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Dear Friend,
I’m continuing to work closely with federal, state and local officials during this pandemic to monitor and fight the coronavirus in our community. There’s a lot of new information and I wanted to make sure you don’t miss anything:
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Reminder that hurricane season starts MONDAY, June 1. If you need disaster preparedness supplies, make sure to stock up during Florida’s annual Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which begins TODAY and ends June 4.
REOPENING FLORIDA: All counties in Florida have entered Phase 1 of Gov. DeSantis’ plan to safely reopen our economy. Local governments may still have restrictions based on each community. Governor Ron DeSantis has lifted all restrictions on youth activities. Here’s what’s included in Phase 1:
- Restaurants at 50% capacity (with spacing and/or partitions)
- Gyms and fitness centers (50% capacity with machines and surfaces sanitized after each use)
- Retail shops at 50% capacity
- Museums and libraries at 50% capacity
- Salons and barbershops (with these safety guidelines)
- Elective surgeries
- Youth activities (including youth sports and summer camps)
LOCAL UPDATES: Florida K-12 schools will continue distance learning and remain physically closed until the end of this school year. Parents and students should visit their school district’s website for more information on closures and distance learning guidelines:
Flagler County:
- Flagler County beaches are open without limitations, except the practice of social distancing
- Boardwalk and piers remain closed until further notice
- Handicapped-friendly parking and beach access will be available just north of the pier at South 2nd Street and State Road A1A
- Continue to follow safe sanitation practices
- Palm Coast and Bunnell libraries are open at 50% capacity
- Rooms and activities inside the library will be limited to no more than two hours per day per person
- Drive-thru coronavirus testing: Daytona Beach College’s Palm Coast campus site is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon for qualifying residents in Flagler County
- Daytona State College, 3000 Palm Coast Pkwy SE, Palm Coast FL 32137
- Call (386) 313-4200 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to complete a short screening process to qualify for an appointment
- Residents must have:
- Underlying medical conditions, weakened immune systems or be over the age of 65
- Symptoms of COVID-19 which includes fever, cough and shortness of breath
- Vacation rentals: reopened with restrictions
Lake County:
- Additional COVID-19 testing locations began this week. Testing is administering tests to Lake County residents for $20, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by Adult Medicine of Lake County. No appointment necessary. For more info call 352-253-9999. Sites are located at:
- 500 Shiloh St., Fruitland Park – Cales Memorial Multipurpose Soccer Field Recreation Complex – May 27 and June 3
- 24731 Ann St., Astor, – First Baptist Church of Astor – May 29
- 2101 N. County Road 452, Eustis – Lake County Fairgrounds – Monday to Friday
- 121 N. Sunset, Mascotte – June 2 & June 4
- 225 W Guava St., Lady Lake – June 8
- NOTE: The testing site at the Clermont Arts & Rec Center has closed
- The Florida of Heath Department in Lake County (DOH-Lake) is offering free COVID-19 testing Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to residents and non-residents at the following locations:
- 249 E. Collins Street, Umatilla – Florida Department of Health Umatilla WIC
- 560 W. DeSoto Street, Clermont – Florida Department of Health Clermont WIC
- 1904 Griffin Road, Leesburg – Florida Department of Health Leesburg WIC
- Lake County libraries are closed to the public but are offering curbside pickup
- Vulnerable population restrictions: County Commissioners put in place an order urging all at-risk populations, including those with underlying medical conditions, to stay at home
- Social distancing at businesses will be monitored
St. Johns County:
- COVID-19 testing: Due to declining demand, Flagler Health+ has ceased operations of its COVID-19 drive through specimen collection site. Testing is available at:
- 70 Turn Terrace, Suite 110, St. Augustine, FL 32092
- 120 Health Park Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32086
- St. Johns County beaches are open for exercise and sunbathing
- CDC guidelines and social distancing restrictions remain in place
- On-beach driving remains prohibited
- Ocean and Fishing Pier is open to the public
- The gift shop and visitor information center is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, during the summer season
- SJC Libraries are open for essential services: returns, grab-and-go service and computer usage up to one hour
- Seating areas, meetings rooms and play area will not be accessible
- Emergency Operations Center remains open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday –(904) 824-5550
- St. Johns River Water campsites are open
- St. Johns County Back to Business Grant Program: Online applications are now open for small businesses in need of short-term help due to COVID-19
Volusia County:
- Volusia County beaches are open. Here’s what you can and can’t do:
- Beach Driving: Cars are allowed to drive onto Volusia County beaches from all 23 ramps
- Small Groups: People may not congregate in groups of more than six people
- Social Distancing: Groups setting up camp — blankets, chairs, umbrellas, tents — must remain 10 feet apart from others
- Parks and Parking: Coastal parks are open (some at less than full capacity), including:
- Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park in Ormond Beach
- Wisteria Road parking lot in Daytona Beach
- Dahlia Avenue Park in Daytona Beach Shores
- Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet
- Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach
- Restrooms and showers: Open in county-operated coastal and inlet parks
- Volusia County Farmers Market is open Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Relocated to the west parking lot of the Volusia County Fairgrounds (3050 E. New York Ave., DeLand, Florida 32724) due to coronavirus testing
- Attendees are encouraged to wear masks and hand-sanitizing stations are set up throughout the grounds
- Admission and parking are free
- Volusia County libraries will open this Monday, June 1st with limited hours and capacity
- COVID-19 testing is taking place at three testing locations. They are open and operating Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. No referral nor appointment is necessary. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, visit one of these three walk-up locations:
- 1205 S Woodland Blvd, Deland – Family Health Source – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
- 100 E Washington Ave., Pierson – Taylor Middle School – June 1 - 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday
- 1500 Center Ave., Holly Hill – Holly Hill Middle School – June 8 - 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday
- 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave., Orange City – University High School – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- CVS is offering self-swab testing at participating locations (appointment necessary):
- 101 South Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach 32114
- 250 East Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach 32176
- 901 North Woodland Blvd, DeLand 32720
- 2187 Howland Blvd, Deltona 32738
- COVID-19 swab testing: Family Health Source will be traveling and administering COVID-19 swab tests at various locations, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at:
- Taylor Middle High School in Pierson from June 1st to June 5th
- Holly Hill Middle School in Holly Hill from June 8th to June 12th
- For more COVID-19 resources, check out the Volusia County website here.
- High school graduations: Be sure to frequently check the Volusia Schools website for the most up to date information
- As of right now, the backup graduation rehearsals and ceremonies are scheduled to be held from July 6 to July 11
FAQs and resources for individuals, small businesses & farmers: I have compiled a list of resources and Frequently Asked Questions to help ensure you have all the information you need to receive support that Congress has put in place:
For more information about the coronavirus in Florida, visit my website here.
As always, follow my daily work on social media by liking my Facebook page and following me on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram and feel free to reach out to my offices in Florida or Washington, D.C. if my team or I can ever be of service.
In Service,
Michael Waltz |