Osceola County is ready for Monday’s Phase 1 start of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step.” plan – as community testing for COVID-19 carries on and a local committee continues to study any necessary guidelines that best fit Osceola’s unique community.
“We will be working with all our partners to very diligently monitor case data and the public’s compliance with Phase 1 guidelines to ensure that we don’t lose ground in this battle against the Coronavirus,” said Osceola County Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer. “We are encouraged by the way the public helped flatten the curve during the ‘Safer at Home’ order and we anticipate that the majority of people and businesses will use common sense to follow the plan laid out by the Governor. As we move forward we will continue to study any measures we might need at the local level that are in the best interest of our residents and the business community.”
Actions taken:
*Removal of an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew: effective Monday.
*Continuation of a mandatory order for face coverings in public.
*Continuation of the Osceola “Back to Work” think tank meetings which today discussed available business assistance programs at federal, state, and local levels. Additionally, members of the task force shared challenges they see for reopening their businesses, including health and safety issues that might impact consumer confidence. Advisors to the committee from the health department and emergency management are assisting with sourcing solutions based upon concerns on availability of supplies such as hand sanitizer and face masks.
·Testing at Osceola Heritage Park by AdventHealth.
·Testing by the Florida Department of Health Osceola continues in St. Cloud on Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
*Events scheduled Tuesday, May 5 through Thursday, May 7 at Bellalago Academy located at 3651 Pleasant Hill Road and Tuesday, May 12 through Thursday, May 14 at the Community Hope Center located at 2198 Four Winds Boulevard, Kissimmee. Both events will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Health Department is partnering with federally qualified health centers to ensure those experiencing symptoms have access to medical care.
*Call 407-343-2000 for screening and to make an appointment.
*Working on testing in other at-risk communities such as BVL, Poinciana and Intercession City.
*Working with Walmart to offer testing at key locations to increase access to testing for residents.
*Distribution of 56,589 N95 masks, 2,500 units of hand sanitizer, 4,842 protective gowns, 7,719 gloves and 141,130 gloves to local first response agencies, hospital and other health care facilities (nursing homes, assisted living facilities) through the Osceola Department of Emergency Management.
