VIDEO:
PALM BEACH COUNTY COVID UPDATE
County Mayor Addresses Positivity Rate Spike
County Mayor Dave Kerner met with reporters Friday afternoon at the Emergency Operations Center to discuss the current spike in COVID-19 positivity rates in South Florida and steps that are being taken in Palm Beach County to lower the numbers and keep citizens safe.
On Thursday, the county reported 923 new cases of COVID-19, the second highest daily number to date. About one-third fewer new cases (650) were reported Friday. A total of 24,361 confirmed cases have been reported in Palm Beach County with 659 fatalities. Health officials are closely watching the cumulative positivity rate, which stands at 12 percent. Three weeks ago, it was 9 percent.
"Nothing is off the table," Mayor Kerner replied when asked if officials may have to revert to shutting down the local economy to stop the community spread. "We have some work to do," he said. "We are in what I would call a plateau in positivity. What we need to do is keep this manageable."
There are no plans at this time to impose a curfew, as Broward County has ordered. However, Palm Beach County has issued an order that states no establishment permitted to serve food for on-site consumption, whether indoor or outdoor, shall serve food between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Delivery, drive-through, pick-up, or take-out services are permitted for off-site consumption.
In an effort to help slow the community spread, "Combat COVID" masks will be mailed out to all Palm Beach County households next week. The "Combat COVID" app is also expected to launch next week. It notifies those who download the app when they come in close proximity to another app user who has tested positive. "It is cutting-edge technology," said Mayor Kerner. "It is the type of technology that needs to be developed in the heat of the moment like this."
The COVID Education and Compliance Team (CECT), which conducts unannounced visits to businesses that may not be following mask and social distancing rules, has been very effective, the mayor said. Over 3,300 complaints have been received on the COVID hotline.
"We are gaining compliance and it's starting to bear some real fruit for this community," said Mayor Kerner. "It has changed the conduct and the way people feel about compliance."
LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY
PBC ORDERS, ACTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED RESTRICTING OPERATING HOURS OF RESTAURANTS,
FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES
Palm Beach County issues Emergency Order 2020-014, effective 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2020.
No establishment permitted to serve alcohol for on-site consumption, whether indoor or outdoor, shall serve alcohol between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. No establishment permitted to serve food for on-site consumption, whether indoor or outdoor, shall serve food between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Delivery, drive-through, pick-up, or take-out services are permitted for off-site consumption.
Additionally, the following businesses and venues, to the extent they have been authorized to legally operate, shall be closed between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.: amusement parks, hookah and smoking bars and lounges; kava, kratom and similar bars and lounges; banquet halls; and ballrooms.
This order applies in all incorporated and unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County.
Click
here to view Palm Beach County Emergency Orders
Palm Beach County has extended the
State of Emergency until July 24.
For up-to-date re-openings go to PBCGOV.com
click here.
Click
here to view Governor DeSantis' Executive Orders.
PALM BEACH COUNTY COVID-19 EDUCATION COMPLIANCE TEAM
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.
For more information or to contact the COVID Education Compliance Team, please call 561-24COVID (561-242-6843) or email
covidcompliance@pbcgov.org
PALM BEACH COUNTY INTERACTIVE TESTING MAP
Palm Beach County's
Interactive Testing Map with over 70 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, 7-17-20:
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
This site tested
227 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 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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
255 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 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Testing is available to anyone over the age of 12, with or without COVID-19 symptoms.
BrandsMart in West Palm Beach
This site is located at 751 Executive Center Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is a cap of 400 tests daily. Testing is available to anyone 18 and older, only with ID, no appointment needed.
Homebound Resident Testing
Residents eligible 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 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
PALM TRAN
Fares will be required to ride all Palm Tran transit services, including Palm Tran Connection and Go Glades, starting August 16, 2020. Boarding will be through the front doors of fixed-route buses at that time. Please have your cash fare or bus pass ready. Go to
www.palmtran.org for more information.
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.
As of Thursday July 16, 413 applications have been submitted. 301 residents registered, but did not submit an application. 74 applications have been approved and an additional 207 are in in review. A total of 4 have been funded for a total of $30,138.
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.
*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 4:00 p.m. Friday for the CARES DHES application process:
|
Summary |
Count |
Total Applications Received
|
4989
|
| Applications In Review | 619
|
Applications Denied-Inaccurate, Ineligible
| 1686
|
Applications Approved
| 371
|
CARES Grant Issued by Checks
| 2313
|
CARES Funds Distributed
|
$39,626,687.00
|
RESOURCES
*NEW*
UP-TO-DATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 DASHBOARD
As of 5:00 p.m. today, the positivity rate in Palm Beach County is
12%. To find the latest information about your specific zip code and other COVID-19 data, check out the Florida Department of Health
COVID-19 Dashboard . Also find more health/COVID-19 information in
multiple languages here.
*NEW*
SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOD DISTRIBUTION CONTINUES TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, MASKS REQUIRED FOR PICK UP
Tuesday and Thursday food distribution continues Tuesday, July 21, and Thursday, July 23. Distributions are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at
51 locations across the District [palmbeachschools.org].
For the health and safety of everyone, a facial cover or mask is required when picking up meals at any school feeding site.
Feeding South Florida will distribute free food at select schools on Tuesday and Thursday.
Click here [palmbeachschools.org] to view a list of locations.
Grab & Go Meals are FREE to students 18 years of age and younger (22 years of age and younger for ESE students), regardless of financial need.
SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
To check dates of service for all SFSP meal distribution sites,
click here.
Meals and snacks are available to eligible children age 18 and under and 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. 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.
SNAP BENEFITS AVAILABLE AT 6 LOCATIONS
The Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach has expanded. SNAP benefit sign-up is now available by appointment at six PBC Library locations. Please see the updated schedule below.
Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hagen Ranch Road Branch
14350 Hagen Ranch Road
Delray Beach, FL 33446
Contact: James Vil, 561-517-7533
(English and Creole)
Mondays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jupiter Branch
705 Military Trail
Jupiter, FL 33458
Contact: Mario Mendez, 561-345-5085
(English, Spanish, and Q'anjob'al)
Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Main Library
3650 Summit Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Contact: Riquet Lucien, 561-316-0895
(English and Creole)
Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Glades Road Branch
20701 95th Ave. South
Boca Raton, FL 33434
Contact: Mario Mendez, 561-345-5085
(English, Spanish, and Q'anjob'al)
Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Royal Palm Beach Branch
500 Civic Center Way
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
Contact: Riquet Lucien, 561-316-0895
(English and Creole)
Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lantana Road Branch
4020 Lantana Road
Lake Worth, FL 33462
Contact: Mario Mendez, 561-345-5085
(English, Spanish, and Q'anjob'al)
Clients must make an appointment by calling the numbers above.
No walk-ins! You can also email the food bank at
Benefits@pbcfoodbank.org to schedule appointments or ask questions.
FOOD FINDER MAP
United Way has launched an
Interactive Food Finder map to assist in locating food and hot meals across Palm Beach County.
LIBRARIES
The Palm Beach County Library System is offering some evening and Saturday hours. All locations are closed on Sunday. Facial covers are required. A limited number of computers will be available with social distancing measures in place. Computer users are limited to a 1 hour computer session per day. 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.
Visit our website at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/ for hours and to see what activities are available.
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 is open, however no bus pass sales will be provided at this location. The lobby at 50 S. Military Trail, WPB 33415 remains closed. Fares will be required to ride all Palm Tran transit services, including Palm Tran Connection and Go Glades, starting August 16, 2020. Boarding will be through the front doors of fixed-route buses at that time. Please have your cash fare or bus pass ready. If you need assistance, 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. PT Connection is now running non-essential trips.
Go Glades Service
Due to COVID-19, Go Glades Routes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will no longer be served. For your convenience, Go Glades began operating exclusively as a dial-a-ride service as of Monday, April 13, 2020. To book a trip, passengers should call: (561) 649-9838 and dial option 0. The service hours will remain:
Monday through Friday: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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
until further notice. Jurors who were summoned for jury duty through July 17
must not report for service. Criminal and civil jury trials now suspended
until further notice; statewide grand jury suspended through July 26, 2020. Those with questions regarding jury service can call 561-355-2930 or visit
https://jury.mypalmbeachclerk.com/#/home.
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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.