January 12, 2021 9:13 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 1/11/20

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19SnapShot.

VACCINE UPDATES

Approximately 3 percent of Orange County’s population has been vaccinated, totaling 43,412 Orange County residents.

The Dept. of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) website for scheduling an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine has reached capacity over the weekend and was temporarily paused by DOH-Orange. In less than 72 hours, more than 35,000 individuals scheduled their appointment. The scheduling site will open in the future when the state provides additional dosages. Visit ocfl.net/Vaccine to learn more and how to stay informed.

Other community partners providing COVID-19 vaccinations:

· True Health

· Advent Health and Orlando Health are administering COVID-19 vaccines to health care workers with direct patient contact, including health care workers in the community. Here is a list of hospitals administering COVID-19 vaccines.

Additionally, it is important to remember that COVID-19 vaccines administered by County Health Departments are always free. If a site asks for payment information, it is likely a scam and should be reported to the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Learn more about this scam.

CARES ACT FUNDING FOR ORANGE COUNTY

In spring 2020, Orange County Government received approximately $243 million in federal CARES Act funds to assist the community in recovery efforts – helping individuals, families, small businesses and more. Below are a few highlights:

Small businesses received about 30 percent of CARES Funding:

· More than $69 million invested

· Approximately 8,000 businesses received funding

· 65 percent of businesses that received funding were minority or women-owned businesses

Social service sand community needs received about 40 percent of CARES Funding:

· More than $84 million invested

· More than $65 million distributed to the County’s Individuals and Families Program

· Nearly 40 direct contracts and more than $22 million distributed to local nonprofit services for childcare, job retention, homelessness, mental health and food insecurity

· $4 million was earmarked for the County’s Eviction Diversion Program

Public Safety received about 23 percent of CARES Funding:

· More than $56 million was invested in public safety efforts

· Testing at Barnett Park

· Vaccinations at the Orange County Convention Center

· More than 25 million face masks and 2 million hand sanitizers provided to community groups, faith-based organizations and small businesses

January 9, 2021 4:36 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 1/8/20

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

On January 7, 2021, a total of 1,427 Orange County residents tested positive for COVID-19 – which represents the County’s highest single-day positive count since the beginning of the pandemic.

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19SnapShot.

VACCINE UPDATES

Yesterday evening, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County reopened the COVID-19 vaccination scheduling website. You can schedule appointments, read frequently asked questions, and learn about the County’s vaccination efforts by visiting ocfl.net/Vaccine.

Appointments available Monday through Saturday at the Orange County Convention Center site
Must be 65+ years old
Those experiencing issues with booking an appointment online can dial 305-351-9531 or email covid19support@cdrmhealth.com

To date, 35,403 Orange County residents have been vaccinated (2.9% of Orange County’s population).

CARES ACT FOR RESIDENTS

The application portal for Orange County’s CARES Act Program for Residents is closed and will not open again since funding has been allocated. Although the CARES program is complete, the program team is still processing approved applications for funds distribution with the Comptroller.

Applicants from December 8, 2020 should have received an email with their status update earlier this week.
Applicants from December 17, 2020 should receive an email with their status by the end of the day Monday, January 11, 2021.

The Program has processed more than $65 million of assistance for County residents.

CITIZEN SAFETY TASK FORCE – COMMUNITY CRIME SURVEY

Orange County’s Citizens Safety Task Force’s Community Crime Survey is still open. The survey will be used to gain insight from residents on solutions and strategies to prevent and reduce gun violence and violent crime. Residents can take the short survey by visiting ocfl.net/CrimeSurvey. So far, there has been more than 1,200 responses.

Organizations, faith-based leaders and neighborhoods can request paper surveys for distribution in the community by emailing CitizensSafety@ocfl.net.

ORANGE COUNTY COURT ADMINISTRATION UPDATE

There will be no jury trials and no jurors called to appear from now until at least February 15, 2021.

Effective, Monday, January 11, 2021, only employees, litigants, victims, witnesses, counsel and individuals headed to the Clerk’s offices will be admitted to the building. No friends or family will be admitted.

Effective, Tuesday, January 19, 2021, only essential matters and other in-person hearings will be permitted.

For more information, visit ninthcircuit.org.

January 7, 2021 7:59 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 1/6/20

VACCINE UPDATES

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) will reopen its online appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday, January 7, 2021, at 8 a.m. Appointments are available for individuals who are 65+ years old. Please make sure to read Frequently Asked Questions at ocfl.net/Vaccine.

Visit ocfl.net/Vaccine to make an appointment and additional information.

Individuals experiencing issues with booking an appointment online can dial 305-351-9531 or email covid19support@cdrmhealth.com.

For Healthcare Workers:

According to the Department of Health, hospitals are administering COVID-19 vaccines to health care workers with direct patient contact, including health care workers in the community. Hospital providers may also vaccinate individuals who they deem to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. Visit https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Hospital-Locations-1.pdf for a list of hospitals administering the vaccine.

VACCINATION NUMBERS IN ORANGE COUNTY

As of yesterday, a total of 22,117 Orange County residents have been vaccinated at the at the Orange County Convention Center – that number totals 1.5% of all County residents. Of special note, 111 of the recipients have been over the age of 95.

Residents are asked to be patient with the process as the County and state work to meet the demand. DOH-Orange is working to vaccinate the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time possible.

To help meet this demand of DOH-Orange, Orange County Health Services and EMS personnel at Orange County Fire Rescue are helping staff the vaccination site at the Convention Center to allow up to 2,000 vaccination per day. The Orange County Convention Center vaccination site is now open six days per week (Monday through Saturday).

WAYS TO STAY UPDATED ON THE VACCINE

Visit ocfl.net/vaccine
You can download the “OCFL Alert” App
Residents can text OCFLCOVID to 888777 for vaccine updates

Employees will be standing by at four Orange County Community Action Centers (Holden Heights, Pine Hills, East Orange and Taft) to assist residents who need to register for the vaccine.

For more information on Community Center locations, visit ocfl.net/CommunityCenters

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Orange County cases now number 82,155. Please practice three W’s – wash your hands, watch your distance and wear a face covering.

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot updates Monday through Friday.

TESTING EXTENDED

Orange County Government’s Health Services Department is offering free COVID-19 testing through January 30, 2021 at Barnett Park. The testing site will continue to operate 7 days per week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, residents need to get in line early (before noon) as the site usually closes in the early afternoon once it reaches capacity.

Both PCR/molecular and rapid tests are available to residents at this site.

For more information, visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the testing map.

COVID-19 EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM EXTENDED

The COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program deadline has been extended to January 29, 2021. Visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion for a full list of eligibility criteria and required documents.

COMPTROLLER UPDATE

Tourist development tax (TDT) collections received by Orange County for the November 2020 were $8,765,800.00. That is a 66% decrease from November 2019.

With the gradual reopening of Florida’s economy after April’s statewide lockdown, TDT collections have steadily increased every month since.

THANK YOU FOR FOOD DONATIONS

A special thank you to the following sponsors for generously providing food to the Florida Department of Health staff working double shifts to administer the vaccine:

December 22, 2020 10:54 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/21/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot updates Monday through Friday.

GOALS OF THE WEEK

We will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing through Orange County Health Services at Barnett Park. The state will continue free testing at the Convention Center site at least through the first quarter of 2021.
Our Strike Teams will continue to inspect and work with Orange County businesses in order to comply with CDC pandemic standards.
We will continue to provide updates on the vaccine distribution in our community.

CARES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES

Over $14 million in CARES Act funds has been allocated for social service programs to help some of our most vulnerable residents. Here is a breakdown of where the monies have gone:

Over 89,000 residents have received mental health counseling services through various agencies.
Over 5.8 million meals have been served during the pandemic through Second Harvest Food Bank and Coalition for the Homeless.
CARES funding has helped house 161 homeless individuals and families and have kept another 238 families or individuals from homelessness.

If you need more information on the county’s social services programs, please go to ocfl.net/ResidentResources for more information.

TESTING

Orange County has extended COVID-19 testing through the end of January 2021.

For testing at Barnett Park, residents should try to be in the waiting line as early as possible as the line has been closing earlier to the overwhelming response for testing. The testing site operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Barnett Park will close on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The site will reopen on December 26, 2020.

For more information visit, ocfl.net/testing

STRIKE TEAMS – Business Compliance

Orange County’s Strike Teams continue to inspect businesses and educate them about keeping patrons and employees safe. The teams have visited nearly 6,000 locations with a 98% compliance rate. Since the Executive Order was issued earlier this month, the teams have visited 406 businesses and have issued 35 warnings and 8 citations.

For more information, visit the County’s business resource page.

December 18, 2020 7:53 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/17/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot updates Monday through Friday.

VACCINE TRAINING EMERGENCY RESPONDERS

Over the past two days, The Department of Health in Orange County have trained and certified roughly 50 paramedics to administer the COVID-19 vaccine if needed. This includes a large group from Orange County Fire Rescue, as well as representatives from each local fire department in the County.

PPE EFFORTS

Assisted living facilities contain some of Orange County’s most vulnerable residents. Since day one of the pandemic, Orange County Government has made it a priority to ensure local assisted living facilities have the PPE they need to protect their residents and staff.

Orange County has delivered critical personal protective equipment to 175 assisted living and long-term care facilities in the County since March. That includes approximately 6.3 million PPE items, including N-95 masks, procedural masks, gowns, gloves and hand sanitizer.

In addition, Orange County provides free PPE to anyone tested at the Orange County Health Services test site at Barnett Park – open 7 days a week. Visit ocfl.net/PPE to learn about the County’s PPE distribution efforts.

EVICTION DIVERSION

The program closed to new applicants on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. So far, nearly 2,400 families have been able to stay in their homes. Orange County Government in partnership with the Orange County Bar Association, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida and other local legal assistance nonprofit agencies has dispersed over $7.5 million dollars in assistance with an average payment of $3,149 for past rent (up to 3 months).

ORANGE COUNTY CARES FOR FAMILIES

Our Orange CARES for Residents program, which provides $1,000 grants to those impacted by COVID-19, is now closed for good. For individuals and families who have applications approved, please allow up to 30 days to process the applications. More than $55 million in checks are in the mail or are in process through the Orange County Comptroller’s Office.

The County expects to spend the total CARES funding, $243.5 million dollars by the end of December 2020 supporting families, businesses, and nonprofits in the community.

In addition to the CARES funding, Orange County allocated $1.8 million dollars from the General Fund to support families.

TESTING

For Orange County Health Services testing at Barnett Park, residents should try to be in the waiting line as early as possible as the line has been closing earlier to the overwhelming response for testing. The testing site operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Barnett Park will close on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. .

For more information visit, ocfl.net/testing.

STRIKE TEAMS – Business Compliance

Orange County’s Strike Teams continue to inspect businesses and educate them about keeping patrons and employees safe. The teams have been in operation for 110 days. Since December 8, 2020, the teams have issued 24 warnings and 7 citations and have visited nearly 6,000 locations with a 98% compliance rate. For more information, visit the County’s business resource page.

ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS UPDATE

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) will have a COVID-19 notification link on its homepage at ocps.net to report any student or staff with a positive case over the winter break. Those reports will help the school system navigate a safe return for the second semester.

In regard to changing quarantine timeframes, Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) is now using the 10-day criteria, which was reduced from the 14-day as recommended by the Florida Department of Health. In January, OCPS expects 20,000 students returning face-to-face for second semester.

OCPS Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins stressed if any individual has symptoms of, or exposed to or if they test positive for COVID-19 over the break, they need to stay home until cleared to return.

December 15, 2020 1:15 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/14/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

FINAL APPLICATION OPENING FOR ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS

There will be one last opportunity to apply for the $1,000 grant payment for residents, negatively impacted by COVID-19 through the Orange CARES for Residents Program.

The final online application portal will open on Thursday, December 17, at 8 a.m. The portal will allow up to 10,000 users into the system.

The County is allocating $2 million in remaining funding to approved applications in the order they were received. All applicants will be notified of their status no later than the first week of January. Please note that there is no guarantee for funding for everyone who applies.

If your application has been denied for documentation issues before, you may re-apply.

If you have previously applied for the program, and have not received an email with your status, you can apply again when the portal opens on December 17, 2020. If your application is approved, please allow up to 30 days for processing and mail delivery of your check.

Visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES for more information and to read a helpful article about the top five reasons for denial and how to avoid.

EVICTION DIVERSION

The program will close to new applicants on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Residents and landlords with applications pending will have until Thursday, December 24, 2020, to submit any outstanding documents.

Please note that there is not an income cap for the program, so if you are in imminent danger of eviction, please apply today.

Visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion for a full list of eligibility criteria and required documents.

TESTING

For testing at Barnett Park, residents should try to be in the waiting line as early as possible as the line has been closing earlier to accommodate all cars in line for testing. Today it closed at 2 p.m. to accommodate all cars in line. The testing site operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For families, please carpool to the site together and not separately.

Orange County’s Health Services testing site at Barnett Park will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Continued testing through 2021 will continue to be a priority. The state testing site at the Convention Center will offer free testing through at least the first quarter of 2021. For more information visit, ocfl.net/testing.

December 8, 2020 9:51 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/7/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot.

UPCOMING EVICTION DIVERSION DEADLINE

The application portal for the COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program will close on December 16, 2020, and will not accept any new applications. However, applications will be processed until December 24, 2020.

The program has already helped more than 2,100 tenants be able to pay landlords back rent in order to avoid eviction.

Free COVID-19 Eviction Diversion help sessions will be offered at The Kingdom Church, located at 800 N Pine Hills Rd, Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12. The Friday session will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Saturday session will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about the program, visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

Tourist Development Tax October Report

Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond announced that the Tourist Development Tax (or “bed taxes”) collections received by Orange County for October 2020 collection month were, $7,701,500. That amounts to a decrease of 69% compared to October 2019

September 2020’s collection month equaled $7,037,700, so the County is increasing Tourist Development Taxes comparatively from previous months this year.

PPE EFFORTS

Orange County’s Public Safety team helps ensure small businesses, residents and local organizations continue to get the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to comply with CDC guidelines and the local Executive Orders.

Last week, Orange County provided free face masks and hand sanitizers to more than 4,300 Orange County-based small businesses.

In addition, Orange County provides free PPE to anyone tested at the Orange County Health Services test site at Barnett Park – open 7 days per week.

Visit ocfl.net/PPE to learn about the County’s PPE distribution efforts.

THE MAYOR’S TOY DRIVE

If you have toy donations for the Orange County Mayor's Toy Drive, you can drop them off at more than 20 countywide locations – the deadline is December 14. Visit ocfl.net/ToyDrive for the locations.

The online donation deadline is midnight tonight (Dec. 7). Thank you to everyone – including businesses – that have participated in team drives and donated so far, it makes a huge impact. Nearly all the online donation requests for toys have been met, however, the need is still great for drop-off donations.

LIBRARY OFFERS SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT

The Orange County Library System offers a free online tool – the Right Service at the Right Time – which is a public resource that is particularly useful to those who have had their income affected by COVID-19, providing a platform to easily find information on government-assistance and community-support programs.

With Right Service, customers have access to information about food stamps and temporary cash assistance, Medicaid, social security disability with the Social Security Administration, local food banks, and housing through Florida Housing Search, to name a few resources available on the site. Visit ocls.info/rightservice for more information.

December 7, 2020 8:45 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/4/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19Snapshot. The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

CARES GRANTS FOR RESIDENTS
Orange County’s CARES for Residents program provides a one-time payment of $1,000 per adult resident negatively and financially impacted by COVID-19. The program now allows multiple applicants per household. New applicants in the same household can apply for funding. If you have already been approved for CARES Act funding from this program you are not eligible to apply.

The online application portal will reopen on:

Tuesday, December 8, at 8 a.m. The portal will have a capacity of 20,000 users.

Please note, if you applied for Orange CARES on November 24, status updates for those applications will be emailed to you by the end of day, Monday, December 7. If you do not receive an update by that time, you may reapply on Tuesday, December 8.

For those who were denied in the past or had a duplicate application and were denied, you are eligible to reapply. Please read this helpful article highlighting the “Top 5 Reasons for Denials and How to Fix Them the Next Time you Apply.”

Applicants are urged to review all required documents, current eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, by visiting ocfl.net/OrangeCares.

EXECUTIVE ORDER ON BUSINESS ENFORCEMENT

Under the direction of Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings, Orange County Government has finalized an Executive Order, which allows the County to fine businesses in violation of COVID-19 safety regulations. Visit ocfl.net/ExecutiveOrders to view the Executive Order.

Since Orange County’s Business Compliance Strike Teams began its outreach, it has visited more than 5,600 local businesses – and most all have been in compliance on the first visit.

PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR VACCINE TRIALS

AdventHealth has been selected to participate in the Ensemble clinical trial. This is a Phase 3 trial of Janssen/Johnson & Johnson’s investigational COVID-19 vaccine.

Individuals 18 years of age or older, who are in good or stable health, may be able to participate. Those who are selected will be in the trial for up to 2 years and 1 month. A key aim of this trial is to enroll a diverse population of participants, including African American and Hispanic individuals.

For more information, visit AdventHealthVaccineTrials.com or call 844-422-2282.

FREE COVID-19 TESTING

Free COVID-19 testing options continue in Orange County. Barnett Park is open for testing 7 days per week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, if the testing demand is high, the wait line will close earlier to accommodate all patients in line by 5 p.m. Visit ocfl.net/Testing for more information.

Leading up to the holidays, the community of Parramore will have four opportunities for free COVID-19 testing. No appointment is necessary and upcoming testing times and locations are:

Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church: 535 W. Washington St., Orlando 32810

Saturday, December 12 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church: 535 W. Washington St., Orlando 32810

Tuesday, December 22 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Livingston Street Church of God: 910 W. Livingston St., Orlando 32805

Saturday, January 9 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Livingston Street Church of God: 910 W. Livingston St., Orlando 32805

Contact 407-850-8860 for more information.

FREE PET FOOD GIVEAWAY

Orange County Animal Services will distribute more than three tons of FREE pet food at the South Econ Recreation Center on Wednesday, December 9. The drive-thru pet food giveaway will begin at 12 p.m., and it is on a first-come, first-served basis. Events such as these are all part of a concerted effort by Orange County to assist residents who are being financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to the sponsors, including Don Mealey, of the local family of auto dealerships, and Paul Wean, founder of Pawsitive Shelter Photography.

For more information on the upcoming giveaway, visit Orange County Animal Services’ Facebook page.

December 1, 2020 10:23 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/30/20

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

According to the Department of Health in Orange County, the average rolling positivity rate for the last 14 days is 7.5%.

The Department of Health does expect an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the holiday and urges everyone to stay vigilant by wearing your mask, watching your distance and washing your hands.

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19Snapshot. The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

ORANGE CARES GRANTS FOR RESIDENTS

The CARES for Residents Program has allocated more than $42 million in $1,000 grants to help 42,000 residents in need so far.

The deadline to spend the CARES money is December 30, 2020. Orange County does plan to open the application portal again on December 8 at 8 a.m. This may be the last time the portal opens in order to meet the CARES spending deadline.

Please stay tuned to Orange County Government’s social media channels and on the Orange CARES webpage for the upcoming application date opening.

For a list of required documents, current eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCares.

TESTING

Orange County Health Services continues to offer free 7-day per week COVID-19 testing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Barnett Park. Both rapid/antigen and PCR/molecular testing are offered. Learn about the test differences at ocfl.net/COVID19TestTypes

Also, every resident tested at Barnett Parks is provided a packet of free PPE.

Recently due to holiday demand, Health Services has had to close the entrance to the site earlier to meet its 5 p.m. closing and accommodate all residents in the line. Orange County’s 311 hotline will be made aware of if and when a cut-off happens at the Barnett testing site.

For more information on testing, visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/ebc9e985/LsSAsMvLKESuMEYAEzlcAQ?u=http://www.ocfl.net/Testing.

PPE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES FULL

Orange County Government’s free PPE (personal protective equipment) giveaway to Orange County small businesses has had all of its appointments filled this week. In total, 5,448 small businesses in Orange County booked appointments. Since the pandemic, the County has given free PPE away to more than 60,000 small businesses and has supported various municipalities with their outreach efforts.

For more information about the County’s PPE efforts and for future distributions, visit ocfl.net/PPE.

EVICTION DIVERSION TO CLOSE

Orange County’s Eviction Diversion Program will close to new applicants on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion for a full list of eligibility criteria and required documents.

November 24, 2020 1:02 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/23/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILIES GRANTS REOPENS TOMORROW

The application portal for residents to apply for $1,000 grants will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at 8 a.m., with a capacity of 15,000 users. Once in the portal, residents will have adequate time to complete their application.

The program now allows other adult members of the same household to apply for financial assistance. That means, new applicants who reside at the same household address as a previously approved applicant can now also apply for the $1,000 grant program — whether you are a roommate or another adult family member living at the same address.

It is important to note that you:

Must meet eligibility criteria and provide all required documents for the program
Are not eligible if you already received the CARES Act for Individual and Families $1,000 grant

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCares.

PPE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Orange County Government is standing ready once again to give away free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to small businesses located in Orange County to help them adhere to CDC guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The giveaway will take place December 1 through December 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the following locations:

Downey Park 10107 Flowers Avenue, Orlando, FL 32825

Cypress Grove Park 290 Holden Avenue, Orlando, FL 32839

West Orange Park 150 Windermere Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787

Orange County small businesses are required to pre-register at ocfl.net/PPE before visiting a pick up location. Small businesses must have fewer than 40 employees.

RAPID TESTING

Orange County Health Services is seeing an influx of testing before the Thanksgiving holiday. Residents are asked to be patient as wait times may be more than 60 minutes at Barnett Park, as well as the state-run testing site located at the Orange County Convention Center.

Both testing sites will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, and reopen Friday, November 26, 2020 at 9 a.m.

Visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the map for more details.

EVICTION DIVERSION

Orange County’s Eviction Diversion Program provides relief to tenants in imminent danger of eviction who have experienced a loss or reduction of income due to the pandemic. Since August, the program has helped 1,960 families stay in their homes, which equates to more than $5.8 million. The program will close to new applicants on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. It is important to note, residents and landlords with applications that have pending items will have until Thursday, December 24, 2020, to submit any outstanding documents.

Visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion for a full list of eligibility criteria and required documents.

SHORT-TERM TRAINING

Orange County Government is partnering with CareerSource Central Florida and Valencia College to offer a variety of short-term, vocational training courses at the Orange County Convention Center, beginning next week, Monday, November 30, 2020. Residents can apply for tuition assistance through CareerSource Central Florida’s “Help is Here” grant program.

To qualify, individuals must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Orange County and able to verify that they have lost their job or suffered reduced wages because of COVID-19.

For more information, visit CareerSourceCentralFlorida.com/HelpIsHere.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Residents are urged to continue to follow CDC guidelines and practice good hand hygiene during the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday.

Visit the CDC’s website for recommendations on how to keep yourself, and your family, safe while celebrating Thanksgiving.

November 20, 2020 9:56 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/19/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

INDVIDUAL CARES PORTAL OPENS NOVEMBER 24

Individual and Families Grants – Orange County will reopen the application portal for residents to apply for $1,000 grants on Monday, November 24, 2020, at 8 a.m., with a capacity of 15,000 users. Adult members of the same household, including roommates and other family members, whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and are over the age of 18, are eligible to apply. For more information, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCares.

To date, Orange County Government has invested a total of $60 million into the program, and has processed nearly $40 million in payments, which has helped nearly 40,000 households.

RAPID TESTING NOW 7 DAYS A WEEK

Free and accessible testing continues to be a priority for Orange County Health Services. Drive-thru COVID-19 rapid testing at Barnett Park has been extended to 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Testing will be available until the end of the year. However, the site will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (11/25).

Both molecular (standard nasal swab/PCR) and rapid antigen tests are available.

All ages are welcome
No symptoms necessary
No appointments necessary

Visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the map for more details.

PPE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Orange County Government is standing ready once again to give away free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to small businesses located in Orange County to help them adhere to CDC guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PPE kit distribution – including disposable face masks and hand sanitizers – will take place from December 1 through 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the following locations:

Downey Park

10107 Flowers Avenue, Orlando, FL 32825

Cypress Grove Park

290 Holden Avenue, Orlando, FL 32839

West Orange Park

150 Windermere Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787

Orange County small businesses are required to pre-register at ocfl.net/PPE before visiting a pick up location. Small businesses must have fewer than 40 employees.

BUSINESS GRANTS

Small Business and Home-Based Business Grants – As of November 16, 2020 at 12 p.m., both the Small Business Grant Program and the Micro-Grant Program for Home-Based Businesses closed its application portal for new applications.

Business owners who still have started, but have yet to complete their applications, need to complete and submit their application prior to Friday, November 20, at 5 p.m. to be considered eligible to receive grant funding. Applications that are not completed will not be considered for the grant.

November 17, 2020 11:41 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/16/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS
For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

CARES ACT PROGRAMS

Small Business and Home-Based Business Grants

The Orange County CARES Act funding programs for small businesses and home-based businesses closed at noon today.

Teams continue to process applications, and both programs are nearing its maximum funding capacity.

To date, more than $67 million have gone back to small business owners in Orange County. ($64.4M for small business, 2.79M for micro grants for home-based businesses)

Individual and Families Grants
The application portal for the Orange County CARES Act Program for Individuals and Families reopened this morning at 8 a.m.

The portal reached its capacity of 15,000 users in approximately 30 minutes, which underscored the importance of this funding for many families.

As of 2 p.m. more than 10,000 applications were successfully submitted to the program.

The program team is currently reviewing the applicants, and the amount of available funding.

The next portal opening will be announced soon.

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

COVID-19 TESTING – FREE, FAST, FOR ALL AGES NO APPOINTMENT REQUIRED
Orange County Health Services provided a total of 5,373 COVID tests last week. About 77% of the tests given last week were rapid and 22% were PCR/molecular. Residents are able to get either test or both.

Orange County Health Services continues to provide free drive-thru COVID-19 rapid testing at Barnett Park, They will be there from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. The average wait time for testing is less than 20 minutes.

Testing will be available until the end of the year. However, the site will close on Thanksgiving (11/25), Christmas Eve (12/24), and Christmas day (12/25). Additional information for rapid testing at Barnett Park includes:

•Both molecular (standard nasal swab/PCR) and rapid antigen tests are available

•All ages are welcome

•No symptoms necessary

•No appointments necessary

Visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the map for more details. You can also learn about the differences between the two tests.

STRIKE TEAMS
Orange County Strike Teams have visited to date, 4,910 businesses with a first-time compliance rate of 87%. The teams have been diligently working with business owners by providing safety guidelines for both employees and patrons. It is important to emphasize that the Orange County mask mandate and CDC guidelines are in effect. To learn about the mask mandate visit the county’s newsroom for an outline of the frequently asked questions along with social distancing guidelines.

For information about the Strike Teams, visit the Business Resource page.

CLERK’S OFFICE HOSTS FREE LEGAL FORUM:

EVICTIONS UPDATE DURING COVID-19
Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell is offering a special virtual edition to all residents of the Legal Matters Forum Series - Evictions Update During COVID-19.

This educational forum will give an update to the community about the evictions process during this difficult time where tenants and landlords are trying to make ends meet. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions through the Q & A feature towards the end of their presentation.

What: Legal Matters Forum series- Evictions Update During COVID-19

When: Thursday, December 3^rd, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Zoom platform

For more information, and to register for this legal forum, go to http://www.myorangeclerk.com/.

November 13, 2020 12:42 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/12/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

CARES ACT PROGRAMS

Small Business and Home-Based Business Grants – Orange County CARES Act funding programs for small businesses and home-based businesses will close on Monday, November 16, 2020, at 12 p.m. Both programs are nearing its maximum funding capacity. Businesses are urged to complete their applications as soon as possible as funding will cease when all the money has been allotted.

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

Individual and Families Grants – The application portal for the Orange County CARES Act Program for Individuals and Families will reopen on Monday, November 16, 2020, at 8 a.m. Once you are in the portal, you will have adequate time to complete your application.

The program now allows other adult members of the same household to apply for financial assistance. That means, new applicants who reside at the same household address as a previously approved applicant can now also apply for the $1,000 grant program — whether you are a roommate or another adult family member living at the same address.

It is important to note that you:

Must meet eligibility criteria and provide all required documents for the program
Are not eligible if you already received the CARES Act for Individual and Families $1,000 grant

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

COVID-19 TESTING – FREE, FAST, FOR ALL AGES

Orange County Health Services continues to provide free drive-thru COVID-19 rapid testing at Barnett Park, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. The average wait time for testing is less than 20 minutes.

Testing will be available until the end of the year. However, the site will be closed on Thanksgiving (11/25), Christmas Eve (12/24), and Christmas day (12/25). Additional information for rapid testing at Barnett Park includes:

Both molecular (standard nasal swab/PCR) and rapid antigen tests are available
All ages are welcome
No symptoms necessary
No appointments necessary

Visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the map for more details.

DRIVE-THRU FREE FLU SHOTS

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County is providing free Flu shots to the general public on Saturday, November 14, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Flu shots are first come, first served, and will be administered while supplies last to everyone 6 months and older. No appointment necessary.

Colonial Promenade Mall

4308 E Colonial Drive

Orlando, FL 32803

The drive-thru event will make it possible for residents to roll in, roll up a sleeve and receive a Flu shot safely and quickly while remaining in their vehicles. Residents should wear clothing that is loose around the arm so that nurses can administer the Flu shot in the upper arm. Masks are required.

For questions, please call 407-723-5004.

VOCATIONAL JOB TRAINING FOR AFFECTED RESIDENTS

Orange County Government is partnering with CareerSource Central Florida and Valencia College to offer a variety of short-term, vocational training courses at the Orange County Convention Center, beginning Monday, November 30, 2020. Residents can apply for tuition assistance through CareerSource Central Florida’s “Help is Here” grant program.

Some of the courses being offered include:

IT/network support specialist
Medical office specialist
Carpentry
Masonry
Commercial truck driving

To qualify, individuals must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Orange County and able to verify that they have lost their job or suffered reduced wages because of COVID-19.

For more information, visit CareerSourceCentralFlorida.com/HelpIsHere.

November 10, 2020 9:59 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/9/2020

COVID-19 UPDATES/NUMBERS

Total Confirmed Cases in Orange County October 25 to November 7, 2020

HEALTH SERVICES RAPID TESTING ANNOUNCED

Starting November 9, 2020 through the end of the year, Health Services will offer FREE drive thru

rapid testing at Barnett Park, 4801 w. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808. Testing is available Monday

through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Both molecular (PCR) and antigen (rapid) tests will be available at the Barnett Park testing site.

Information about which FREE test may be the best choice for you is available on the County’s website.

For more information, visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/8c01f1f5/UN3jzYjJmUOCatJVXx17-g?u=http://www.ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the map.

CARES PROGRAM INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Orange County will reopen the application portal for Individual and Family Assistance Program with new criteria on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 8 a.m. Residents can access the portal directly at ocfl.net/CaresForResidents. Information on the webpage ocfl.net/OrangeCARES is updated to reflect the latest information.

New eligibility criteria will now include other adult members, over the age of 18 that live in the same household, to apply as individuals for the financial assistance.

The system will allow up to 15,000 users inside the application portal on the reopening day to submit their documentation for a $1,000 grant. Residents need to review the eligibility criteria, and prepare all required documents before applying.

Orange County Government has invested an additional $30 million into the Individual and Family Assistance Program. This reopening will be the third round of financial assistance offered to Orange County residents.

STRIKE TEAMS

Orange County Strike Teams have visited over 4,600 county businesses with a first time compliance rate of 87%. The teams have re-inspected 558 businesses with a compliance rate of 81%. For more information, visit the county business resource page.

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX SEPTEMBER REPORT

Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond announced today that the tourist development tax collections received by Orange County for the September 2020 collection month were, $7,037,700. Which equals a 60.4% decrease from September 2019. See the attached news release and comparison chart.

CAMPAIGN SIGNS RECYCLING

With voting complete in Orange County, it is important that campaign signs be recycled.

Residents, candidates, political parties and campaigns are encouraged to gather political signs and drop them off at one of five designated recycle sites.

The sites are:

Cady Way Trail
Mead Botanical Garden
Winter Park Fire-Rescue Station 64
First Unitarian Church of Orlando
Broadway United Methodist Church

This recycling initiative will run through Sunday, November 22.

For the complete addresses for the recycling sites, or for more information, visit the Orange County League of Women Voters’ website at lwvoc.org.

November 7, 2020 11:38 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/6/2020

COVID-19 STATS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot. The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

RAPID COVID-19 TESTING – FREE, FAST, FOR ALL AGES

Free drive-thru COVID-19 rapid testing begins at Barnett Park on Monday, November 9, 2020. Barnett Park will serve as a consistent location for rapid and PCR COVID-19 testing offered by Orange County’s Health Services Department.

Both rapid and PCR testing are available each week, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site will be open until the end of the year, weather permitting. The site will not be open on Thanksgiving or Christmas day.

All testing at Barnett Park is free. Residents are asked to bring their insurance cards. However, no co-pay will be requested, and all uninsured patients will still be tested. Additional information for rapid testing at Barnett Park includes:

Both molecular (standard nasal swab/PCR) and rapid antigen tests are available.
All ages are welcome.
No symptoms are necessary.
No appointments are necessary.

Visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the map for more details.

ART IN PUBLIC PARKS

Orange County Government has earmarked $5 million in CARES Act funding for its Arts in Public Parks initiative.

Part of this program includes an investment made by the County to create social distancing-compliant performance spaces at select Orange County Parks for residents to enjoy performances and activities hosted by the local arts and culture community.

District 1 – West Orange Park, 150 Windermere Rd, Winter Garden, FL 34787
District 2 – Clarcona Horse Park, 3535 Damon Rd, Apopka, FL 32703 (400 max. capacity)
District 3 – Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave, Orlando, FL 32839
District 4 – Meadow Woods Park, 1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle, Orlando, FL 32824
District 5 – Ft. Christmas Park, 1300 Fort Christmas Rd, Christmas, FL 32709
District 6 – Barnett Park, 4801 W Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32808

For more information about the initiative, bookings, or pricing information, visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/631a423b/rpB6obKoCUWzheQWuGD1vg?u=http://www.ocfl.net/ArtInPublicParks.

OPERATION GREEN LIGHT

The Orange County Clerk of Courts will host its virtual driver license reinstatement initiative next week, from Monday, November 9, 2020, to Friday, November 13, 2020.

The initiative will provide Orange County customers who have outstanding traffic tickets and criminal fines the opportunity to pay overdue court obligations while saving the 25 percent collections agency surcharge. Additionally, customers can inquire about payment plans, as well as how to have their driver license reinstated.

For more information visit myorangeclerk.com

EMPLOYMENT CONNECTIONS WITH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES

Goodwill Industries of Central Florida will host several free online webinars for job seekers in Central Florida. The webinars are part of Goodwill’s latest series of virtual presentations on effective job search techniques. Upcoming webinars include:

Friday, November 13, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Job Searching 101
Wednesday, November 18, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Creating a Resume for Success
Friday, November 20, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Career Exploration

Interested residents must register in advance.

COVID-19 CLINICAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: ADVENT HEALTH

AdventHealth has been selected as a testing site for the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson’s Phase 3 clinical research study, in order to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

AdventHealth has a goal to enroll 4,500 participants in Central Florida over an 8-week period.

For more information on enrollment, visit AdventHealthVaccineTrials.com or call 844-422-2282.

November 2, 2020 7:57 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/2/2020

COVID-19 STATS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot.

The snapshot updates daily Monday through Friday.

CARES ACT FUNDING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

The $1,000-grant program will reopen its application portal on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at 8 a.m. with a capacity for 15,000 users.

Applicants do not need to be unemployed to qualify for the program. However, only one application is taken per household.

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

EVICTION DIVERSION

The Eviction Diversion program continues to receive applications from business and property owners in need of assistance. Orange County has assisted 1,174 families allowing them to remain in their homes.

The program provides relief to tenants in imminent danger of eviction who have experienced a loss or reduction of income due to the pandemic. This is not a rental assistance program.

For the full eligibility criteria, required documentation and application visit, ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

STRIKE TEAMS

Orange County teams have visited 4,278 county businesses assisting with workplace guidelines and procedures. The compliance rate remains steady at 87%. Overall, business owners are receptive and willing to make certain they are ensuring employee and patron safety.

For more information, visit ocfl.net/BusinessResources.

FREE ACCESS TO TESTING CONTINUES

Access to free testing is a priority for the Orange County Health Services Department. All testing facilities operated by Orange County Government provide tests to individuals who are 12 years and older. Each individual tested will receive a kit of free facemasks and hand sanitizer. Results are usually available within 48 hours.

Barnett Park

4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808

Wednesday, November 4 & Thursday, November 5, 2020

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To book an appointment at Barnett Park, visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the testing map.

Rapid antigen testing is available by the state at the Orange County Convention Center.

FREE ANIMAL SERVICES SPAY NEUTER PROGRAM

To assist low-income Orange County residents with spay/neuter costs, Orange County Animal Services announced a new voucher program making these free services available.

The initial funding for the program comes from a $20,000 grant awarded to Orange County Animal Services from Florida Animal Friend. Animal Services has established partnerships with three local spay/neuter clinics to carry out this program – the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, Snip It and Spay N Save. The funds from the grant will cover the costs of approximately 300 pet sterilizations at these clinics.

To obtain a voucher for a free spay or neuter service visit, www.ocnetpets.com for program details.

November 1, 2020 10:03 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/29/2020

COVID-19 STATS

For a snapshot of the latest COVID-19 statistics in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot.

The snapshot is updated Monday through Friday.

CARES ACT FUNDING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
The $1,000-grant program will reopen its application portal on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at 8 a.m., with a capacity for 15,000 users.

As a reminder, applicants must upload an additional document to verify your Orange County residency. The address on your photo I.D. must match the Orange County address that will be used on the application. Examples of acceptable documentation include a utility bill, voter registration card, current lease, insurance bill, benefits or a bank statement.

Applicants do not need to be unemployed to qualify for the program. However, only one application is taken per household.

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

EVICTION DIVERSION

There is approximately $11.7 million of funding available for Orange County’s COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program. The federal funds used for this program will have to be spent or allocated before December 30, 2020. Since August, the program has helped 1,038 families stay in their homes, which equates to more than $3.2 million. You do not have to be unemployed to qualify for this program.

For a list of required documents and eligibility criteria, visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

FREE ACCESS TO TESTING CONTINUES

Access to free testing is a priority for the Orange County Health Services Department. Next week, teams will continue testing at Barnett Park on Wednesday and Thursday. All testing facilities operated by Orange County Government provide tests to individuals who are 12 years and older. Each individual tested will receive a kit of free facemasks and hand sanitizer. Results are usually available within 48 hours.

Barnett Park

4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808

Wednesday, November 4-5, 2020

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To book an appointment at Barnett Park, visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the testing map.

RAPID TESTING

Rapid antigen testing is now available at the state-run testing facility located at the Orange County Convention Center. Pre-registration for testing is recommended to decrease wait times. To register, visit PatientPortalFL.com.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading COVID-19. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities.

Learn more from the CDC.

October 27, 2020 2:22 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/26/2020

The total number of COVID -19 cases in Orange County is 45,242. This is an increase of 208 cases since yesterday.

VOTING

One week from tomorrow is Election Day. So far, 134,239 Orange County residents have voted in person and 208,817 residents have chosen to vote by mail. Statewide, 2.2 million Floridians have voted in person and 3.8 million Floridians have voted by mail.

For Orange County residents, visit https://www.ocfelections.com/ to find your polling place.

GOALS OF THE WEEK

The three goals for the week continue to focus on slowing the spread of COVID-19.

We will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing through Orange County Health Services to anyone who needs it
We will continue to offer crisis assistance to individuals, families, landlords and businesses
We will offer crisis assistance to non-profit arts organizations
COVID-19 NUMBERS
Visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot.

TESTING

Barnett Park

4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808

Wednesday, October 28 – Thursday, October 29, 2020

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All testing facilities operated by Orange County Government provide free coronavirus tests to individuals who are +12 years old, hand out free facemasks and hand sanitizer to those tested, and do not ask for insurance. To book an appointment visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the testing map for details.

CARES INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY ASSISTANCE GRANT PORTAL

The portal opened this past weekend for a new round of distributing $30 million dollars in funding to individuals and families. Successful applicants will receive $1,000.00 per household.

A total of 8,714 applications have been received.

For more information, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

EVICTION DIVERSION

Our Eviction Diversion program is still available to qualified landlords and tenants. Orange County has approximately $12 million dollars available.

CARES funded program has helped 857 families avoid being kicked out of their homes.

Over $2.66 million dollars in rent payments have been sent to the Comptroller’s office.

You can find out how to receive assistance by visiting www.ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

CARES ACT MONIES FOR THE ARTS

Nearly 10,000 local events have been cancelled and 4,300 local arts-related jobs have disappeared, that has translated into $3.9 million dollars in lost wages.

Orange County has $5 million dollars in CARES Act monies to help arts groups recoup monies they had to spend for such things as Personal Protective Equipment, coronavirus testing, distance barriers and signage. The grant monies will be distributed through United Arts.

ARTS IN PUBLIC PARKS

Orange County has created the Arts in Public Parks Initiative.

We plan to open up a group of Orange County Parks to create CDC compliant performance spaces for both arts groups and audiences to enjoy.

For more information, we ask that arts groups contact Mr.Terry Olson at Terry.Olson@ocfl.net

October 20, 2020 5:44 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/19/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

Visit ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot.

FREE COVID-19 TESTING

Orange County Health Services will offer free COVID-19 testing at Barnett Park on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Residents who would like to book an appointment may visit ocfl.net/BarnettPark, although walk-up and bike-up testing is available. Residents who are tested will receive free facemasks and hand sanitizer.

Barnett Park

4801 W Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808

Wednesday October 21 and Thursday October 22, 2020

8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

In addition, the State Regional Drive-Thru Testing Facility at the Orange County Convention Center is currently offering free rapid antigen testing, with results in about 15 minutes. Insurance cards are requested, but you do not need insurance to be tested. Online appointments are encouraged, and can be reserved by visiting PatientPortalFL.com.

For these and other testing locations throughout the County, visit ocfl.net/Testing.

CARES ACT PROGRAMS

Individual and Families – The Orange County CARES Act funding for Individuals and Families Program will reopen its application portal on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at 8 a.m., with a capacity for 15,000 users.

As a reminder, applicants must upload an additional document to verify your Orange County residency. The address on your photo I.D. must match the Orange County address that will be used on the application. Examples of acceptable documentation includes a utility bill, voter registration card, current lease, insurance bill, benefits or bank statement.

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

Small Businesses and Home-based Businesses – Orange County grant programs for Small Businesses and Home-based Businesses are open. Businesses that have received funds from the federal Payroll Protection Program of up to $100,000 (up from the previous limit of $75,000) are now eligible to apply for funding.

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting in Orange County is from October 19 through November 1. There are 14 days until Election Day on November 3, 2020. Residents are urged to make a plan to vote – whether by mail, early voting, or in person. You can vote at any early voting location during the early voting period. West Oaks Library is the early voting location in Ocoee. For other locations visit https://ocfelections.com/early-voting-locations.

October 18, 2020 11:59 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/16/2020

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

Visit www.ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot

FREE COVID-19 TESTING

Orange County Health Services will offer free COVID-19 testing at Barnett Park next week. Residents who would like to book an appointment may visit ocfl.net/BarnettPark, although walk-up and bike-up testing is available.

Barnett Park

4801 W Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808

Wednesday October 21 and Thursday October 22, 2020

8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

All testing facilities operated by Orange County Government provide tests to individuals who are 12+ years old. Residents who are tested will receive free facemasks and hand sanitizer. For more testing locations throughout the County, visit ocfl.net/Testing.

CARES ACT PROGRAMS

Individual and Families – Approximately $1.5 million have been distributed to residents since the program reopened earlier this week. The Orange County CARES Act funding for Individuals and Families Program will reopen its application portal on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at 8 a.m., with a capacity for 15,000 users.

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit www.ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

Small Business and Home-Based Business – Both Orange County CARES Act funding programs for small businesses and home-based businesses will reopen on Monday, October 19, 2020, at 9 a.m. There is approximately $7 million for small businesses, and $700,000 for home-based businesses left to be disbursed. Business that have received funds from the federal Payroll Protection Program of up to $100,000 (up from the previous limit of $75,000) are now eligible to apply for funding.

Since the program opened in June 2020, more than $60 million has been allocated to business owners in Orange County, with 67 percent going to minority or women-owned businesses.

For a list of required documents, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit www.ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

STRIKE TEAMS

The goal of Orange County’s Business Compliance Strike Teams is to help businesses keep both patrons and employees safe. Strike Teams will be out again this weekend, to assist Orange County businesses, as well as following up with businesses that are not in compliance. Data for Strike Team visits is below:

3,542 sites have been visited
87 percent of business are in compliance during the first visit
440 follow up inspections
83 percent compliance rate after follow up inspections

CENSUS

The count for the 2020 Census ended on Thursday, October 15, 2020, according to a recent Supreme Court hearing.

Orange County has a 64.5 percent self-reporting rate. That is ahead of the 2010 number which was 62 percent. With the included reporting from local Census enumerators, Orange County Mayor Demings hopes that at least 70 percent of all residents are counted.

October 12, 2020 7:10 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/12/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

TESTING

Orange County Medical Clinic (COVID-19 TESTING)
101 S. Westmoreland Drive, Orlando, FL 32805
Thursday, October 15 – Friday, October 16, 2020
8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

All testing facilities operated by Orange County Government provide tests to individuals who are +12 years old, provide residents who are tested free facemasks and hand sanitizer, and do not ask for insurance. To book an appointment visit www.ocfl.net/OCMedicalClinic.

For more testing locations throughout the County, visit ocfl.net/Testing.

FREE FLU VACCINATIONS

With flu season on the horizon, Orange County Health Services Department will provide free flu vaccinations. Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during a pandemic because it can save resources for the care of patients with COVID-19. Teams will be at the following location this week:

Barnett Park (FLU SHOTS)
4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808
Wednesday, October 14 – Friday, October 16, 2020
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To book an appointment, visit ocfl.net/FluShots.

CARES INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY ASSISTANCE GRANT PORTAL

The portal opened today at 8 a.m. for a new round of distributing $30 million dollars in funding to individuals and families. Successful applicants will receive $1,000.00 per household.

This was the sixth time our portal opened and we have already paid out nearly $30 million in funding that has helped nearly 30,000 residents.

The next portal opening will be on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 a.m. and will also have a 10,000 user capacity.

For more information, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCARES

CENSUS EXTENDED

A friendly reminder: The deadline for the 2020 Census was extended to October 31, 2020.

It is not too late for you to make sure your household is counted.

For more information and to complete the questionnaire please go to my2020census.gov.

October 6, 2020 8:16 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/5/2020

COVID-19 UPDATES/NUMBERS

There are now a reported 41,055 cases. That is an increase of 112 cases since Ocotober 4.
We have lost 483 Orange County residents to the coronavirus. That is an increase of four deaths from the weekend.
Our two week positivity average is 4.4%. Our average since the beginning of the pandemic in March is 11.4%. That is still below the statewide positivity average of 13.25%.

TESTING
This week, testing will be offered at the following sites:

Mexican Consulate
2550 Technology Drive, Orlando, FL 32801
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 only
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kelly Park
400 E Kelly Park Road, Apopka, FL 32712
Wednesday October 7 – Thursday, October 8, 2020
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All testing facilities operated by Orange County Government provide tests to individuals who are +12 years old, provide residents who are tested free facemasks and hand sanitizer, and do not ask for insurance.

To book an appointment at either location, or for more testing locations throughout the County, visit ocfl.net/Testing

CARES PROGRAM INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Earlier this year, Orange County invested $30 million dollars in federal funding to help individuals and families. The program assisted close to 30,000 households.

Mayor Demings has announced another $30 million dollars will be available for our Orange CARES for Individuals and Family Assistance Program.

The program will provide a one-time payment of $1,000 per household for residents affected by COVID-19 to help bridge financial gaps. Residents who have already received funding from the previous Individual and Family Assistance Program, are not eligible to apply.

The application portal will open on:

Monday, October 12, 2020 at 8 a.m.
Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 8 a.m.

Only one address per household can receive funding. That means if there are multiple people living in one household, only one person in that household can apply and get funding.

You cannot use PO Boxes to apply for the funding. You must use a physical address where you reside—and not a family member’s address.

Updated information will be available at www.ocfl.net/OrangeCares later this week.

CENSUS

Orange County is following the new U.S. Census deadline of October 31, 2020.

Complete your short Census questionnaire today at my2020Census.gov.

For residents who do not have access to the internet, or are not comfortable using a computer, visit ocfl.net/CommunityAction to find a Census Kiosk at their nearest Orange County Community Center. The Centers are open Monday through Wednesday; from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kiosks will be cleaned after each use.

PARKS AND RECREATION

Orange County Parks & Recreation is announcing a phased re-opening for picnic pavilions, adult athletics, splash pads, and group camping effective Saturday, October 10.

Please note, there will be limitations on the number of people at pavilions and we all must still follow the CDC guidelines and the face-covering mandate still in effect. For our splash pads, they will be at 50% capacity.

Indoor facilities and outdoor basketball courts remain closed.

NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT OF FLORIDA

JURY TRIALS

Significantly smaller groups of jurors are summoned at a time and have arranged the jury room to assist with social distancing. The numbers of people in courtrooms are limited and personal sanitizer and specialized masks for jury panelists will be provided. Face shields and gloves will be provided upon request.

If you have been impacted financially or suffered a hardship because of COVID-19, you may request a 6-month postponement of your jury service. Jurors directly affected by COVID-19, experiencing symptoms or at high risk, may be eligible for an excusal from serving. Please carefully review the jury summons or information on the Circuit’s website if you have any questions.

For updates, please visit the circuit’s website – www.ninthcircuit.org. And follow us on Facebook or Twitter @NinthCircuitFL.

October 2, 2020 12:20 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County’s News Conference 10/01/20

For the latest COVID-19 numbers, visit www.ocfl.net/covid19snapshot

EVICTION DIVERSION AND EVICTION MORATORIUM

On September 30, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared that the state’s local executive order limiting evictions and foreclosures would expire on October 1, 2020. The Federal order from the CDC to halt COVID-related evictions through the end of the year is still active.

Residents must be proactive and file the necessary paperwork with their landlord for the federal program, as they do not automatically qualify. Visit ocfl.net/HousingFAQs for a list of frequently asked questions and additional resources.

The County’s Eviction Diversion Program is still open and funding is available. The program has a total capacity of $20 million to help families stay in their homes and avoid eviction. Currently, more than $500,000 has been allocated to 192 households. Visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion for a full list of eligibility criteria and required documents.

ADDITIONAL CARES ACT FUNDING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Orange County Government plans to re-open its CARES Act funding program for Individual and Families. The grants, which provide $1,000 to eligible households, have already served 29,236 households, distributing nearly $30 million back to residents.

An announcement will be made early next week when the program will re-open.

STRIKE TEAMS AND PPE FOR BUSINESSES

Businesses are now responsible for enforcing CDC guidelines, including social distancing, to keep their employees and customers safe.

The majority of businesses visited by Orange County’s Strike Teams have been in compliance – upwards of 95 percent. The teams are here to help businesses stay open safely.

To help facilitate this, Strike Teams have provided assistance, guidance and resources – such as PPE and guidance posters to local businesses. Businesses in need of resources can call Orange County’s 3-1-1 service to request a visit.

COVID-19 TESTING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Access to free testing is a priority for Orange County Health Services Department. Next week, teams will be located at the following locations:

Mexican Consulate

2550 Technology Drive, Orlando, FL 32801

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kelly Park

400 E Kelly Park Road, Apopka, FL 32712

Wednesday October 7 – Thursday, October 8, 2020a.m. to 1 p.m.

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All testing facilities operated by Orange County Government provide tests to individuals who are +12 years old, provide residents who are tested free facemasks and hand sanitizer, and do not ask for insurance.

To book an appointment at either location, or for more testing locations throughout the County, visit ocfl.net/Testing.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Orange County Domestic Violence Commission and Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida will host a free housing webinar on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, at 2 p.m. for domestic violence survivors and entities serving this population. For details, visit Orange County Domestic Violence Commission’s web page at ocfl.net/DVC.

September 29, 2020 7:43 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County’s News Conference 9/28/20

PHASE III OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT

Mayor Demings stressed the following points regarding Governor DeSantis’ announcement of entering Phase III:

Orange County, the state of Florida and the United States of America are still under a Public Health State of Emergency for COVID-19.
Orange County’s Facial Coverings Executive Order is still in effect, as this protective measure prevents the spread of COVID-19. We have not ever imposed any fines, and the mask mandate is still in place until further notice.
Businesses can and should still require masks.
Orange County Strike Teams will continue to proactively visit businesses, offer free PPE and needed signage as well as provide guidance on best practices to comply with current CDC guidelines to reopen/remain open safely.
While restaurants and bars may operate at 100% occupancy, Orange County encourages businesses to review their insurance policies, and take note, as there may be a liability risk if a person(s) contracts COVID-19 at your restaurant or bar.

Orange County will continue to provide free COVID-19 testing and connect residents and business owners with CARES Programs and resources.

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Since Friday, September 25, 2020 there has been an increase of 273 positive cases. We have lost a total of 444 residents to COVID-19. Our two-week positive average is 4.2% and our positivity average since the beginning of the pandemic is 11.4%. Visit www.ocfl.net/COVID19Snapshot for additional details.

COVID-19 TESTING

Orange County Health Services will offer free COVID-19 testing to residents near the Bithlo, Wedgefield and Christmas areas in East Orange County. The team will be at East Orange District Park , located at 22023 E. Colonial Drive in Christmas, this Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ups also welcome. Those 12 and up can be tested with a parent or guardian. Everyone will get free facemasks and hand sanitizer. Visit www.ocfl.net/Testing for these and other testing options.

CARES FOR NON-PROFITS

Many Orange County-based nonprofit organizations have had to endure unanticipated expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social service nonprofit organizations may be eligible to apply for funding through Orange County’s CARES.

Orange County has allotted $2.8 million in funding through the County’s Social-Service Nonprofit Fund Program. Reimbursement amounts – up to $5,000 – are based on COVID-19 related expenses and are unexpected costs. Eligible expenses include personal protective equipment and other related expenses.

Heart of Florida United Way will manage fund disbursements and the application deadline is October 19.

For more information on eligibility criteria, required documents and how to apply, visit www.OCCares.org. All questions can be directed to Heart of Florida United Way at OCCares@hfuw.org.

CARES FOR JOB SUPPORT

$36 million in federal COVID-19 aid was set aside by Orange County for social service agencies and non-profits to provide food, job training and programs for people facing homelessness, mental health crises, addiction and child-care dilemmas because of the virus. Orange County has allotted $9 million to help with job placement and re-training programs.

Using $7 million in Orange CARES Act monies, CareerSource Central Florida is assisting 4,000 dislocated workers from the County’s hardest-hit business sectors, including hospitality, restaurant, tourism, transportation and retail.

Aimed at providing workforce re-entry and meaningful careers to Orange County residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, CareerSource Central Florida is delivering career services including employment support, career development workshops, resume assistance, internships and more. Orange County residents can access services by calling 1-800-757-4598 and or by visiting and registering through careersourcecentralflorida.com.

September 26, 2020 1:10 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/25/2020

FLORIDA PHASE 3 RE-OPENING

Governor DeSantis announced that the state is entering Phase 3 of re-opening from this pandemic.

Under this Phase, restaurants, pubs, bars, gyms and fitness centers will be able to operate without restrictions. However, all businesses must follow sanitation and social distancing protocols.

Orange County’s Executive Order mandating facial coverings is still in effect. The County’s legal and emergency management teams are evaluating the Governor’s Executive Order to help determine the impact on residents.

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Since Thursday, September 24, there have been 172 positive COVID-19 cases in Orange County, bringing the County’s cumulative total to 39,717 since March. According to the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, the average age based on yesterday’s test results is 36 years old. Visit www.ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot for the latest.

Additional COVID-19 data related to Orange County include:

14-Day Positivity Rate (September 11-24): 4.1 percent
Rolling Positively Rate (cumulative since March 2020): 11.5 percent
Resident Deaths (cumulative since March 2020): 444

TESTING SITE UPDATES

Orange County Health Services will offer free COVID-19 testing at Barnett Park, Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents who would like to book an appointment may visit ocfl.net/BarnettPark, although walk-up and bike-up testing is available.

Testing will be available at East Orange District Park on Wednesday, September 30 and Thursday, October 1, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The site serve as a centralized testing location for residents around the Bithlo, Christmas and Wedgefield communities. To book an online appointment, visit ocfl.net/EastOrange.

All testing facilities operated by Orange County Government:

provide tests to individuals who are +12 years old.
do not ask for insurance.
provide residents who are tested will receive free facemasks and hand sanitizer.

For more testing locations throughout the County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19.

ORANGE COUNTY UTILITIES

Beginning Monday, September 28, 2020 Orange County Utilities will resume disconnections for nonpayment and late payment fees for residential water and wastewater customers, which were temporarily suspended in March due to the COVID-19.

Customers who have fallen behind on payments and need help bringing their account current should call 407-836-5515, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Customers can also visit ocfl.net/PayUtilities to view account balances and make secure payments.

For more information, visit ocfl.net/WaysToPay or email Utilities.Information@ocfl.net.

CENSUS

There has been recent legal action in Federal Courts extending the deadline for the Census by one month. However, it is expected to be appealed. Orange County is proceeding with the current deadline of September 30, 2020, until otherwise directed.

There are less than five days to complete the 2020 Census. Complete your short Census questionnaire today at my2020Census.gov.

For residents who do not have access to the internet, or are not comfortable using a computer, they can visit ocfl.net/CommunityAction to find a Census Kiosk at their nearest Orange County Community Center. The Centers are open Monday through Wednesday; from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kiosks will be cleaned after each use.

September 22, 2020 8:38 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/21/2020

COVID-19/Numbers

Orange County has 39,056 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.
From Sunday, September 20 through September 21, there is an increase of 82 cases.
Since Friday, September 18 through September 21, there is an increase of 439 cases.
The 15 to 34 age group represent 54% of the New COVID-19 cases.
The County has lost 431 residents to the coronavirus. That number has not changed since Friday.
The two-week average for the County has been holding steady at 4.0%.
Our rolling average since the beginning of the pandemic is 11.5 percent. We remain below the statewide rolling average of 13.39%.

Testing Returns to Barnett Park

Orange County Health Services will offer free COVID-19 testing at Barnett Park this week from Wednesday through Saturday. Residents that would like to book an appointment may visit ocfl.net/BarnettPark, although walk-up and bike-up testing is available.

September 23-25, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
September 26, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (during the 17th Annual Caribbean Health Summit)

Testing is available for those 12 years old and up and insurance is not required. Residents who are tested will receive free facemasks and hand sanitizer.

For other testing locations throughout the County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19.

For all testing options, visit ocfl.net/Testing.

Convalescent Plasma

In addition to the general blood supply, if you have recovered from COVID-19, OneBlood asks that you please consider becoming a convalescent plasma donor.
People who have recovered from COVID-19 have a unique ability to help people still fighting the virus because they have developed antibodies to the virus. By transfusing their plasma into a patient still fighting the virus, it can boost the patient’s immune system and potentially help them recover.
OneBlood is collecting and distributing convalescent plasma to area hospitals every day.
As long as there is a pandemic, there will be an ongoing need for convalescent plasma donors.
Everything you need to know about becoming a convalescent plasma donor can be found at OneBlood.org. You can also visit TheFightIsInUs.Org.

Strike Teams

Our business compliance “Strike Teams” visited many breweries in the Orlando, and found all of the breweries they inspected in compliance.

The teams have visited over 2,500 businesses and with an overall compliance rate still holding steady at 94%.
They have re-inspected 234 businesses with a compliance rate of 84%.
The Strike Teams inspected Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom and found the theme park in compliance.
The teams have now finished re-inspecting all 3 major theme parks as well as the 11 smaller attractions.

All of these sites submitted their re-opening plans back in June, and were inspected back then.

For information about the County’s Strike Team visit, ocfl.net/BusinessResources.

Eviction Diversion Program

Our COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program is still accepting applications from landlords and tenants to help with overdue rent.

Nearly $140,000 has been sent to landlords since the program started late last month.
To date, 45 families are able to stay in their homes, avoiding eviction.

Applicants may call 311, or visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

Voter Registration Day

Tomorrow is National Voter Registration Day.

The Orlando Magic players and coaches have joined forces with the Supervisor of Elections to turn the Amway Center into a voter registration site on Tuesday from 10 am until 2 pm.

You can learn more at OCFelections.com or visit the NBA Orlando Magic vote page.

September 15, 2020 8:23 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/15/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Since September 14, there have been 138 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Orange County, bringing the cumulative total since March to 38,147. The median age of those testing positive in Orange County is declining, as more young people contract the virus. We have now lost 446 residents to COVID-19.

Additional COVID-19 data related to Orange County include:

Orange County 14-Day Positivity Rate (August 25 to September 7): 4.0 percent
Orange County Rolling Positively Rate (cumulative since March 2020): 11.4 percent

FREE COVID-19 TESTING

Orange County Health Services will offer free COVID-19 testing at Barber Park, Sept. 16-18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments can be made at ocfl.net/BarberPark. For more testing options, visit www.ocfl.net/testing.

Residents that would like to book an appointment at other locations can do so at ocfl.net/covid19.

ORANGE COUNTY PARKS REOPENING

Orange County Parks & Recreations’ 118 playgrounds will open Saturday, September 19. The parks department will follow CDC guidelines, and asks that no more than 10 children be on a playground at a time.

All families should wash or sanitize hands before and after each playground visit. The playgrounds will NOT be sanitized daily due to the impracticality of the chemicals on the equipment. However, they will be pressure washed and cleaned monthly. For more information, visit ocfl.net/PARKS.

EVICTION DIVERSION

Orange County’s COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program is still accepting applications from landlords and tenants to help with overdue rent.

Orange County has approximately $20 million dollars in CARES Act funding for the program. For more information or program details, applicants may call 311, or visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

OCPS has its new COVID-19 dashboard that is updated daily at 11 p.m. Visit www.ocps.net for details.

September 9, 2020 7:55 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/08/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Since September 7, there have been 94 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Orange County, bringing the cumulative total since March to 37,247. We have now lost 387 residents to COVID-19.

Additional COVID-19 data related to Orange County include:

Orange County 14-Day Positivity Rate (August 25 to September 7): 4.8 percent
Orange County Rolling Positively Rate (cumulative since March 2020): 11.5 percent

FREE COVID-19 TESTING

Orange County Health Services will be in west Orange County at George Bailey Park this week from September 9 through 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location will serve as a centralized testing location for residents in Winter Garden, Oakland, Windermere and Ocoee.

All Orange County Health Services sites are pedestrian-friendly and residents ages 12 and up can be tested with a parent or guardian. Appointments are encouraged, but not necessary.

Residents that would like to book an appointment here or at other locations, visit ocfl.net/covid19.

CENSUS DEADLINE APPROACHING

The County’s current self-response rate for the 2020 Census is still below the rate of the 2010 Census – approximately 62 percent to 72 percent respectively.

Orange County and the U.S. Census Bureau have installed kiosks at Neighborhood Center for Families to assist anyone looking to complete Census. The Centers are open Monday through Friday; from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kiosks will be cleaned after each use.

If you have not completed the Census, please take the survey now at 2020Census.gov. September 30 is the deadline.

EVICTION DIVERSION

Orange County urges all landlord and tenants to apply and learn if they may qualify for the COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program.

Currently, the average arrears payment is $2,900.

Orange County has approximately $20 million dollars in CARES Act funding for the program. For more information or program details, applicants may call 311, or visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

ROOF REPAIR

Orange County Government has awarded a Community Development Block Grant of more than $570,000 dollars to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando & Osceola County.

The grant funding will provide free roof repairs to residents in Unincorporated Orange County, and select municipalities such as Apopka and Winter Park.

There are still a few application slots open for the program. Visit HabitatOrlandoOsceola.org/Repair-My-Roof to learn more.

September 6, 2020 10:07 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/03/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Orange County’s two-week positivity average is now at 4.9 percent. However, the County had an increase of 174 positive COVID-19 cases since yesterday, bringing the cumulative total of positive cases to 36,668.

Since Monday, there have been nine additional resident deaths in the County related to COVID-19. We have now lost 386 residents to the Coronavirus.

NEW TESTING SITE

Orange County Health Services will be at South Orange Youth Sports Complex on, Friday, September 4, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide free COVID-19 testing. Residents that would like to book an appointment may visitocfl.net/SouthOrange.

From Tuesday, September 8 through 11, Orange County Health Services will be in west Orange County at George Bailey Park from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location will serve as a centralized testing location for residents in Winter Garden, Oakland, Windermere and Ocoee.

Appointments are encouraged, but not necessary. Residents that would like to book an appointment may visit ocfl.net/BaileyPark.

All Orange County Health Services sites are pedestrian-friendly and residents 12 and up can be tested with a parent or guardian.

FEDERAL ORDER: TEMPORARY HALT IN EVICTIONS

A federal order will go into effect placing a temporary ban on residential evictions. That will last until the end of the year. However, this does not mean tenants may stop paying rent if they are able to – that is a misconception.

The federal rent protection order is not automatic. Renters must submit a special document provided by the CDC, among other documents to qualify.

ORANGE COUNTY’S EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM

Orange County urges all landlord and tenants apply to our COVID-19 Eviction Diversion program to help those who are rent-stressed, or have already been served documents for a potential eviction.

Since the program opened, more than 1,800 landlords and roughly 1,800 tenants have submitted applications. Pre-screening applications are being processed.

We have approximately $20 million dollars in CARES Act funding for the program. For more information or program details, applicants may call 311, or visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX REVENUE

Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond announced that the Tourist development tax (TDT) collections (resort tax) received by Orange County for the July 2020 TDT collection month were $5,158,000. That is a 77.2% decrease from July 2019. However, the July collection is nearly double from June 2020’s TDT when $2,629,400 was collected.

Looking to August’s collections, there are some positive developments. Mainly, there has been a significant decrease in the positivity rate and in the number of new statewide and Central Florida COVID-19 cases. Also, due to the safety measures adopted by the County and the tourism industry, there have been no reported instances of the virus outbreak at the theme parks.

COUNTY WINS FACIAL COVERING LAWSUIT

Circuit Court Judge Lisa Munyon has rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of our Orange County Executive Order requiring residents to wear face coverings in public.

The ruling means the mask mandate is legal.

September 1, 2020 8:05 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/31/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Orange County is seeing a reduced number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases. Last week, the County had 799 new cases. This is the first time the County’s weekly case count has been below 1,000 in nearly three months. The County’s two-week positivity rate is at 5.2%, which has also been continuing to decline steadily.

143 new cases were confirmed yesterday, and 377 County residents have lost their lives due to the virus.

Even though the County’s numbers are improving, the wearing of masks and social distancing must continue to be a priority for everyone, as this remains the only way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ultimately contain the virus.

covid cases - percent positive

incident rate per 100k

TESTING

Orange County Health Services will offer free COVID-19 testing this Wednesday, Sept. 2 through Friday, Sept. 4 at the South Orange Youth Sports Complex from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Testing is available for minors ages 12 and up with a parent or guardian present. Appointments are available online at ocfl.net/SouthOrange. For information on other testing sites available in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19.

COVID-19 EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM

Orange County’s $20 million COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program opened last week, and is generating widespread support from the community. Over 1,300 landlords have submitted applications and nearly 1,500 tenants have also applied. Some qualifications and criteria of the program include:

Tenants must be in imminent danger of being evicted or served an eviction notice
This program does NOT apply to those with mortgages
Landlords and tenants must both agree to participate in the program

For more information, or to apply, visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

August 28, 2020 8:51 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/27/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

There has been an increase of 162 positive COVID-19 cases in Orange County since Wednesday, August 26, 2020, bringing the County’s cumulative total to 35,038 positive cases. Additionally, the County has lost 639 residents to the virus.

Below is the latest information from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County regarding cases and positivity rates in Orange County:

Orange County 14-Day Positivity Rate (August 13-26, 2020): 5.6 percent
Orange County Single Day New Cases (August 26, 2020 only): 5.2 percent

Even though single-day positivity rates are lowering, Orange County urges everyone to continue to abide by the face covering Executive Order, as the Florida Department of Health in Orange County and Orange County Public Schools continue to monitor the community’s overall health, as well as the back-to-school schedule for K-12, colleges and universities.

TESTING

Testing has always been a top priority for Orange County. It is important to remember that individuals may be a carrier of COVID-19 and show no symptoms, unknowingly spreading the virus.

Orange County Health Services will be at Barnett Park tomorrow, Friday, August 28, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide free testing for residents 5 years old with a guardian and older.

Residents that would like to book an appointment may visit ocfl.net/BarnettPark, although walk-up and bike-up testing is available. Orange County Health Services will be at South Orange Youth Complex next Wednesday through Friday. Information on appointments will be posted soon.

To provide increased access to testing, three WalMart Neighborhood Market Pharmacies in Orange County are offering drive through testing. These tests are in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Quest Diagnostics. For these locations, and other testing locations across the County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19.

EVICTION DIVERSION

Since opening earlier this week, Orange County’s Eviction Diversion Program has received more than 1,500 pre-screen applications. Important information to keep in mind when applying:

The tenant and landlord are urged to speak with each other BEFORE applying for the program
BOTH the landlord and tenant must agree to participate and meet all eligibility requirements
Tenants must be in imminent danger of being served an eviction or potentially served an eviction notice

This program is NOT a rental assistance program, or a resource for mortgage relief. Homeowners with Federal or Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) backed mortgages can learn about forbearance or mortgage relief by visiting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

For more information about Orange County’s Eviction Diversion Program, call 3-1-1 or visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion

TAKE THE CENSUS

The County’s current self-response rate for the 2020 Census is approximately 61 percent – 12 percentage points below the response rate in 2010. Residents who have not taken the Census have until Wednesday, September 30, 2020, to complete the nine-question survey.

Results from the Census will determine future legislative representation, as well as funding for community, health, social and emergency services in Orange Country.

Visit 2020Census.gov to take the survey now.

LYNX

LYNX will begin collecting bus fares for all routes starting on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. For more information, visit GoLYNX.com.

VISIT ORLANDO MAGICAL DINING

Visit Orlando's annual Magical Dining Month begins tomorrow, August 28, 2020 and runs through Sunday, October 4, 2020. Guests will enjoy three-course, prix-fixe dinners at some of Orange County’s best restaurants for just $35 per person.

Visit Orlando will provide $1 from each meal to benefit Feed the Need Florida, which works to help feed people who have struggled with getting access to healthy food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are new safety measures with this year’s program. Many restaurants will have open-air seating options, as well as takeout and delivery service.

For more information or a list of participating restaurants, visit OrlandoMagicalDining.com.

August 25, 2020 8:56 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/24/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Orange County has had an increase of 109 positive COVID-19 cases since August 23, totaling 34,781 since March. 361 residents have died of COVID-19. See updated dashboard for Orange County at

Orange County’s daily positivity rates continue to remain below 5 percent for the third day in a row. The daily positivity rate from yesterday (August 23, 2020) was 4.29 percent. Health Administrator Dr. Raul Pino at the Department of Health in Orange County called the number “one of the best days ever.”

COVID-19 EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM

Orange County’s COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program will be available to residents starting on August 25. The online application portal will open at 9 a.m. and can be accessed at ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

The income-based program will assist Orange County’s most vulnerable tenants who are in imminent danger of eviction due to Coronavirus and provides the property owner with an alternative to eviction. This is not a rental assistance program. Some important information about the program includes:

Residents MUST be at least two months past due on rent.
BOTH the landlord and tenant must agree to participate and meet the eligibility requirements
Applicants MUST have proof of COVID-19 impact
Funds are limited
Application process is “First Come, First Ready.” So make sure to have ALL your documents in order.

Tenants will need to supply the following documents to be eligible:

Orange County resident proof of ID; such as a driver’s license, passport, state ID or work ID
Copy of lease
Two bank statements or a card transaction or payroll pay card
Proof of COVID-19 hardship documentation

Residents who are interested in applying for the Eviction Diversion program are encouraged to gather all required documents needed to apply and talk to their landlord, in preparation for the portal opening. For more information, visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion or call 3-1-1.

TESTING

Orange County Health Services will offer free COVID-19 testing this week at Barnett Park, beginning Wednesday, August 26 through Friday, August 28. The site will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Appointments are required and can be secured at ocfl.net/BarnettPark. For a list of other testing sites, visit www.ocfl.net/covid19.

August 21, 2020 10:47 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/20/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Since August 19, Orange County has had an increase of 197 coronavirus cases. 359 residents have died of COVID-19 since March of this year.

Orange County’s overall positivity rate is 11.6 percent. However, the positivity rate for only, August 19, 2020, was 5.23 percent, which is the lowest daily rate in nearly two months. Covid cases 8_20

TESTING

Orange County Health Services Department will be at Barnett Park next week, August 25 through 28, to provide free COVID-19 testing to the surrounding community. The test site will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents who register will receive free face masks and hand sanitizer.

To schedule an appointment, visit ocfl.net/BarnettPark.

For more information on this site and other testing sites in Orange County, visit www.ocfl.net/COVID19.

COVID-19 EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM

Information about Orange County’s COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program is now available online at ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

The application portal will open on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at 9 a.m. The program has a capacity of $20 million, which will assist in approximately 5,000 to 8,000 evictions in Orange County.

To qualify for the program, both the landlord and tenant must agree to participate in the program and meet eligibility criteria. Any party interested in the program is urged to review and prepare all program documents, as well as speak to your landlord, or your tenant prior to applying.

For more information and a full list of eligibility criteria, please visit ocfl.net/EvictionDiversion.

WEATHER IN THE TROPICS

Orange County’s Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor weather in the Tropics, as Tropical Depression 13 is expected to develop into Tropical Storm Laura later today.

Forecasters are predicting that the storm will develop into a category one hurricane by the time it reaches the Bahamas late Sunday or early Monday.

Orange County urges all residents and guests to be Hurricane Ready. Helpful tips, County resources and videos on storm preparedness and recovery can be found at ocfl.net/Storm, or Ready.gov.

August 18, 2020 8:44 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/17/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Since the pandemic began, Orange County has had a total of 33,486 COVID-19 cases, which is an increase of 107 cases since August 16. 351 residents have died since March of this year. The county’s two-week positivity rate is 7% which is encouraging.

incident rate 1

TESTING

Orange County Health Services will continue to offer COVID-19 testing at Econ Soccer Complex on Tuesday Aug. 18 through Friday, Aug. 21. Appointments are available from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be made online at ocfl.net/EconSoccer. Testing is available to those 12 years of age and older with a parent or guardian’s consent at this location.

Orange County Health Services will offer additional testing next week. More details will be shared soon on the county’s social media channels about that location.

COVID-19 EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM

Details about the county’s upcoming COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program will be online later this week at ocfl.net/OrangeCares and posted to Orange County’s social media channels. The program, which will launch on August 25, 2020, is expected to help 5,000 – 8,000 tenants who are in imminent danger of being evicted.

HELPING THE COMMUNITY

As part of the County’s CARES Act programs, $36.5 million has been allocated for assistance to social-service agencies; specifically helping residents seeking assistance with homelessness, mental health and substance abuse, food pantries, job retention and child care. One of the County’s social-service agency contracts is through One Orlando Alliance, which helps individuals and families from avoiding homelessness. To date, they have already prevented two individuals from being homeless.

CARES ACT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

The County is still accepting applicants for the Orange CARES for Small Biz program. To date, $44.4 million in grant money has been distributed to Orange County small businesses. Those who are interested in applying for the $10,000 grant can apply at ocfl.net/OrangeCares.

August 14, 2020 10:33 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/13/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Orange County has 32,575 COVID-19 cases, which is an increase of 243 cases since yesterday. 330 residents have died since March of this year.

Orange County’s overall positivity rate is 11.7% while the state‘s overall rate is nearly 13.5%. The county’s two-week positivity rate is 7.3%.

Daily Epi Curve:

Percent Positive

TESTING Orange County continues to offer free testing.

Orange County Health Services will be at Econ Soccer Complex on Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The site will reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 18 through Friday, Aug. 21. Testing is available to those 12 years of age and older with a parent or guardian consent. Results are typically back in 3 to 5 days.

You can make an appointment online at ocfl.net/EconSoccer.

The state-run mobile testing site is available for drive-through or walk-ups on Friday, August 14, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at John Bridges Community Center, 445 W. 13^th Street, Apopka.

Para information en español (or any other languages), por favor llame al 407-836-3111

Please visit ocfl.net/COVID19 for other testing sites across the County.

COVID-19 EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM

On Tuesday, August 11, the Board of County Commissioners designated $20 million dollars in CARES Act monies to fund a “COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Program.” The program will launch on Tuesday August 25^th, and is designed to help both renters and landlords. More information on this program will be available on ocfl.net/OrangeCares by early next week.

CARES ACT FOR HOME-BASED BUSINESSES

On Monday, August 10, Orange County Government began accepting applications for our “Micro-Grant Program for Home-Based Businesses.” The county has received 1200 submitted applications so far, and the average grant the county is distributing is approximately $2,500 dollars.

The portal for applying for the micro-grant program will close at 6 pm on August 13. If you have started an application and are working to finish it, the web portal will not remove you from the system.

The County is still accepting applications for CARES small business grants of $10,000 dollars. Program details are still available on ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

STRIKE TEAMS

Our Strike teams have been very busy. At the close of business on August 13, the team will have visited close to 1,000 businesses. The compliance rate has risen to 82 percent.

August 11, 2020 9:24 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/10/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS AND GOALS FOR THE WEEK

Orange County Government is now in day 151 of emergency activation. Priorities for the County continue to be to providing testing and relief resources for residents.

Since the pandemic began, Orange County has a total of 31,851 COVID-19 cases. The County increased by 133 confirmed positive cases since yesterday – which is one of the lowest numbers the County has had in months.

Positivity rate numbers in Orange County for the past two weeks are in the single digits. This is an optimistic sign that our community is following CDC guidelines and slowing the spread of the virus. However, health leaders urge everyone to follow guidelines and practice good hygiene to sustain this current trend.

Positivity Rates:

Orange County Overall (since March 2020): 11.6%
State of Florida Overall (since March 2020): 13.3%
Orange County 14-Day (July 27 to August 9, 2020): 7.6%
Orange County Single Day (August 9 only): 6.8%

incident rate per 100k

TESTING, FACE MASKS AND HAND SANITIZER

Orange County Health Services continues to offer free COVID-19 testing at Econ Soccer Complex. Residents who are tested will receive free facemasks and hand sanitizer. Online appointments are now available for August 11 through 14.

Additionally, the Florida Division of Emergency Management will open a new mobile, drive-through testing site in Orange County. The new site will have the capacity to complete 500 tests each day. The County is working aggressively with the state to identify a location and dates for when this site will be accessible to our residents. The location of the new site will be determined on a later date.

Please visit ocfl.net/COVID19 for other testing sites across the County.

To date, the County has given away more than 7.5 million face masks and one million hand sanitizers. For more information, visit www.ocfl.net/PPE.

COVID-19 EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM

On August 11, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners will vote to approve the use of $20 million in CARES Act funding to assist residents who are in danger of facing eviction. The program’s objective is to provide a mutual solution for both landlords and residents.

More details will be shared during the Board meeting tomorrow morning. Residents can watch live at ocfl.net/OTVLive.

CARES ACT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Orange County’s Micro-Grant Program for Home-Based Businesses launched on ocfl.net/OrangeCARES. This morning, 553 micro-grant applications were successfully submitted.

To date, the Orange CARES Act Funding for Small Businesses Program has approved the distribution of more than $42 million to small businesses.

Small businesses that are interested in applying for either the Small Business Grant Program, or the Micro-Grant Program for Home-based Businesses are urged to review all eligibility criteria and required documents before applying. More info on ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

CARES ACT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

The Orange CARES Program for Individual and Families continues to send out status emails to applicants. Those who applied on July 13 should receive their status email later this week. To date, a total of 28,748 households have been approved for funding, representing approximately $18 million for residents in need during this pandemic.

Residents are asked to be patient as the program team and Comptroller are working as quickly as possible to review applications and get funds to residents.

August 6, 2020 9:15 PM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/06/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS
Orange 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 TESTING
Orange 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 CARES
On 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 MORATORIUM
On 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 COLLECTIONS
Orange 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.

August 4, 2020 8:24 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/03/2020

MAYOR DEMINGS’ GOALS FOR THE WEEK:

Make sure our residents know where testing is available
Continue to gain compliance from residents and businesses with Orange County’s Face Coverings Executive Order
Retool our efforts to distribute more crisis assistance funds and personal protective equipment (PPE) in our community

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Orange County has an increase of 224 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases reported since yesterday, bringing the County’s total confirmed cases the past two weeks at 6,298. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have tested nearly 260,000 individuals and our overall positivity rate according to the state is 11.6 percent – in comparison to the statewide positivity rate of 13 percent.

Below is information from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County on cases and positivity rates for the past two weeks.

Percent Positive

COVID-19 TESTING

Testing at both the Orange County Convention Center and the Econ Soccer Complex will resume on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. More information on ocfl.net/COVID19.

Other organizations in the community also offer testing, including Walmart Mobile Testing, CVS, CareSpot Urgent Care, GuideWell Emergency Doctors, Passport Health, and AdventHealth Centra Care. Residents will have to check with each location to find out the specifics protocols they follow in order to get a test.

ORANGE CARES

As a reminder, the application process for Orange CARES Small Business Grant Program is temporarily closed until August 10, for the program team to update its eligibility criteria for the new micro-grants program for home-based businesses. More information will be updated late this week at ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

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.

EVICTION MORATORIUM

The State of Florida Governor’s Executive Order 20-180 relating to Limited Extension of Mortgage Foreclosures and Eviction Relief issued on Thursday, July 30, 2020, will allow landlords to move forward with the eviction filing process for non-payment of rent for evictions that are not COVID-19 related.

However, the Executive Order does not allow the Writ of Possession (i.e., a law enforcement court order to remove a tenant from property). Writ of Possession can only occur after 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 2020. If you have received a 3-day or 30-day eviction notice, we encourage you to contact your landlord regarding the non-payment of rent.

For answers to some frequently asked questions, visit www.ocfl.net/HousingFAQs.

If you need immediate assistance, please contact:

Orange County Legal Aid Society, 407-841-8310
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, 407-650-0533

August 1, 2020 2:09 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 7/30/20

COVID-19 NUMBERS

Orange County has an increase of 408 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases reported since 7/29/20, bringing the County’s total to 7,259 cases over the past two weeks. The County’s overall positivity rate is 11.5 percent, and a recovery rate at 74 percent. There have been a total of 212 resident deaths in Orange County, with 22 of those deaths from residents who were younger than 55 years old.

Below is information from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County on cases and positivity rates for the past two weeks.

View Orange County’s dashboard snapshot that is updated daily at [ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot]ocfl.net/Covid19Snapshot.

percentPositive

Covid cases 7_29

MORATORIUM ON EVICTION EXTENDED

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has extended the state’s eviction and foreclosure moratorium until September 1, 2020. In order to help residents navigate tenant rights, evictions and other housing assistance information for COVID-19, Orange County Government put together some answers to frequently asked question on these topics.

Visit [ocfl.net/housingFAQs]ocfl.net/housingFAQs for more information.

SEVERE WEATHER

Orange County Government continues to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Isaias and stands ready for response if needed. Even as the storm continues to track east, residents should be aware that severe weather may be in the forecast for this weekend. Inland counties may experience 35-55 mph winds, and 1-2 inches of rain.

For more information about severe weather, continue to follow local news media and Orange County Government on Facebook, Twitter and its online newsroom.

FREE SANDBAG PROGRAM EXTENDED

The County has extended its self-serve sandbag giveaways until Saturday, August 1, 2020, pending the severe weather. All sandbag supplies will be provided. However, residents must bring their own shovels and wear a mask while on site. Participants will also receive free masks and hand sanitizer at each location. To date, Orange County Government has provided nearly 40,000 sandbags to residents. Anyone with an Orange County address – including those living in the municipalities (cities) – can obtain free sandbags.

For locations, hours of operation, and more hurricane preparedness information, visit ocfl.net/Storm.

TESTING

Due to the potential of severe weather caused by Tropical Storm Isaias, COVID-19 testing at the Econ Soccer Complex, as well as the state-run testing facility at the Orange County Convention Center will be closed on Friday, July 31, 2020. Stay tuned to social channels regarding re-opening dates.

For future details on testing availability, visit ocfl.net/COVID19.

EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR CARES ACT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

More Orange County small businesses can still qualify for funding to help them overcome the temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. Orange County’s Small Business Grant Program recently expanded eligibility of its program to allow more businesses to qualify. Companies that have received $75,000 or less in Federal Pay Check Protection (PPP) loans will now be eligible.

Additionally, the program has “micro-grants” to serve more home-based businesses in the community. Select home-based businesses will be eligible for up to a $3,000 micro-grant, of no more than 10 percent of their 2019 revenue. More information to come on ocfl.net/OrangeCARES.

To implement these changes in the application, the portal will temporarily close on Friday, July 31, 2020, at 5 p.m. Any application that is not complete by that time will be disabled, and businesses will have to reapply when the portal reopens again on Monday, August 10, 2020 at 8 a.m.

June 11, 2020 8:56 AM

Parks & Recreation Department Update

Starting on June 11, the following City of Ocoee park amenities will reopen to the public:

Playgrounds
Basketball courts
Pavilions
Restrooms

Park visitors are still required to follow the CDC’s guidelines for COVID-19. For more information, please call the Ocoee Parks and Recreation Department at 407-877-5803.

June 4, 2020 8:41 AM

Governor's Phase 2 of Reopening Florida

On June 5, Governor DeSantis’ Phase 2 of reopening Florida begins.

Bars and pubs may operate at 50% capacity.
Retail may operate at full capacity.
Gyms may operate at full capacity.
Entertainment businesses may operate at 50 percent capacity.
Personal services businesses may operate.
All are encouraged with social distancing and sanitizing measures.
All people in Florida are encouraged to avoid congregating in groups larger than 50.

Governor’s Executive Order 20-139 https://bit.ly/3dqWHfP
PowerPoint Phase 2 https://bit.ly/3gKIcpj

June 1, 2020 3:07 PM

Summer Meal Service

Beginning on June 1, OCPS Food and Nutrition Services “Summer Meal Service” (formerly “Grab and Go”) will distribute meals Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to noon. Ocoee Middle School is still the closest place to pick up the food. Students and/or a parent or guardian can pick up breakfast and lunch. On Thursday, they can pick up two days of breakfast and lunch. For more information, visit www.ocps.net.

June 1, 2020 8:12 AM

Orange County Curfew Tonight from 10pm to 5am

A Word From Mayor Johnson:

Here in Ocoee, we will be complying with Mayor Demings’ curfew for Orange County tonight from 10pm to 5am. I trust this community will remain wise and caring in the midst of pain and calls for justice. Your willingness to stay inside throughout the evening allows our city’s emergency service professionals to respond to the things they need to. There was an incident at the West Oaks Mall which resulted in two arrests. But, this community is full of empathy and respect, and I appreciate your understanding and care for one another.
Curfew

Reminder: The curfew will take effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for all of Orange County, unless a city has instituted its own curfew. The purpose is to keep residents safe and decrease the potential spread of COVID-19 due to large gatherings. Exec. Order: bit.ly/2XgWHcy

May 29, 2020 6:41 PM

Ocoee City Hall Reopens to Public on a Limited Basis

City Hall will be open to the public during normal business hours on Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The city is committed to continuing its efforts to flatten the curve. Anyone entering City Hall must wear a protective face covering that conforms to the CDC’s recommendations. Visitors will be required to strictly observe social distancing. Access to City Hall will be limited to those services that require extensive personal interaction with staff, such as to establish a utility account or discuss a planned construction project.

We encourage the public to continue using the City Hall utility payment drop boxes, mail payments or pay online. These payment options reduce the need for in-person contact. For a complete list of methods of payment, visit https://www.ocoee.org/353/Methods-of-Payment. For building permits, development plans and inspections, citizens should continue to use the city’s electronic system at permits.ocoee.org. For all local businesses tax applications and inquiries, contact inspections@ocoee.org. All forms and documents can be found at https://www.ocoee.org/177/Building-Applications-Forms.

The public is encouraged to make appointments to discuss specific needs.

Planning & Zoning 407-905-3157
Building Permits 407-905-3104 inspections@ocoee.org
Utility Accounts 407-905-3191 ucd2@ocoee.org
City Clerk & Cemetery 407-905-3105 ccdl@ocoee.org
Code Enforcement 407-905-3106
Accounting & Purchasing 407-905-3190
Human Resources 407-905-3154

The City of Ocoee appreciates your understanding of the new safety precautions that are in place at City Hall. These measures have been implemented for public safety and the safety of city employees. For more information, call 407-905-3100 or visit www.ocoee.org.

May 29, 2020 10:41 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 5/28/2020

Orange County currently has a 2.8% COVID-19 positivity rate and the County’s coronavirus recovery rate remains around 87%. Please continue to protect yourself and pay special attention to those 65 and older to ensure their safety and health.

CARES ACT
Orange County small businesses can visit ocfl.net/OrangeCares on June 1, 2020 for a list of eligibility criteria and required documents necessary to apply and qualify for the upcoming Orange CARES Small Business Grant Program. The applications for the program will open on June 8, 2020. Information about the resident assistance program will be available soon.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SURVEY RESULTS
The results of Orange County’s Consumer Confidence Survey are in and results can be found at ocfl.net/EconomicRecovery. More than 15,000 people responded to the survey.

Among the key findings:

64% of consumers are concerned or very concerned about businesses enforcing social distancing guidelines and other COVID health protocols

69% of consumers say they are more likely to patronize a business that requires its employees to wear facemasks.

TAX-FREE DATES FOR HURRICANE PREP
Hurricane Season begins on June 1. The 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins May 29 through June 4. It is a good time to stock up on items you may need to fill out your preparedness kits. For information, visit ocfl.net/storm. OC testing FB v2 English 5-28-20

May 21, 2020 8:50 AM

Orange County News Conference Key Takeaways

According to the Florida Department of Health in Orange County:
· There have been 58,101 tested for COVID-19 tested. Of those tested, 56,336 individuals came back with negative test results, which equals a 2.9% positive rate for Orange County.
· Since April 22, 2020, there have been 294 hospitalizations of residents. Orange County has an 88% recovery rate.
· The County now has a total 1,708 COVID-19 cases. The number of residents who lost their lives in Orange County to COVID-19 remains at 38.

An updated heat map that only shows COVID-19 cases in Orange County over the past two weeks can be accessed at www.ocfl.net/covid19HeatMap.

CARES ACT FUNDING BREAKDOWN

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on May 19, 2020 to make the $243 million dollar CARES Act funding available to financially vulnerable segments of our community. The funding breakdown is as follows:

May 18, 2020 8:10 AM

Governor Updates & Moratorium on Evictions Extended

Florida Governor DeSantis announced that “full Phase One” will begin on Monday, May 18. Restaurants, retail shops, museums and libraries will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity. Gyms and fitness centers will also be allowed to reopen.
In addition, the Governor extended the moratorium on evictions until June 2, 2020. It was previously set to end on May 17, 2020. The moratorium temporarily suspends all evictions and foreclosures for non-payment related to COVID-19.

May 15, 2020 6:16 PM

Revised - DOH-Orange announces Four COVID19 testing sites for next week

May 15, 2020 3:55 PM

Orange County Extends “Last Chance” Opportunity for Small Businesses to Receive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

www.ocfl.net/PPE for Small Biz in Orange County, an Orange County Government COVID-19 initiative through the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force (http://www.ocfl.net/economicrecovery), is offering an extension for small businesses in Orange County to pick up personal protective equipment (PPE) – and once again, all at no cost.

May 12, 2020 3:35 PM

Free Mobile Testing Appointments Available

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County has appointments available for the next three days of free, mobile COVID-19 testing. Residents of Orange County, Florida can secure an appointment for testing by calling the Florida Department of Health in Orange County’s COVID-19 Call Center at 407-723-5004. The Call Center is open Monday through Friday and closes each day at 5 p.m. Residents can leave a message and staff will contact them.

May 12, 2020 7:54 AM

Ocoee Boat Ramps and Parks Reopening

The City of Ocoee will reopen its boat ramps and parks on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 after being closed for over a month due to the coronavirus and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Safer at Home Executive Order.

Parks will be open from dawn to dusk for passive use. Activities like walking, bicycling and jogging are permitted.
City boat ramps will be open to the public. The city’s boat ramps are located at Municipal Lakefront Park, 150 North Lakeshore Drive and Prairie Lake Park, 2075 Hackney Prairie Road, a non-motorized boat launch.
All public restrooms, playgrounds, basketball courts, pavilions and tennis courts will remain closed until further notice.
Parks users will still need to comply with current social distancing guidelines by not congregating in groups of more than 10 people, and maintaining six feet of separation from others.
Park rangers and police officers will patrol these areas to ensure the public is following guidelines from the governor and the CDC.
All parks and recreation programs are canceled until further notice. At this time, summer camp and youth sports are TBD and will evolve with each phase of the reopening plan.
These cancellations include all sporting events held at city parks, and the city pool.
All other parks and recreation facilities will be closed to the public until further notice, including the Jim Beech Recreation Center, Tom Ison Senior and Veterans Center, Vignetti Building, Ocoee Lakeshore Center and the Withers Maguire House.

For more information, please call the Ocoee Parks and Recreation Department at 407-877-5803 or visit www.ocoee.org.

May 11, 2020 9:56 AM

PPE for Small Biz in Orange County

On Monday, May 11, Orange County will begin distributing free personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks and hand sanitizer, to small businesses with 40 or less employees. Businesses must register by completing an Interest Form at www.ocfl.net/PPE to schedule a pick-up appointment. Kits of face coverings and 2-oz. hand sanitizer bottles will be distributed to up to 20,000 small businesses at drive-through pick-up sites located throughout the County, until supplies run out. The drive-through site for Ocoee businesses is located at 955 E Story Rd #3733, Winter Garden, FL 34787. For more information about the PPE for Small Biz in Orange County initiative, please email EconomicRecovery@ocfl.net, or visit www.ocfl.net/EconomicRecovery.

May 11, 2020 7:47 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference

PERSONAL CARE SERVICES, (hair salons, barbershops, nail salons)
Effective Monday, May 11, 2020, hair salons, barbershops, and nail salons can reopen by the action taken today by Governor DeSantis. There are specific recommendations, including limiting the number of guests and have sanitary practices.

CURFEW
Effective May 11, 2020 at 5:01 a.m.the curfew for Orange County will expire. Law enforcement will continue to monitor overnight activities. The curfew could be put back into place should a need arise. The curfew has been in effect since March 20, 2020. For more information, http://www.ocfl.net/EmergencySafety/Coronavirus.aspx

May 7, 2020 9:03 AM

Orange County Health Services

Orange County will open new, free COVID-19 testing sites starting this week and next week. Based on zip code data from Orange County’s heat map (www.ocfl.net/COVID19HeatMap), these new sites are opening in areas where there have been a higher number of positive COVID-19 cases. For more information, www.ocfl.net/covid19.

May 6, 2020 12:54 PM

Ocoee Outdoor Dining Program

We want to assist our restaurants in reopening. As part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-112, Phase 1 Business Reopening Plan, the City of Ocoee has relaxed regulations to encourage outdoor seating. Whereas a permit is required to ensure safety requirements are being met, the City will not be charging for the permit. Outside seating will be allowed for a period of 30 days or until full seating is allowed by the State of Florida. The following outlines the Ocoee Restaurant Outdoor Dining program.

Restaurants may use outdoor space, owned or leased by the Restaurant Operator such as parking areas, to provide for outdoor seating.
For restaurants operating at 25% indoor capacity, that also wish to offer outdoor seating in a commercial strip center, the City shall not require additional parking.
If additional outdoor dining space is located within a parking area, a temporary physical barrier must be placed separating the dining from the remaining parking.
Must comply with all applicable Fire Department regulations.
Must comply with all Florida Health Department regulations.
Must not negatively impact ingress/egress to the building or property.
A permit shall be required for all outdoor seating and Restaurant Operators shall apply for a permit from the City to erect a tent to provide customers with outdoor seating options; however, the City will waive the cost of the permit for outdoor seating and/or erecting such tent.
All regulations or criteria established by City staff for erecting and maintaining such outdoor tents shall at all times be complied with by the Restaurant and Restaurant Operator.
Social distancing and all other COVID-19 safety requirements imposed by federal, state, or local authorities apply with regard to indoor and outdoor seating capability of Restaurants.
If a restaurant is not the property owner, then it must obtain written permission from the landlord prior to installation.
Regulations pertaining to outdoor entertainment are not affected by this Order.
All temporary outdoor dining areas must be maintained, free of litter.
Upon acceptance of such a permit, Restaurant Operator acknowledges and agrees that said permit may be revoked by the City at any time.

If you have any questions, please email them to inspections@ocoee.org or if you would like assistance in reviewing your outdoor dining needs, call 407-905-3104 to set an appointment. All forms and documents can be found at https://www.ocoee.org/177/Building-Applications-Forms. If you require assistance, please contact us at 407-905-3104. Visit us at www.ocoee.org.

May 5, 2020 7:33 AM

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 5/4/2020

The latest numbers from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County show 1,438 COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths in the County.

·Orange County has conducted 29,402 tests and the percentage of positive cases from testing in the County over this past weekend has been 0.9% and 1.1%. Currently, the average rate for positive cases in testing is 4.9%.

In addition, 10% of all positive cases reported in Orange County are from asymptomatic individuals. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County now reports a 93% recovery rate in Orange County from COVID-19. For more information, visit https://newsroom.ocfl.net/media-advisories/press-releases/2020/03/coronavirus-updates/.

May 4, 2020 12:39 PM

Governor Ron DeSantis’ Plan to Reopen Florida

Today is the start of Governor Ron DeSantis’ plan to reopen Florida: “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step”. With this in mind, the City of Ocoee has launched a new set of digital billboard messages encouraging residents to continue to be vigilant and stay safe. The billboard, located just past Exit 265 and about .5 miles east of SR 50, is provided by the city’s partner Clear Channel at no cost.

May 3, 2020 2:07 PM

Key Takeaways From Orange County Newsroom

The latest numbers from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County show 1,413 cases and 34 deaths in the County.

77% of all COVID-19 cases in Orange County have fully recovered.

Orange County has conducted nearly 27,000 tests and the percentage of positive cases in the County is 5.4% – which has decreased from 5.6% earlier this week.

In an effort to help small businesses obtain the Personal Protective Equipment needed, Orange County has ordered one million masks and 200,000 hand sanitizers through the federal CARES Act funds to distribute locally. For more information on Orange County’s plan to reopen businesses, https://newsroom.ocfl.net/media-advisories/press-releases/2020/03/coronavirus-update/.

April 30, 2020 8:18 AM

Gov. Ron DeSantis - Reopen Florida Plan

On May 4, the Governor’s Phase One plan to reopen Florida begins and will include the following:

Elective surgeries can resume.
Restaurants can offer indoor seating — limited to 25% capacity — and outdoor seating with six feet of space between tables.
Retail stores can operate at 25% capacity.

Bars, gyms, movie theaters and places offering personal services, such as hair salons, will remain closed. In addition, schools will continue to operate on a distance learning model, and visits to nursing homes and other senior-living facilities remain prohibited. To view the Governor’s full plan visit https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EO-20-112.pdf.

April 25, 2020 9:53 PM

Free COVID-19 Testing Sites Near You

April 17, 2020 4:03 PM

OCPS Grab-and-Go Meals New Schedule

On Monday, April 20, the OCPS Grab-and-Go Meal program will start a new distribution schedule at all 52 sites. Ocoee Middle School is a Grab-and-Go site. The new schedule will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Weekend meals will continue to be distributed on Fridays. The OCPS Grab-and-Go Meal distribution program has served more than 1 million meals since its inception. For more information, visit https://www.ocps.net.

April 15, 2020 3:50 PM

Orange County Mobile Testing

Starting on Monday, April 20, there will be free, mobile COVID-19 testing sites for Orange County residents. The tests are by appointment only.

April 13, 2020 8:24 AM

Orange County Convention Testing Site

The drive-through COVID-19 regional testing site at the Orange County Convention Center has expanded its criteria and will have more testing. There are now 400 free tests available per day, up from the previous 250 tests per day. The state is now running the testing site. For more information, visit www.ocfl.net/coronavirus.

April 6, 2020 11:35 AM

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Home

The City of Ocoee has posted a billboard urging residents to “Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Home.” The electronic billboard is located on the turnpike just past Exit 265 and about .5 miles east of SR 50. We’d like to thank our partner Clear Channel for providing the free billboard space throughout the year.

April 2, 2020 5:10 PM

Florida Stay-at-Home Executive Order

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a statewide “Stay-at-Home” order (Executive Order Number 20-91) that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, April 3, 2020. See the full Executive Order

Orange County’s Stay-at-Home Executive Order went into effect on March 26, 2020. For more information, visit orangecountyfl.net.

April 1, 2020 10:28 AM

COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Update

There's no longer an age requirement to get tested for the Coronavirus. If you have symptoms or a pre-existing medical condition, you may meet the updated criteria. The drive-thru test center is located at the Orange County Convention Center. For the latest information, visit www.ocfl.net/coronavirus.

April 1, 2020 9:54 AM

Ocoee Middle School is a Grab-and-Go Site

Grab-and-Go meals are now available at Ocoee Middle School. Parents may go to OMS for pick-up between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the car loop. Students must be present to receive the meals, EXCEPT ESE students. For the latest information and a complete list of pick-up locations, visit the OCPS website:
https://www.ocps.net/departments/food_and_nutrition_services/grab-and-_go_meals

March 26, 2020 10:17 AM

Florida's COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard

To see the latest number of cases of COVID-19 in the state of Florida, click here: fdoh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/8d0de33f260d444c852a615dc7837c86

March 25, 2020 5:05 PM

Resolution No. 2020-001, Declaration of a Local Emergency, which was approved at the March 25, 2020 Special Session, Agenda Item II.

The cancellation of the April 7, 2020 Regular City Commission Meeting was approved by the City Commission at the Special Session, Agenda Item III.

Resolution No. 2020-001 - Declaration of a Local Emergency (PDF)

March 25, 2020 7:46 AM

Stay at Home to Flatten The Curve: Orange County Issues ‘Stay At Home,’ Order Effective March 26, 2020: FAQs

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has ordered all non-essential retail and commercial businesses to close and all residents to stay home from non-essential travel. This order will take effect at 11 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 and will continue for two weeks until April 9 at 11 p.m. The order means that the entirety of Orange County is ordered to stay at home as much as possible, with exceptions for businesses and travel deemed “essential.” For the complete Executive Order visit this webpage.
https://newsroom.ocfl.net/2020/03/stay-at-home-to-flatten-the-curve-orange-county-issues-stay-at-home-order-effective-march-26-2020-faqs

March 24, 2020 2:12 PM

City of Ocoee Declares State of Emergency

OCOEE, Fla. Due to COVID-19 the City of Ocoee has declared a local State of Emergency. Ocoee City Hall and all city administrative facilities are temporarily closed to the public. Residents should call 407-905-3100 or visit Ocoee.org to request city services and interact with city government. Read the City of Ocoee Proclamation---Local-State-of-Emergency-COVID-19(PDF)

Utility/Water Billing

The City of Ocoee’s Utility Billing and Customer Service team looks forward to welcoming residents into the City Hall lobby when the COVID-19 virus has passed. In the meantime, please use one of several payment methods by visiting https://www.ocoee.org/353/Methods-of-Payment. The cut-off date for the month of March has been postponed to give citizens ample time to pay their water bill. To establish new service, please email
UCD2@ocoee.org. For more information, please call 407-905-3191.

Parks and Recreation Facilities

The city’s Jim Beech Recreation Center and the boat ramp at Bill Breeze Park will be closed to the public. Select parks and all playgrounds and pavilions will be closed to the public. When visiting the city’s open greenspaces, citizens should follow the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines of social distancing with six feet of space between others. For more information, call 407-877-5803.

Building Division

The City of Ocoee Building Division continues to serve citizens with normal response times. Please utilize the city’s online process for permit submissions at permits.ocoee.org. For all local business tax applications and inquiries, please email inspections@ocoee.org. All forms and documents can be found at https://www.ocoee.org/177/Building-Applications-Forms. For more information, call 407-905-3104.

City Clerk

The Office of the City Clerk continues to serve citizens with normal response times. Citizen inquires including cemetery and public records requests, please email ccdl@ocoee.org. For more information, call 407-905- 3105.

Code Enforcement

Code Enforcement continues to serve citizens with normal response times. To file a code enforcement concern, please fill out a form online at https://www.ocoee.org/737/Citizen-Support-Center. For more information call 407-905-3106.

Fire Department

The City of Ocoee Fire Department continues to serve citizens and visitors with normal responses to 911 emergencies to all fire, medical, and specialized calls for service. As a precaution during an emergency, please know that personnel may be wearing added personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, gowns and eye protection. This will assist in reducing the possible spread of virus from patients or family members who could have signs and symptoms of/or who may have been exposed to someone with the COVID-19 virus.

All city fire stations are now closed to visitors, except for emergencies. Should you have an emergency or feel ill, you are strongly urged to please call 911 and not drive to a fire station.

Certain public services such as blood pressure checks, sharps container drop-off and smoke detector installations are temporarily suspended.

All public relations/educational events that the fire department had scheduled or would normally participate in have been cancelled until further notice.

Fire inspections, permitting and plans review will continue online until further notice. For more information, call the non-emergency number 407-905-3140. If you have an emergency, please call 911.

Police Department

The City of Ocoee Police Department is committed to flattening the curve. Until further notice, the police headquarters lobby will be closed to walk-in customers. As first responders, officers remain dedicated to providing services as we all deal with the evolving Coronavirus pandemic. Citizens can reach the police department by calling 407-905-3160. For copies of police reports and other records, please call 407-905-3162 or email opd.records@ci.ocoee.fl.us

Public Works Department

Trash and recycling collection will continue normal operations.

Utilities Department

Water, sewer and reclaimed water services will continue normal operations.

March 23, 2020 5:16 PM

Florida Disaster Bridge Loan

Loans to small business owners in the amount of $50,000

Interest Free for 1 year and must be repaid in 1 year.

Small Businesses with 2-100 employees

Owners are not considered employees

Tax Returns, W-2, and W-3 will be used to determine the number of eligible employees

Applicant must own at least 51% of the company

https://floridadisasterloan.org/eligibility-and-loan-process

Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Up to $2 Million in working capital loans

30 year term/3.75% Interest Rate

Must have collateral to pledge (Real Estate or Equipment/Inventory)

Florida SBDC Business Disaster Relief (PDF) >>

March 23, 2020 2:25 PM

OCPS families,

Orange County Public Schools continues its commitment to
provide children with nutritious meals during this unplanned school closure.
Beginning Monday, March 23, the district will distribute meals for FREE at 50
schools across the district during the extended closure. Any child aged 18 and
under will receive FREE breakfast, lunch and a breakfast for the next day.

The meals will be available for pick-up between 10 a.m. and
2 p.m. at each of the 50 locations Monday through Friday. Students must be
present to receive the meals; no identification is needed.

District staff will distribute the meals directly to those
in their vehicle in a drive-thru style pick-up. Also, students walking or
riding their bike can pick up the meals as well.

The following school sites have been identified:

Aloma Elementary School - 2949 Scarlet Road, Winter Park, FL
32792

Apopka Middle School - 425 N. Park Ave., Apopka, FL 32712

Azalea Park Elementary School - 1 Carol Avenue, Orlando, FL 32807

Bonneville Elementary School - 14700 Sussex Dr., Orlando, FL
32826-3899

Carver Middle School - 4500 W. Columbia St., Orlando, FL 32811

Castle Creek Elementary Schools - 1245 N. Avalon Park Blvd.,
Orlando, FL 32828

Catalina Elementary School - 2448 W.29th Street, Orlando, FL
32805

Colonial High School - 6100 Oleander Dr., Orlando, FL 32807

Conway Middle School - 4600 Anderson Rd., Orlando, FL 32812

Dover Shores Elementary School - 1200 Gaston Foster Rd., Orlando,
FL 32812

Dr. Phillips High School - 6500 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, FL
32819

East River High School - 650 East River Falcons Way, Orlando, FL
32833

Eccleston Elementary School - 1500 Aaron Ave., Orlando, FL 32811

Edgewater High School - 3100 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, FL 32804

Evans High School - 4949 Silver Star Rd., Orlando, FL 32808

Forsyth Woods Elementary School - 6651 Curtis Street, Orlando, FL
32807

Frangus Elementary School - 380 Killington Way, Orlando, FL 32835

Gotha Middle School - 9155 Gotha Road, Windermere, FL 34786

Hungerford Elementary School - 230 College Ave., Maitland, FL
32751

Ivey Lane Elementary School - 209 N. Silverton St., Orlando, FL
32811

Jones High School - 801 S. Rio Grande Ave., Orlando, FL 32805

Lake Gem Elementary School - 4801 Bloodhound St., Orlando, FL
32818

Lake Weston Elementary School - 5500 Milan Dr., Orlando, FL 32810

Lancaster Elementary School - 6700 Sheryl Ann Dr., Orlando, FL
32809

Maxey Elementary School - 602 E. Story Rd., Winter Garden, FL
34787

McCoy Elementary School - 5225 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando, FL
32809

Meadow Woods Elementary School - 500 Rhode Island Wood Cir.,
Orlando FL 32824

Meadow Woods Middle School - 1800 Rhode Island Woods Cir.,
Orlando, FL 32824

Memorial Middle School - 2220 W. 29th St., Orlando, FL 32805

Mollie Ray Elementary School - 2000 Beecher St., Orlando, Florida
32808

Oak Ridge High School - 700 West Oak Ridge Rd., Orlando, FL 32809

OCPS ACE K-8 School - 701 W Livingston St., Orlando, FL 32801

Orlo Vista Elementary School - 3 N. Hastings St., Orlando FL
32835

Pinar Elementary School - 3701 Anthony Lane, Orlando, FL 32822

Pine Hills Elementary School - 1006 Ferndell Rd., Orlando, FL
32808

Pineloch Elementary School - 3101 Woods Ave., Orlando, FL 32805

Rock Lake Elementary School - 408 N. Tampa Ave., Orlando, FL
32805

Rolling Hills Elementary School - 3607 Damon Rd., Apopka FL 32703

Rosemont Elementary School - 4650 Point Lookout Rd., Orlando, FL
32808

Sally Ride Elementary School - 9601 11th Ave., Orlando, FL 32824

Shingle Creek Elementary School - 5620 Harcourt Ave., Orlando, FL
32839

Tangelo Park Elementary School - 5115 Anzio St., Orlando, FL
32819

Union Park Middle School - 1844 Westfall Dr., Orlando, FL 32817

University High School – 2450 Cougar Way, Orlando, FL 32817

Washington Shores Elementary School - 944 W. Lake Mann Dr.,
Orlando, FL 32806

Wedgefield K-8 School - 3835 Bancroft Blvd., Orlando, FL 32833

Wekiva High School - 2501 N. Hiawassee Rd., Apopka, FL 32703

Wheatley Elementary School - 1475 Marvin C Zanders Ave., Apopka,
FL 32703

Wolf Lake Elementary School - 1771 W. Ponkan Rd., Apopka, FL
32712

Zellwood Elementary School - 3551 N. Washington St., Zellwood FL
32798

Adjustments may be made based on daily participation.

www.ocps.net

Orange County Public Schools would like to continue
connecting with you via email. If you prefer to be removed from our list,
please contact Orange County Public Schools directly. To stop receiving all
email messages distributed through our SchoolMessenger service, follow this
link and confirm: Unsubscribe

SchoolMessenger is a notification service used by the
nation's leading school systems to connect with parents, students and staff
through voice, SMS text, email, and social media.

1. Ensure your preferred mobile device number is on file
with your school(s).

2. Simply scan the QR code with your smartphone then hit
send. (Text YES from the device to 68453.)

Please see the Utility Billing Page for additional information.

With an abundance of caution toward preventing the spread of the Coronavirus, the City of Ocoee requests your cooperation in limiting the number of payments made at the utility billing counter. We understand this may cause a delay in receiving your payment. Therefore, we are postponing the cut-off date for the month of March, so that you have ample time to use one of our many other payment methods.

For your convenience, there are several ways you can pay your utility bill. Please click on the Methods of Payment listed below.

Please call the Utilities Counter for customer billing services at 407-905-3191.

Reference the Rates, Fees & Regulations Flyer (PDF) for more information.

Apply for Service

Learn how to apply for new water service, garbage collection, sewer service, and irrigation services at your home.

Disconnect Service

Who to contact if you are moving and need to disconnect your water utilities.

Methods of Payment

Find out about the various forms of utility payment available to citizens of Ocoee.

Online Bill Pay

Pay bills online.

Rates, Fees & Regulations

Use this form to review current water fees.

Please see the Utility Billing Page for additional information.

DOH-Orange opens an Appointment Only COVID-19 Testing Site

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) will open a Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing site in Orange County on Monday, March 23, 2020.

The testing is by appointment only and it is geared for those high-risk individuals who meet the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 testing criteria.

In order to get screened for the criteria, Orange County, Florida residents can contact the DOH-Orange’s Call Center Monday through Friday; 8am - 5pm at 407-723-5004.

To better gauge the spread of the virus in the community, DOH-Orange plans to implement a random testing effort of selected volunteers. This method of information gathering will further the planning process and will enhance the approaches utilized to combat the virus.

Tools

Categories

Emergency Alerts

Important Information in Regards to the Coronavirus

Latest Update:

Prior Updates

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 1/11/20

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 1/8/20

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Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/21/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/17/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/14/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/7/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 12/4/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/30/20

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/23/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/19/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/16/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/12/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/9/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 11/2/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/29/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/19/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/16/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 10/12/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County’s News Conference 10/01/20

Key Takeaways: Orange County’s News Conference 9/28/20

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/25/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/21/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/08/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 9/03/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/31/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/27/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/24/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/17/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/13/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/10/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/06/2020

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 8/03/2020

Parks & Recreation Department Update

Governor's Phase 2 of Reopening Florida

Summer Meal Service

Orange County Curfew Tonight from 10pm to 5am

Ocoee City Hall Reopens to Public on a Limited Basis

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 5/28/2020

Orange County News Conference Key Takeaways

CARES ACT FUNDING BREAKDOWN

Governor Updates & Moratorium on Evictions Extended

Revised - DOH-Orange announces Four COVID19 testing sites for next week

Orange County Extends “Last Chance” Opportunity for Small Businesses to Receive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Free Mobile Testing Appointments Available

Ocoee Boat Ramps and Parks Reopening

PPE for Small Biz in Orange County

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference

Orange County Health Services

Ocoee Outdoor Dining Program

Key Takeaways: Orange County News Conference 5/4/2020

Governor Ron DeSantis’ Plan to Reopen Florida

Key Takeaways From Orange County Newsroom

Gov. Ron DeSantis - Reopen Florida Plan

Free COVID-19 Testing Sites Near You

OCPS Grab-and-Go Meals New Schedule

Orange County Mobile Testing

Orange County Convention Testing Site

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Home

Florida Stay-at-Home Executive Order

COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Update

Ocoee Middle School is a Grab-and-Go Site

Florida's COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard

Stay at Home to Flatten The Curve: Orange County Issues ‘Stay At Home,’ Order Effective March 26, 2020: FAQs

City of Ocoee Declares State of Emergency

Utility/Water Billing

Parks and Recreation Facilities

Building Division

City Clerk

Code Enforcement

Fire Department

Police Department

Public Works Department

Utilities Department