*New* VIDEO:
COVID-19 Press Conference June 19, 2020 4 p.m.
During an afternoon news conference at the Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center, County Mayor Dave Kerner announced formation of the COVID Education Compliance Team (CECT) which will work to educate and bring businesses into compliance with state and local enforcement orders required by the governor.
The team is comprised of representatives from state and local agencies including the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Palm Beach County Code Enforcement and Fire Rescue, the Florida Department of Health-Palm Beach County and police departments from Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach. Team members will proactively conduct spot inspections of local businesses and public venues, noting where masks are not being worn and/or social distancing is not being consistently practiced.
"The emphasis of the COVID Education Compliance Team will be education first," said Mayor Kerner. "However, there are some bad actors out there. So there will be an enforcement aspect."
Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health-Palm Beach County reported current numbers regarding recent cases of COVID-19. At the time Phase 1 reopening began, the county averaged 68 new cases per day. That number has more than tripled to 220 per day. The countywide positivity rate continues to increase, as well, she said, an indication the virus is again thriving.
For more information or to contact the COVID Education Compliance Team, please call
561-24COVID (561-242-6843),
covidcompliance@pbcgov.org
LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY
PBC ORDERS, ACTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Click
here to view Palm Beach County Emergency Orders
Palm Beach County has extended the
State of Emergency until June 26.
For up-to-date re-openings go to PBCGOV.com
click here.
Click
here to view Governor DeSantis' Executive Orders.
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, 6-19-20:
The Health Care District's
C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics [brumbackclinics.org] have reopened to provide safe, in-person medical, dental and behavioral health services and limited pharmacy services at eight clinic sites throughout Palm Beach County. Patients can call 561-642-1000 to schedule an appointment for either a telemedicine or inpatient visit.
Florida Atlantic Testing Site in Boca Raton
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
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 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.
COMPASS COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT
201 NORTH DIXIE HIGHWAY, LAKE WORTH BEACH
8 AM TO 11 AM
JUNE 20 / 20 DE JUNIO / 20 DE JEN
COMMUNITY SERVICES ONE-TIME ASSISTANCE FOR RENT AND UTILITIES
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.
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 application period is now over but could reopen if grant dollars remain after the current applications are processed.
Below is the summary as of 5 PM Friday for the CARES DHES application process:
Summary |
Count |
Total Applications Received
|
4988
|
Applications In Review | 2469
|
Applications Denied-Inaccurate, Ineligible
| 1065
|
Applications Approved
| 723
|
CARES Grant Issued by Checks
| 731
|
CARES Funds Distributed
|
$12,355,518.43
|
LOCAL YMCAS PARTNER WITH PBC PARKS AND REC TO PROVIDE SUMMER DAY CAMP
YMCA of the Palm Beaches and YMCA of South Palm Beach County have announced a partnership with Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation to expand summer day camp offerings and locations in an initiative to meet the increased need from parents who are returning to work. YMCA-led programs will be held now through August 7, Monday – Friday 8 am to 6 pm at three Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation facilities.
YMCA of the Palm Beaches will lead summer day camp programs at the West Jupiter Park and Recreation Center located at 6401 Indiantown Rd. in Jupiter and Westgate Park and Recreation Center located at 3691 Oswego Ave. in West Palm Beach. YMCA of South Palm Beach County will lead a summer day camp program at West Boynton Park and Recreation Center located at 6000 Northtree Blvd. in Lake Worth.
Children ages 5-12 will participate in regularly scheduled physical and educational activities which will promote a healthy lifestyle and academic enrichment.
Both Palm Beach County YMCAs continue to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Camp Association to ensure all camp programs and services are operated safely under their guidance, as well as Florida's reopening framework and protocols.
Financial Assistance is available through the YMCA. Additionally, Summer Day Camp Scholarships are available through the
Palm Beach County Youth Services Department.
To enroll in YMCA of the Palm Beaches led camps, call Tatiana Rego at 561-727-3774 or email
trego@ymcapalmbeaches.org. To enroll in YMCA of South Palm Beach County led camp, call (561) 395-9622 or visit
www.ymcapalmbeaches.org
VACATION RENTALS
Palm Beach County has submitted a safety plan to the state that that has been approved for the opening of Vacation and Short Term Rentals. It was our hope to begin the opening on June 15th; however, data over the past few days has shown some increases in hospitalization, some increases in percentage of new COVID-19 cases over the past weeks, and a bump in influenza-like illnesses in our emergency rooms. We have had some conversations with the state, including the Florida Surgeon General, about this data and we think it would be prudent to move a little more cautiously on the opening of Vacation Rentals, delaying the issuance of the emergency order that would allow for the reopening of these types of rentals.
We plan to monitor the health data over the next few days and make a future announcement about the best date to open vacation rentals. We are hopeful the data will improve and we can move forward, and we appreciate the cooperation of the business community as we try to continue to safely and cautiously reopen Palm Beach County.
RESOURCES