New Web Page Dedicated to All Information and Resources for COVID-19

As you know, I have been working to keep you updated on the latest information, government actions and resources available to support you, your families and your businesses during this difficult time. The volume of information can be overwhelming. That's why I have compiled all the information on my website. Visit www.kathleenpassidomo.com to see news, programs and updates shared in previous newsletters. I'll continue to share the most recent updates with you in the space below. 

Florida's Positive Cases Escalate into April

As of April 1, there are 6,995  positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) reported in the State of Florida, including 150 in Collier County, 212 in Lee County and 4 in Hendry County.  There are now over 190,00 cases across the United States and more than 800,000 worldwide. 

Here are additional resources from the state and federal level: 

• To find the most up-to-date information and guidance, you can visit the Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) COVID-19 webpage.
• For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website.
• For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, please visit the travel advisory website.

If you are experiencing symptoms, or have traveled internationally or to a heavily-infected area recently, please contact your local County Health Department.  

Click the button below to view Florida Health's Data and Surveillance Dashboard for Florida-specific data including County-by-County updates.

Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Statewide "Safer-at-Home" Order

On Wednesday, April 1, Governor Ron DeSantis announced in a press conference the issuance of Executive Order 20-91, requiring Florida residents to limit movements and personal interactions to necessary actions including providing services or conducting essential activities. The order will take effect on April 3 at 12:01 a.m. and remain in place for 30 days.  

In determining the status of essential services, the Department of Homeland Security has provided a memorandum with guidance on defining essential services.  In the executive order, the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and State Surgeon General may also add exempt services from the list.  Essential services also include those businesses and activities designated by Executive Order 20-89 and its attachment which consists of a list propounded by Miami-Dade County in multiple orders.

You can read the Department of Homeland Security’s guidance on essential activities here:  https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

As clarification and changes are made regarding the enforcement of the "Safer-at-Home" executive order, I will relay this information in future newsletters. 

President & Coronavirus Task Force Extend Social Distance Recommendations Through April 30

On Sunday, March 29, President Trump and the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force extended their ‘15 Days to Slow the Spread’ Guidelines until April 30.  Every American can help slow the spread of the virus and keep our most high-risk populations safe. 

• Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities.
• If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.
• If your children are sick, keep them at home. Contact your medical provider.
• If someone in your household has tested positive for the Coronavirus, keep the entire household at home.
• If you are an older American, stay home and away from other people.
• If you are a person with a serious underlying health condition—such as a significant heart or lung problem—stay home and away from other people.

The guidelines are built on the CDC’s general recommendations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Americans should continue practicing strict personal hygiene, including washing hands regularly for at least 20 seconds at a time and wiping down surfaces in the home often.

COVID-19 Testing & Mitigation Efforts

The Division of Emergency Management (DEM) has received 15,000 collection kits, including swabs, at the state Emergency Operations Center on Monday.  These kits will be distributed to testing sites across the state.

Private laboratories are also running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners.  Testing and reporting times vary among commercial and Department of Health (DOH) laboratories.  Demographic information may be updated during investigations.  These twice-daily reports reflect the state’s efforts to accurately and transparently share information. This partnership will increase the number of daily tests administered and ensures Floridians receive the critical health information they need in a timely manner.

On March 28, 2020, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to allow hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate products donated to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to be distributed and used for certain hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

These drugs will be distributed from the SNS to states for doctors to prescribe to adolescent and adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19.  Other companies, such as Abbott Laboratories, are establishing quick-processing tests that the state will apply for, through DEM, to try to get as many of these tests into our state as possible.   

Learn More About The The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

Introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and signed into law on March 18, 2020, the CARES Act for Small Businesses addresses the economic fallout of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States.  The CARES Act tasks the Small Business Administration with overseeing the distribution of millions of dollars in loans and grants to help small businesses survive the pandemic. It also provides additional funding for SBA’s Resource Partners to provide advice and training to help small businesses respond to the unprecedented challenges in communities throughout the country. Click the button below to learn more about the provisions of the CARES Act.

The Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) Issues Emergency Order Regarding Condominium Associations & Owners

On Friday, March 27, DBPR  issued Emergency Order 2020-04 that suspends certain conditions of the emergency powers normally held by the association board of a condominium, cooperative, or homeowners’ association during the state of emergency.  This will allow for the exercise of these powers by the state unless they are specifically prohibited by the provisions of the association’s governing documents.  Requirements pertaining to the preparation, submittal or filing of certain financial reports and statements of a condominium association, cooperative association, or timeshare plan have been suspended and tolled.  

The emergency order waives the assessment of pilotage earned by harbor pilots for March and April 2020. It also extends the deadline for the filing of a harbor pilot’s annual earnings statement from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.  

The order additionally includes the suspension of any restriction which would prohibit an active Florida-licensed veterinarian from practicing telemedicine on a patient.

Executive Order 20-91: Statewide "Safer-at-Home" Mandate Issued

On Wednesday, April 1, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-91, requiring all persons in Florida to limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.  This order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on April 3, 2020. The order will expire on April 30 unless extended by a new order.

Executive Order 20-90: Beach Closure Extension for Broward and Palm Beach County

On March 31, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-90 to extend the beach closures of Broward and Palm Beach county. In the order, the Governor entrusts he Broward County Administrator and the Palm Beach County Administrator the ability to enforce, relax, modify or remove these beach closures, as warranted, pursuant to the directives and subsequent orders.

Executive Order 20-89: Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach County Directed to Follow Miami-Dade County Orders

Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-89 on Monday, March 30 to provide unified and locally supported direction to Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach county. The order directs Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach County residents to follow the same directives with respect to essential and non-essential businesses as provided in the executive orders signed by Mayor Gimenez of Miami-Dade County on March 19.

Executive Order 20-88: Workforce Order for Recent Retirees of Law Enforcement & Healthcare Personnel Industries

On March 30, The Governor also issued Executive Order 20-88 to allow recently retired law enforcement and healthcare personnel to immediately return to the workforce. 
He announced that a new testing site is opening Tuesday in Palm Beach at the FITTEAM Ball Park of the Palm Beaches.  The Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) has delivered 1,000 collection kits to get the site started and Gov. DeSantis deployed 75 Florida National Guard soldiers to assist with traffic and logistics.

Executive Order 20-87: Suspension of Vacation Rental Operations

Gov. DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-87, on March 27 that orders all parties engaged in the rental of vacation rental properties to suspend vacation rental operations in the state of Florida.  Vacation rentals are prohibited from making new reservations or bookings and shall not accept new guests for check-in for the duration of this order.

Executive Order 20-86: Mandatory Self-Isolation & Shelter-at-Home Direction for Travelers from Louisiana

Additionally, on March 27, Governor DeSantis announced Executive Order 20-86 that requires a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for any travelers entering the state from Louisiana.  The state of Louisiana has seen an explosion of coronavirus cases.  The Governor has added highway checkpoints in the Panhandle.

Enforcement and Guidance of Executive Orders on Out-of-State Travelers

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is coordinating with the DOH and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) to implement Executive Order 20-86.  The order expands on Executive Order 20-80 on travelers from the New York Tri-State area to include the State of Louisiana to self-isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days. This is due to the large outbreak in the New Orleans area.    

Air-Travel: To further assist with the implementation of the executive orders, FDOT has requested that each public-use airport provide data, including existing scheduled flights that will originate from the greater New York area, to ensure DOH staff and law enforcement are on site upon the flight’s arrival.    Only the Federal Aviation Administration can suspend domestic travel so it is critical that our state makes sure travelers do not further spread the virus in our community.

Highway Enforcement: FDOT, in coordination with DOH and the FHP, is providing guidance to motorists entering Florida from areas with significant community spread.  Motorists who are traveling from areas with substantial community spread including Louisiana, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, will be required to isolate for a period of 14 days upon entry to Florida or for the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter and should be prepared for additional monitoring by DOH to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. 

Upon entry in Florida, each arriving traveler or responsible family member (if traveling as a family) will be required to complete the traveler form distributed to air travelers and also be provided a traveler card.
Florida Highway Patrol will staff the checkpoint at I-10 at the Alabama/Florida line, 24 hours a day with approximately 16 troopers in 12-hour shifts.

FHP will also staff the checkpoint at I-95 at the Georgia/Florida line.

Florida Virtual School to Provide 100 Free Digital Courses to All Florida Schools

On March 30, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) announced that they will provide up to 100 free digital courses to all Florida schools for Florida students through the end of the school year.

These courses are available to students in Kindergarten through 12th grade and will be hosted through select Learning Management Systems (LMS).  The courses are developed by FLVS and include Mathematics, English Language Arts, History, Science, diverse electives, Advanced Placement, and Career & Technical Education courses that will be provided for free from March 25 through June 30, 2020.

FLVS digital courses will be made available on the following LMS platforms: Blackboard (Ultra and v9.1), Buzz, Canvas, Brightspace (v9, v10), Moodle, and Schoology. Each Florida school district, charter school, and private school can select up to 100 digital courses to serve their students. 

South Florida Water Management District Temporarily Closing Public Access to Some District Lands to Protect Public Safety

To help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 and protect public safety, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will temporarily close public access for recreation to several District-managed properties, effective at 6:00 p.m. on April 1.  The District is following the guidance of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida DOH, and the CDC.

The District-managed properties that have been closed to public access include:

Glades County

• Kissimmee River Public Use Area

Highlands County

• Hickory Hammock Wildlife Management Area
• Kissimmee River Public Use Area

Okeechobee County

• Kissimmee River Public Use Area

Osceola County

• Kissimmee River Public Use Area
• KICCO Wildlife Management Area
• Lake Marion Creek Wildlife Management Area
• Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Management Area

Palm Beach County

• John C. and Mariana Jones Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Management Area
• Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 1 West, STA 1 East, STA 2 and STA 3/4
• A-1 Flow Equalization Basin
• Cypress Creek and Loxahatchee River Management Area
• Site 1 Impoundment Area 
• DuPuis Management Area

Polk County

• Kissimmee River Public Use Area
• KICCO Wildlife Management Area
• Lake Marion Creek Wildlife Management Area
• Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Management Area

Martin County

• Cypress Creek and Loxahatchee River Management Area
• DuPuis Management Area

Miami-Dade County

• Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area and Frog Pond Public Small Game Management Area
• Rocky Glades Public Small Game Management Area

Updates about other SFWMD-managed properties will be announced to the public as they develop.  SFWMD continues to coordinate with the Florida Division of Emergency Management to respond to COVID-19. Learn more about the District's response, here.

Local State Beaches, Islands and Boat Ramp Advisory

If your weekend plans include getting out on the water, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) asks you to boat responsibly and take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Do not congregate on beaches or sandbars
• Do not tie up to other boats to socialize
• Limit passengers to members of your household
• Practice social distancing while at boat ramps and marinas

Please be aware that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has closed all state-owned beaches, islands, sandbars and barrier islands within aquatic preserves. This includes Keewaydin Island and Cape Romano. Vessel landings are now strictly prohibited under this closure.

Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office will be assisting the FWC with awareness, education and enforcement. Failure to comply is a violation of Florida Statute 775.08(3) and is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Small Business Association South Florida District to Host Small Business Recovery Webinars

The Small Business Association (SBA) South Florida District Office has scheduled a series of Small Business Recovery webinars to provide the latest information on how the SBA is helping small businesses with their economic recovery from the effects of COVID-19. The webinars are free to attend. Each call is limited to the first 750 callers.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. 
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633; Code: 0329536
Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/823652

Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. 
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633; Code: 0849083
Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/823654

Thursday, April 2, 2020, 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633; Code: 0368196
Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/823655

Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633; Code: 0915149
Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/823656

Friday, April 3, 2020, 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. 
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633; Code: 0420385
Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/823448

Friday, April 3, 2020, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. 
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633; Code: 0698553
Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/823657

These webinars will also be offered in Spanish during the week from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Monday - Friday.   They are also free to attend and limited to the first 250 callers.

Skype: https://meet.lync.com/sba123/aaharris/S7BA3WKK
Phone: (202) 765-1264; Conference ID - 892635472

Connect with SBA South Florida:
Website: www.sba.gov/southflorida
Email: SouthFlorida_DO@sba.gov

Florida Power & Light Plans to Lower Customer Bills

Florida Power & Light (FPL) Company today announced its plan to significantly lower bills for the second time this year and fast-track savings to customers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  Subject to Florida Public Service Commission approval, beginning May 1, FPL plans to issue a one-time decrease of nearly 25% for the typical residential customer bill as a result of lower fuel costs.  

Lower fuel costs are enabling FPL to issue a one-time decrease of nearly 25% for the typical residential customer bill, beginning May 1.  FPL plans to issue the savings through a one-time bill decrease in order to accelerate savings to customers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rather than the standard practice of spreading out savings over the remainder of the year.  Business customers will also see a significant one-time decrease in May, that will vary by rate class

Local Mobile Testing Sites

NCH Healthcare recently received more test kits and is able to offer mobile testing again at the Downtown Baker Hospital Telford Parking garage. They have increased the number of slots available for next week and are able to offer testing for up to 50 patients per day, Monday - Friday. NCH requires a physician’s order and updated insurance information when making the appointment. Call 239-624-4443, OPTION 1 to schedule an appointment

Lee Health has established a drive-up site to collect specimens for COVID-19 to increase access for the number of people being tested in our community.  The mobile site is in the parking lot of the Page Field Lee Convenient Care office in Fort Myers.  To keep an orderly collection process, patients much have an order from their physician or provider and an appointment scheduled for testing.  The collection site will be open seven days a week from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Lee Health is also setting up a second mobile test-collection site at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.

FCHC is offering drive-thru testing for COVID-19 by appointment only at their Clewiston Center. The office is located at 15 South W.C. Owen Avenue, Clewiston, FL 33440.  Those with the associated risk factors and symptoms of COVID-19 may be screened and evaluated by FCHC staff for testing.  Call: 863-983-7813  to set up an appointment for screening, evaluation and testing. Telehealth appointments are also available.

Safely Support Local Small Businesses

Despite restrictions in place to promote social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19, many of your favorite local restaurants remain open with limited services for takeout or delivery.  In fact, over 208 local businesses have continued to offer takeout and deliver services.

To promote these small businesses and keep residents up-to-date, the Naples Daily News has an ongoing, updated list of local restaurants and their current status. 

Social Distancing Guidance

In areas where there are multiple cases of COVID-19, there is a concern about “community spread.”  Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.

This is why staying home, avoiding travel and crowds, and practicing social distancing is so important.  Although young people may not be in as much risk of death as individuals over 65, they can catch and spread the virus just as easily. 

DEO Working to Address Technical Issues

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is currently experiencing higher than average wait times when contacting the Reemployment Assistance Program.  The agency has urged citizens to be patient as the CONNECT claims system has been inundated with new applications for benefits.  Daily claims have grown from around 500 to 900 estimated per day at the beginning of March to more than 25,000 a day. 

My colleagues and I are working directly with the department to improve the process of accepting the unprecedented number of unemployment claims as a result of COVID-19. 

While no one could foresee the impact of the virus, I am satisfied that the department is ramping up and improving the process.  Specifically, the department is hiring 100 more staff members to process calls, contracting with call centers, and adding volume capacity to the department website.  

There is also an effort underway to quickly develop a mobile app for Floridians seeking unemployment assistance.  If your employment has been negatively impacted by COVID-19, click the button below for details on COVID-19, reemployment and more.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue businesses may be experiencing.

U.S. SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to COVID-19

​The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest
federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic
injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or
territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus
Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the
President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.

Bank of America Partners with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) for Small Business Loans

Bank of America supports local economies by partnering with CDFIs across the U.S., and Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Through these innovative partnerships, Bank of America is connecting small business owners to more capital, to help communities continue to thrive.

Attorney General Issues Consumer Alert on Cyber Crime While Working from Home

On April 1, Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a Consumer Alert urging Floridians to guard against cybercrimes when working from home.

Steps Floridians can take to protect sensitive customer information, trade secrets or other information while working remotely include:

• Using a secure internet connection;
• Ensuring all security software is updated and in working order. Additionally, ensuring that the device’s operating system is updated regularly;
• Creating strong passwords and utilizing different passwords across multiple websites and applications. Do not use easy to guess security questions;
• Limiting the use of work devices only for work activities. Use personal devices for leisure;
• Locking work devices when not in use and never leaving them unattended;
• Enabling multi-factor authentication when available. Some employers allow employees to provide an additional email address or phone number to receive codes to verify that the user is in fact the individual attempting to access an account; and
• Contacting IT if receiving unsolicited verification calls or codes. This is a sign that credentials were phished successfully, but login failed because of multi-factor authentication.

Anyone who suspects they are the victim of a scam should contact the Attorney General’s Office at 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.

Need a Social Distancing Activity? Visit the Florida Electronic Library

Since 2003, the Florida Electronic Library (FEL) through the Florida Department of State has provided over 190 million articles, e-books, videos and other electronic resources to the citizens of Florida.  While children are home during the #COVID19 outbreak, you can find ways to incorporate learning opportunities in day-to-day activities.

Federal & State COVID-19 News

The Florida DOH remains the best and most up-to-date resource for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in our state.

Florida Department of Health (DOH)

• http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19
•  https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

Florida Health COVID-19 Data & Surveillance Dashboard

• https://arcg.is/0Hfi5O 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

White House National Updates

• coronavirus.gov

World Health Organization (WHO)

• https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/novel-coronavirus
• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Florida Department of Health

• Phone: 850-245-4444
• Email: diseasecontrol@flhealth.gov
• Twitter: @HealthyFla

The Florida Department of Health is actively involved in enhanced surveillance for any respiratory illness that may be COVID-19.  For any questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact DOH's Call Center: 

• COVID-19 Call Center: 1-866-779-6121
• Email: COVID-19@flhealth.gov 

Please note the call center is available 24/7.

Epidemiologists will follow up on any suspected cases that meet criteria for COVID-19 to arrange for testing when needed and monitor contacts of any confirmed cases, if they occur. Epidemiologic consultation is available 24/7 through your local county health departments and Bureau of Epidemiology.

• Florida Bureau of Epidemiology: 850-245-4401

Local County Health Department Offices

Collier County 

• Immokalee Office: 239-252-7300
• Naples Main Office: 239-252-8200

Hendry County

• Clewiston: 863-983-1408
• LaBelle: 863-674-4041

Lee County 

• Main Office - Michigan Clinic: 239-332-9501
• Pondella Clinic: 239-461-6100 (for appointment)
• WIC - Bonita Springs: 239-344-2000 (for appointment)
• WIC - Lehigh Acres: 239-344-2000 (for appointment)

Emergency 

• Dial 911
• Emergency Hotline: 311 or 239-252-8444 
• City of Naples Emergency Services: 239-213-4844
• American Red Cross: 239-596-6868

I hope this update serves as a reliable platform for news and resources regarding COVID-19. Please continue to exercise preventative measures and social distancing to remain safe and healthy.  I will keep my constituents updated as we continue to learn more.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of assistance
 
Sincerely,

Kathleen C. Passidomo

Senate Majority Leader
State Senator, District 28

Not paid for at taxpayer expense.

Paid political advertisement paid for by Working Together for Florida P.C., 133 South Harbor Drive, Venice, FL 34285.