Palm Beach County Operations Coronavirus Update – Tuesday, August 18, 2020

LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY

PBC ORDERS, ACTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

EXECUTIVE ORDER 18: PROVIDING CLARIFICATION ON CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
The order provides revised restrictions for massage and acupuncture businesses and establishments. Businesses providing massage and massage therapy and/or acupuncture by persons licensed under applicable Florida Statutes are allowed to operate in Palm Beach County under the Phase 1 restrictions.   

Unlicensed facilities and practitioners must remain closed. This order repeals and replaces Order 2020-015. Massage and acupuncture are the only businesses affected by the modified order. Consumers should be aware that if they are obtaining services, they should be performed by a licensed individual.

Click here to view Palm Beach County Emergency Orders

Palm Beach County has extended the COVID-19 State of Emergency until August 21.

*NEW* Antigen Rapid Testing Site Opens Wednesday
Rapid antigen testing will begin Wednesday, August 19 at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The site will be open Tuesday – Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for anyone 65 years of age or older, 18 years of age or younger, or anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19. Registration is required and can be done online at www.tourhealth.com

*NEW* PALM BEACH COUNTY TESTING
Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s Testing for Tuesday, 8-18-20:

The Health Care District’s C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics [brumbackclinics.org] are providing safe, in-person medical appointments and 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 site tested 214 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
The site tested 157 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.

Wellington Community Center Testing
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 Wellington Community Center located at 12150 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, 33414. Testing will be available daily by appointment, and is available for both symptomatic and asymptomatic residents. To make an appointment, call  561-753-2484.

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.

RESOURCES

*NEW* UP-TO-DATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 DASHBOARD
As of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, the positivity rate in Palm Beach County is 13.22%. 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* 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 PM Tuesday for the CARES DHES application process:

PBC Youth Services Provides Free Mental Health Services to Glades Residents
Mental health services provided by Palm Beach County Youth Services Department’s Youth and Family Counseling (YFC) program are available at no charge for Palm Beach County residents in the Glades area with youth ages 0-22.

YFC’s community-focused services include assessments, family and individual therapy, parent education, school-based behavioral health services, and the “Real Talk” teen support group.

Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Telemental health services are offered in English, Spanish, French and Creole via Zoom Video. To schedule an appointment, please email YSD-YFC-WestAppt or call the YFC West County Office (Belle Glade) at (561) 922-1233.

For a full list of telemental health services provide by Palm Beach County Youth Services Department’s Residential Treatment and Family Counseling (RTFC) Division, please visit our website.

NEW COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM
Collaborative with Community-based Agencies
The Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) has launched the Community Health Worker (CHW) Program, which is aimed at helping to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. CSD partnered with Caridad Center, Community Partners, FoundCare, Inc., Genesis Community Health, and Health Council of Southeast Florida to hire local residents who reflect similar racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds of the communities served.

For more information about the program, contact Sonja Holbrook at (561) 355-4700 or SHolbroo@pbcgov.org.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPT. PROVIDES HELP FOR RESIDENTS FACING EVICTION
The Palm Beach County Community Services Department has contracted with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. and Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. to provide county residents with free legal representation and assistance in handling landlord/tenant matters and past due payments through the Rapid Response Eviction Assistance Project (RREAP).  The program is part of the CARES Act COVID-19.

Through the COVID-19 RREAP, the agencies will assist individuals who have received a three-day notice or demand for rent from their landlord, been served with an eviction lawsuit, or who need help understanding the eviction process. The services include:

• pre-suit mediation between landlords and tenants
• legal advice regarding the eviction process
• referrals for rental assistance
• preparation of responses to an eviction lawsuit
• assistance in negotiating repayment plans, and
• court representation.

The program lasts through Dec. 30. Eligibility requirements for the program include:

• rental unit must be located in Palm Beach County
• tenant’s income is under 140% of Area Median Income

Applicants will need documentation to qualify for the program:

• proof of U.S. Citizenship or legal residents (per CARES Act regulations)
• documentation proving hardship is directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as evidence of loss of income, reduction in hours, or unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic that contributed to the missed rental payments, and
• an eviction notice (three-day notice or 30-day notice for CARES Act covered parties);

Individuals facing eviction may call the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County’s Rapid Response Eviction Project at (561) 655-8944, ext. 328 or Florida Rural Legal Services at 1-888-582-3410.

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 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.

*NEW* COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES ASSIST RESIDENTS APPLYING FOR CARES ACT RENT AND UTILITIES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Palm Beach County Community Services Department has partnered with eight community-based agencies to help residents apply for the Rent and Utilities Assistance Program through CARES Act funding. For more information or to make an appointment with a partnering agency, visit their website or call the respective number below:

• Adopt-a-Family – Family Division of the Lewis Center, 1000 45th Street, West Palm Beach, (561) 444-0398, www.aafpbc.org
  
  
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach – 9995 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach,  (561) 775-9560 or (561) 360-3327, www.catholiccharitiesdpb.org

• Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Lake Worth Office: 1123 Crestwood Blvd., Lake Worth, (561) 533-7227 / Belle Glade: 233 W. Ave. A Suite D, Belle Glade, (561) 992-0603, www.farmworkercouncil.com

• Community Partners - (561) 386-2704 or 561-841-3500 ext. 1002, www.cp-cto.org/housing-services

• Pathways to Prosperity – 970 N. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach, (561) 523-0179, www.pathwaysboynton.org

• Palm Beach County Housing Authority - 3432 West 45th Street, West Palm Beach, (561) 684-2160, www.pbchafl.org

• The Lord's Place -  2808 N Australian Ave, West Palm Beach, (561) 537- 4652 or (561) 494-0125, www.thelordsplace.org

• The Urban League of Palm Beach County - 1700 N. Australian Ave, West Palm Beach, 561-833-1461 ext. 3000, http://www.ulpbc.org

PALM BEACH COUNTY CARES FOR HOUSING (Mortgage Assistance Program)
ELIGIBLE MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE:Funding will provide assistance to income eligible households who are at least one-month delinquent in their first mortgage and escrow payments (PITI), late fees, attorney's fees, condominium and homeowners' association payments, special assessments, and other mortgage associated costs related to COVID-19.  

Locations for CARES Act Rent and Utilities Document Drop-off and Application Assistance
The PBC Community Services Department (CSD) has added new locations to help applicants who have submitted CARES Act applications and need assistance with uploading pending documentation, verifying eligibility and/or processing the application only.

Drive-Thru Intake
Applicants may make an appointment to submit documents at CSD’s drive-thru intake, located at 810 Datura Street, West Palm Beach, and 1440 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Riviera Beach, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Call (561) 355-4792 to make/confirm appointments and find out the drive-thru hours. 

*NEW* Library Drop-Off Services
Applicants with pending documentation may also submit their documents at Palm Beach County Libraries. Some library locations may have limited in-person services. Library staff will only receive documents for pending applications. Assistance with applying and/or submitting applications for the program is not offered at any Palm Beach County Branch Library. For more information or to locate your nearest library, visit www.pbclibrary.org/locations.

Drop-off services are only available for clients who have submitted their application and need assistance with uploading pending documentation. For assistance applying for the program. Call (561) 355-4792 or contact any of the eight community-based organizations that are providing navigation services. The list of agencies can be found here.

Palm Beach County Feeding Sites Interactive Map

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

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