City Of West Palm Beach Coronavirus Update For Aug. 28

From City of West Palm Beach:

August 28, 2020

SUMMARY: Palm Beach County had a 5.22% COVID-19 daily positivity rate on August 27, 2020. West Palm Beach Residents are strongly encouraged to continue to practice social distancing and wear facial coverings as per CDC guidelines. The City of West Palm Beach is currently working to reopen playgrounds, splashpads and other Parks and Recreation facilities that have been closed due to COVID-19. On August 25th the County Board of Commissioners discussed criteria and conditions required for a Phase 2 reopening of businesses and schools in Palm Beach County. Free walk-up testing was offered to West Palm Beach residents at Palm Beach Post Centennial Park Friday, August 28. Public schools will open with virtual classes on August 31st.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 STATISTICAL DATA can be viewed here: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/bcfddbc51de6493e819db001274317e8/

TESTING & HEALTH

• County positivity rate continues to drop: Both the total and daily positivity rates continue to go down for the county and the State of Florida. Palm Beach County’s positivity rate per 100,000 people tested is 3.0%; statewide it is 2.9%.
• Free Mobile Testing offered to WPB residents Friday, August 28 - The City of West Palm Beach, West Palm Beach Fire Department (WPBFD), and the Health Care District of Palm Beach County partnered to offer FREE COVID-19 testing to West Palm Beach residents at The Palm Beach Post Centennial Park at 321 S. Flagler Drive. No reservations were accepted, the test was available only to walk-up and drive-up residents.
• Interactive testing map: An interactive testing map, created by Palm Beach County, features over 70 testing sites. The 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. Visit: http://pbcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7e512bab938b45a4b63275de6536302e

• Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline: (866) 779-6121 or email covid-19@flhealth.gov with questions.

CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH OPERATIONS, REOPENINGS:

• CITY PARKS: Regional, community and neighborhood parks are open, as are boat ramps, tennis courts and dog parks. The City is working toward the reopening of sports courts, fitness centers, playgrounds, splash playgrounds, and adult team sports/leagues by Labor Day weekend. Use of these installations will be at your own risk.
• WARREN HAWKINS AQUATIC CENTER: The Warren Hawkins Aquatic Center, located at 1501 N. Australian Avenue, is now open to the public Monday – Thursday, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. COVID-19 restrictions are in place. Lap swimming is available by reservation-only. For more information and to make a reservation, please call (561) 804-4961 (TTY 800-955-8771).
• LIBRARY | CURBSIDE SERVICE EXPANDED: The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach has expanded its curbside service to include Saturdays. The contactless walk-up, pickup service allows library cardholders to pick up physical library materials Monday – Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. While the library doors are currently closed, the library remains committed to providing safe access to the tens of thousands of physical materials through this service and expanded access to online resources offered by the library since March. For more information, please call (561) 868-7701 (TTY 800-955-8771).
• LIBRARY | MOBILE PRINT & PICKUP SERVICE: With the Mandel Public Library’s new MobilePrint Service, you can now use your personal computer or mobile device to print to the library’s printers from anywhere. Simply submit documents for printing and use the walk-up, pickup service to schedule a time to pick up your document.
• QUESTIONS: Questions for the City can be emailed to 822@WPB.ORG. The Mayor’s Special Response Hotline is (561) 822-2222.
• TROLLEY SERVICE: City of West Palm Beach trolley service has been suspended until further notice.
• PUBLIC MEETINGS: To promote social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of West Palm Beach has turned to Zoom technology to host public meetings since April. While public meetings have gone remote, the public’s participation is still needed, welcomed and encouraged. For information, please visit: https://www.wpb.org/Home/Components/News/News/536/16.

RECENT ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY OUR PARTNERS AT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND AGENCIES:

• PBC County Opens Playgrounds, other Park facilities: Palm Beach County Emergency Order 21 opened County operated skate parks, bicycle tracks, park playgrounds, exercise facilities, volleyball courts as well as allow for adult sport leagues and activities. The order can be viewed here: https://www.wpb.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=2437
• The Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) will temporarily suspend the acceptance of rental and utility applications on September 1st to allow sufficient time to process applications currently in the queue. The county will reopen the application portal in October if funds are still available.
• Coronavirus Relief Fund – PBC Board of Commissioners approved the allocation of $3.686 million of Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) to the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to assist Floridians impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Staff proposes allocation to assist low to moderate households, AMI not to exceed 120%, with emergency repairs for homeowners with COVID hardship. These funds must be expended by December 30, 2020.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS

• To view city, county and state executive orders pertaining to the public health emergency, please visit: https://www.wpb.org/our-city/mayor-s-office/covid-19-updates-and-information/executive-orders.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 FROM THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH, PLEASE VISIT: https://www.wpb.org/our-city/mayor-s-office/covid-19-start-page

OTHER:

• Schools: The first day of school is August 31, 2020. The school year will begin with distance learning.
• 2020 Census: All West Palm Beach residents are encouraged to respond to the Census. The Census gathers data that tells the story of our community and who we are. Data is used for many things including redistricting of state and federal legislative seats and the funding of local programs such as school meals, infrastructure improvements, and public health programs. You can respond to the Census now by visiting http://www.2020Census.gov or calling 844-330-2020.
• Hurricane Season: The Atlantic Hurricane Season is underway through November 30, 2020. The City of West Palm Beach has information to help you safely prepare, evacuate, and shelter for severe storms while protecting yourself and others from COVID-19. Read more about it here: https://www.wpb.org/our-city/storm-preparedness/covid-19-and-storm-season-copy

This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.