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A media briefing was held Monday at Osceola County Emergency Managmwnt on the state of COVID-19 in the county.
Osceola County declared a state of emergency on Monday due to the widespread COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus.
County officials, as well as dignitaries from the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, held a media briefing from the Emergency Management office.
"The county's declaration allows us to access resources at the state and federal levels to support our community needs," said Osceola County Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer said.
The county has created a website to provide the most updated information about CONVID-19 at https://www.osceola.org/covid19.
There are now six cases of COVID-19 in Osceola County, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The county is working with local food pantries for those in need. Anyone with a need for rental assistance can call Human Services at 407-742-8400.
Following guidelines from the Supreme Court, the Osceola County Clerk of Court has suspended all civil and jury trials until March 27.
The Osceola County School District is currently on spring break, but will stay closed for an extra week due to the virus. However, to ensure that students have nutritious meals while away from school, the district's School Nutrition Services Department will provide free breakfast and lunch to children 18 years and under during the extended school closure between March 23 through March 27 at the following sites:
•Michigan Avenue Elementary - 2015 S. Michigan Avenue in St. Cloud
•Lakeview Elementary - 2900 5th Street in St. Cloud
•Ventura Elementary - 275 Waters Edge Drive in Kissimmee
•Denn John Middle - 2001 Denn John Lane in Kissimmee
•Central Avenue Elementary - 500 W. Columbia Avenue in Kissimmee
•Osceola High - 420 S. Thacker Avenue in Kissimmee
•Kissimmee Middle - 2410 Dyer Boulevard in Kissimmee
•Sunrise Elementary - 1925 Ham Brown Road in Kissimmee (Poinciana)
•KOA Elementary - 5000 Koa Street in Kissimmee (Poinciana)
•Deerwood Elementary - 3701 Marigold Avenue in Kissimmee (Poinciana)
•Westside K-8 School - 2551 Westside Boulevard in Kissimmee
•Cameron Preserve
Meals will be available for pickup between 9:30 and 11 a.m. at each location. Families can go to school/site nearest them to pick up food even if they do not attend that school. Families will drive up in the bus loops, and they will be handed meals through the vehicle window. Students must accompany the parent/adult when they are picking up the meals, and meals can be provided to children not of school age if they are in the group picking up the food.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.
Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.
Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.
This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.
For the most updated information on COVID-19 in Florida, go the the Florida Department of Health website at www.floridahealth.gov.
To view the meeting go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3VIhwEZvy0&feature=youtu.be
