City of Kissimmee issues local State of Emergency declaration due to COVID-19

  • Kissimmee City Hall
    Kissimmee City Hall

The city of Kissimmee issued a local State of Emergency declaration at 10:15 a.m., on Monday in response to the coronavirus impacting the United States.
 Pursuant to the authority outlined in the city charter, City Manager Mike Steigerwald signed Executive Order 2020-01 and enacted a local State of Emergency declaration for the city of Kissimmee. This declaration enacts special authorizations and provides the authority for the city and all of its departments to take any measures that may be necessary to combat the novel coronavirus.
 During a press conference announcing the city’s declaration, Mayor Jose Alvarez asked for the residents of the city to, “be a good neighbor, take individual responsibility, and do your part to follow established guidelines and protocols issued by local health officials to help slow the spread of the virus and help reduce the threat to those in our community who are at greatest risk.”
In accordance to the new guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the city is implementing the following changes as a result of these new recommendations: 

  • Special event permits – All special event permits shall be revoked for any event occurring on or before March 31.
  • Events and gatherings at city venues – All public events managed by the city and those events, including private events held on city of Kissimmee property or at its venues, shall be canceled until further notice.
  • Kissimmee Civic Center – Scheduled to close at the end of voting today at 7 p.m. and will remain closed until further notice.
  • Community centers – All community centers will be closed starting on and will remain closed until further notice. They include Chambers Park Community Center, Lakeside Community Center, Orange Gardens Community Center and Oak Street Community Center
  • Recreation programming and activities – All recreation programming will be suspended until further notice starting today. They include senior programs, open recreation and organized recreation events. 

At this time, the city will continue with business as usual except for those operations that may be impacted due to the implementation of guidance from the CDC and local health officials. 
 For more information updates about the city of Kissimmee, visit www.kissimmee.org/coronavirus.