TreasureCoast Covid-19 Update April 1 2020

TreasureCoast Covid-19 Update April 1 2020

St. Lucie County Issues Safer at Home Order 

 

  1. LUCIE COUNTY – St. Lucie County has issued a Safer-at-Home Order to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19, effective Saturday, April 4 at 6 a.m.

This applies to all residents and business within St. Lucie County including the cities of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. Residents do not require a pass or a letter to show to authorities. No curfews are being enacted at this time. Safer-at-Home means all residents are directed to stay at home as much as possible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In an effort help comply with the Safer-at-Home Order, all St. Lucie County offices and facilities will closed on Friday, starting April 3 at least through April 24. Several county departments have closed or have shifted to limited public hours and access.

What residents can do:

  • Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store;
  • Commute to and from work if your employer is an essential business or has ensured you can maintain at least 6 feet from your co-workers or customers;
  • Go to the pharmacy or other medical establishments to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities;
  • Go to medical appointments (but first, check with your doctor or medical provider)
  • Go to a restaurant for take-out or drive-through only;
  • Care for or support a friend or family member in need
  • Take a walk, run, or exercise outside – just remember to practice social distancing — that means at least 6 feet between you and others in the community
  • Walk your pets or take them to veterinarian offices;
  • Take your child where they need to go if its directed by a custody sharing agreement or order

Non-essential businesses that are unable to maintain the required physical distancing (6 feet) to keep employees and customers safe, should close.  Businesses who have questions about how the order impacts them can call the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County at 772-336-6258 or visit https://youredc.com.

Essential businesses include:

  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurant delivery and drive through
  • Airlines, taxis and other private transportation providers
  • Gas stations
  • Laundromats
  • Veterinarian offices
  • Businesses engaged in food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing
  • Businesses that provide shelter and social services
  • Hardware and gardening stores
  • Firearm and ammunition supply stores
  • Newspaper, television, radio and other media services
  • Businesses that provide food and shelter

Essential services include:

  • Fire Rescue
  • First responders
  • Law enforcement
  • Essential federal, state and local government employees and military personnel
  • School district employees providing services during this state of emergency
  • Medical and health-related personnel
  • Mass transit personnel

For additional information and updates relating to St. Lucie County, please visit: www.stlucieco.gov/covid-19 or call the Public Information Lines at 772-460-HELP (4357) between Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The latest coronavirus numbers in Florida: more than 67-hundred total cases and 85 deaths. Almost half of those cases are occurring in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.   

Florida is making strides when it comes to testing for COVID-19. More than 60-thousand people have now been tested and the results are coming back more quickly

Governor Ron DeSantis says you ain’t seen noth’n yet–Abbott Labs will be soon be sending a five-minute test to various hospital systems in Florida.

As the outbreak continues, consumer confidence in Florida is in free fall, dropping sharply in March.

University of Florida Professor Hector Sandoval says confidence levels were at 20-year high in February. He thinks confidence will keep falling as long as the virus is uncontrolled.

All may not be lost for the state’s high school athletes this year. While schools will remain closed until at least May 1st, the Florida High School Athletic Association says it’s considering a plan to extend its playoff calendar until June 30th

St. Lucie County issued a “safer-in-place” order on Tuesday, urging residents to stay in their homes whenever possible.

“This is not a shelter-in-place order,” said County Administrator Howard Tipton. “It is not that restrictive. It is a message to our community to stay in place when you can.”

The order, which goes into effect on Saturday, allows all businesses to remain open if they can maintain proper social distancing guidelines.

“This is not a curfew,” said Commissioner Cathy Townsend. “You are going to be allowed to go and do the things you need to do. You’re gonna be able to go out and about as long as you’re practicing your safety and sanitization.”

Under the order, all St. Lucie County buildings and offices, with the exception of emergency services, will be closed every Friday through the month of April.

According to the latest numbers from the Florida Department of Health, there are 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in St. Lucie County.

Eight people have been hospitalized because of the virus in the county, and two have died.

All St. Lucie County beaches on North and South Hutchinson Island are closed, and all schools will be closed until at least May 1.

A drive-through COVID-19 testing site is now open at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital, located at 10000 SW Innovation Way in Port St. Lucie.

Testing is being done by appointment only.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 like fever, cough, and shortness of breath, call the Cleveland Clinic hotline at 772-419-3360.

A nurse will screen you over the phone and discuss your symptoms, whether you’ve traveled recently, and if you’ve been exposed to anyone with coronavirus.

“If a person meets that criteria, they will get an appointment for a drive-through location,” said Rob Lord, the President of Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, at a news conference last week. “They won’t even need to get out of their car.”

More than 3 million Americans are suddenly unemployed as businesses lay off their workforce in massive numbers or shutter completely in the midst of the rapidly evolving coronavirus pandemic.

The $2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package includes a one-time payment of $1,200 to many Americans , though the exact amount a person receives will be based on income. Those payments will likely take a few weeks to arrive. The stimulus package also includes relief for small businesses forced to shutter due to the coronavirus.

The death toll from coronavirus in Florida rose from 71 to 85 in one day, including four more fatalities, all men, to 14 in Palm Beach County, the state’s Health Department said Tuesday night.

The death toll in Palm Beach County is the greatest in South Florida, including the Treasure Coast.

On Tuesday morning, the state said the death toll rose to 77 and then eight more fatalities were announced at 6 p.m.

A total of 32 of the state’s cases are in South Florida.

In all, the Health Department has reported 6,741 total cases, including 6,490 residents.

A total of 64,661 tests have been conducted with 56,644 negative for a 10.4 percent rate.

In Palm Beach County, there have been 551 positive cases, including an girl listed as 0 on Tuesday and a 6-year-old boy listed last week In Indian River there are 33 cases, including an 8-year-old boy reported Tuesday, followed by 38 in St. Lucie, 28 in Martin and none in Okeechobee. The numbers are 1,219 in Broward and 2,123 in Miami Dade.

In the state, there were 21 cases of boys and girls zero to 4, 41 from 5 to 14 and 483 from 15 to 24.

Hospital admissions rose to 857 from 15 Monday. Broken down by county, 64 are in the hospital in Palm Beach County, 11 in St. Lucie, 4 in Martin, 4 in Indian River, none in Okeechobee.

With outdoor activities limited in Palm Beach County, some people are heading north and crossing county lines for fun, including hitting the links.

In Martin County, golf course operators are hoping they can stay open as commissioners weigh their options.

At Hammock Creek Golf Course in Palm City, the parking lot was busy Tuesday, but there were still spots to be had.

The managing partner said they are doing several things to keep their patrons safe including spraying all of the carts down regularly and keeping them at a distance from one another.

On the course, there is orange foam at the base of the flagstick, so no one has to reach in to get their golf ball. Other than that, nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

But at Martin County’s emergency meeting on Monday, several commissioners talked about Palm Beach County closing all of its golf courses, and calls they had been getting about the sudden added popularity of the courses in the county.

County administrator Taryn Kryzda said it has limited options when it comes to private courses. She plans to meet with the local health department to ensure golf courses are doing the right thing.

The county closed its only municipal golf course, which actually has been undergoing a renovation.

Kryzda said she hopes visitors aren’t taking advantage of the situation.

At Hammock Creek, where they have seen a slight increase in out-of-county players, management wants to keep all of its 52 employees on the payroll as long as possible.

IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, The Humane Society of St. Lucie will remain closed for at least two weeks in response to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the shelter announced Monday. The shelter closed Monday until at least April 10, when conditions will be reevaluated to decide whether to extend the closure, said Melissa McInturff, executive director. During the closure, staff will continue to maintain the shelter at 8890 Glades Cut-Off Road. Anyone wanting to adopt an animal can send a Facebook message to the Humane Society to arrange a virtual “meet and greet” for any animal they would like to adopt.

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