. For additional frequently asked questions, visit www.pbcgov.com/csdcaresactfaq.

*NEW* CARES RESTART BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM OFFERED FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY
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 $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 criteria for the grant can be found at: http://pbcgov.com/hes.

Below is the summary as of 4 PM Friday for the CARES DHES application process:

RESOURCES

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 . More health/COVID-19 information in Multiple Languages.

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

*NEW* Youth Services' Summer Food Service Program Offering 11 More Distribution Sites

Palm Beach County Youth Services Department's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is increasing the number of food distribution locations. Beginning Monday, June 8, 11 additional sites will be operating throughout Palm Beach County, including 17 Palm Beach County Library locations. The full list of food distribution sites may be viewed here.

The SFSP provides meals and snacks to eligible children age 18 and under during the summer months (June through August) and in times of emergency. Meals and snacks are also available to persons with disabilities, over age 18, who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled. Youth Services administers and monitors this program, funded by USDA and the Department of Education. Sites are located throughout Palm Beach County in low-income neighborhoods.

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.

Sites will continue to distribute seven days' worth of meals to each eligible child once a week through Friday, August 7. For locations and times of service, visit summerbreakspot.freshfromflorida.com.

If interested in having a site become a meal distribution location with the Summer Food Service Program, contact Gus Wessel by email at hwessel@pbcgov.org.

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.

SCHOOL DISTRICT
Food distribution will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 52 school locations through the summer or until further notice. Food distribution is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Each day, parents or guardians who pick up food will receive a kit with three days' worth of meals for each child.   

LIBRARIES
All locations of the Palm Beach County Library System are open with limited services. Hours of operation will be 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Members will be able to browse, pick up holds and check out materials. Members may request walk-up holds pickup by calling their branch. Library staff will be using personal protective equipment and we recommend that members practice social distancing, wear face masks and limit their visit to 1 hour.

To limit the occupancy to 50% as outlined in the governor's executive order there will be very limited seating, no computer access and no use of study or meeting rooms at this time. Safety measures have been put in place including plexiglass barriers and other measures to insure 6 feet remain between staff and the public. Returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours. Members are asked to return items through the book drop or automated returns and to place items removed from shelves on book carts for quarantine. Additional cleaning will be done during the day in high traffic areas. Summer Grab and Go Lunches will be given out at all locations beginning on Monday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Visit our website at: http://www.pbclibrary.org/ to see which day your local branch will be distributing meals.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Online services including help with rent and utilities is available here.

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.

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.

JURY DUTY
All jury selection proceedings are suspended through July 2nd. Jurors who were summoned for jury duty through July 2^nd do not have to report for service. Those with questions regarding jury service can call 561-355-2930 or visit https://jury.mypalmbeachclerk.com/#/home.

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
  

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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.