Latest Update:
August 6, 2020 9:15 PM
Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/06/2020
COVID-19 NUMBERSOrange County has an increase of 345 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases reported since 8/5/20. This brings the County’s total confirmed positive cases to 5,491 in the past two weeks.
Since Monday, 38 Orange County residents have unfortunately died from the virus bringing the death toll to a total of 275 residents. Average positivity rate for the past 14 days is at 8 percent. More information at
ocfl.net/COVID19Snapshot.
COVID-19 TESTINGOrange County Health Services continues its free testing tomorrow at Econ Soccer Complex. Free testing will continue at Econ Soccer Complex next week from Tuesday, August 11 through Friday, August 14. The site will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can make an online appointment directly at
ocfl.net/EconSoccer.
While registration is closed for tomorrow, if you need a test, the site still has availability. You can stop by the Econ Soccer Complex between 8 a.m. and noon, and register on site. It may take a few minutes, but you will get tested. Please visit
ocfl.net/COVID19 for additional testing sites to visit.
ORANGE CARESOn Monday, August 10, 2020 at 8 a.m. the application process for
Orange CARES Small Business Grant Program will reopen for applications for CARES Act monies for small businesses. Home-based businesses with three or less employees can now apply for micro-grants.
The grants will range from $1,000 to $3,000 dollars. Small businesses with less than 100 employees can still qualify for $10,000 grants.
The Orange CARES Program for Individual and Families continues to send out status emails to applicants. Those who applied on June 22 should receive their status email later this week. Email approvals for July 13 applications will begin to go out August 10. To date, more than $14 million has been provided to residents in need during this pandemic.
For more information, visit
ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.
EVICTION MORATORIUMOn Tuesday August 11, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners will be asked to designate $20 million dollars in CARES Act monies for a COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program.The program is designed to assist individuals impacted by the coronavirus who are in imminent danger of being evicted. It is also designed to assist landlords.The tenant must be at least two months behind in rent. Tenants and property owners must both agree to participate. Online applications will be accepted starting August 25, 2020.
More details will be shared with the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday. The meeting will be available live on Orange TV at
ocfl.net/OrangeTV. For answers to some frequently asked questions on housing issues, visit
ocfl.net/HousingFAQs.
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX COLLECTIONSOrange County Comptroller Phil Diamond announced today that tourist development tax (TDT) collections (resort tax) received by Orange County for the June 2020 were $2,629,400. That is an 89.2% decrease compared to last year’s collections.
On the bright side, while TDT collections remain at historically low levels, TDT collections increased compared to May 2020 collections. That increase is at least partially attributable to the re-openings of Universal, SeaWorld, and other attractions in June—although at limited capacities.
