6/8/20 COVID-19 UPDATE: **Starting Monday, June 8, 2020 this update will be issued every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Your local health department is here to assist you with questions related to COVID-19 (new coronavirus).
GULF TESTING NUMBERS STATUS Number of COVID-19 tests so far: 982 Number of negative tests: 975 Number of positive tests: 7
Please note: The demand for the testing and designated laboratory, may cause a slight delay in reporting as reflected on the Florida COVID-19 Dashboard.
Florida Department of Health in Gulf County: 850-227-1276 Florida Department of Health in Franklin County: 850-653-2111 There is also a hotline available at 866-779-6121 or email
COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
Follow the CDC.gov website for the latest guidance on COVID-19 and check out Floridahealth.gov to keep up with state-specific updates. PHASE 2: PLAN FOR FLORIDA’S RECOVERY On June 3, 2020 Gov. DeSantis announced Phase 2: Safe. Smart. Step-by-step Plan for Florida’s Recovery.
TESTING We will continue providing COVID19 testing for Franklin and Gulf residents as well as individuals from other counties and/or states. That being said, if you suspect you might have COVID19, please do not travel here. Please get a COVID19 test (nasal swab for active infection) in your community and know your results before you arrive. Stay home when you are sick and follow CDC guidelines. Visitors are also responsible for helping to keep our communities safe and healthy. Call your health care provider first or if you are symptomatic to determine the need for testing. If a person thinks they have COVID-19, they should call their health care provider before going to their office so the provider can take precautions to prevent exposing other people. In some cases, they are going to meet you in the parking lot. It’s just a precaution. We are really trying to keep our healthcare workers safe. Other patients safe. Review your signs, symptoms and travel history with your physician. Your provider is going to evaluate you for possible causes and rule out other respiratory illnesses (ex. Flu) before testing for COVID-19.
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT EXPANDED TESTING PLAN Starting Tuesday, June 9, 2020 the Florida Dept of Health in Gulf County will provide FREE COVID-19 testing every Tuesday – Thursday from 8:30am – 10:30am. Tests will be conducted at the health department located at 2475 Garrison Ave, Port St. Joe, FL. Symptoms are NOT required for testing. Participants must be 18 and older for testing. Please call (850) 227-1276 to make an appointment.
ANTIBODY TESTING For questions about antibody testing, contact the Florida Department of Health: Gulf (850) 227-1276. CDC information about antibody testing can be found using this link:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/testing/serology-
overview.html
MENTAL HEALTH COVID-19 have you feeling STRESSED/ANXIOUS/DEPRESSED/UNSURE? NEED SUPPORT? CALL 850-270-8911, available 9-5pm EST. If you are in need of immediate mental health services call one of the agencies below available 24/7: • National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) • SAMSA Disaster Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 or the Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741-741 • Florida Blue launched a 24-hour, free emotional support helpline for all Floridians. Any Floridian – even if uninsured or insured by another plan – can call 833-848-1762 for support in managing feelings of stress, anxiety, grief or fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Counselors cannot provide information on COVID-19 testing or treatment. • Big Bend Community Based Care oversees a wide network of community partners in the fields of mental health counseling, substance use disorder treatment and child protective services throughout an 18county area in Northwest Florida, from Escambia to Madison counties. Florida residents can call the agency’s hotline at 1-888-95-GetHelp or 1-888-954-3843 at any time, day or night, and staff a member will help connect them to a provider in their community, regardless of whether they have health insurance. For more information about Big Bend Community Based Care, visit BigBendCBCGetHelp.org.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT There are several resources available for rural residents and business coping with the impact of COVID-19. Please visit the Rural Development Coronavirus Response page:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/coronavirus
FOOD PANTRY LOCATIONS
• Free food distribution: Thursday, June 4th, 2020 – 5:00 PM EST, WIG Community Center, 401 Peters Street & Avenue D, Port Saint Joe. • 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month-WIG Community Center, 401 Peters St., Port St. Joe
• Farm Share distribution will be the 1st and 3rd Monday of month at 4:00pm. Drive-thru pick up on a first come, first serve.
• Second Harvest of the Big Bend: 2nd Saturday of each month from 9:30-11:30, Honeyville Community Center, 240 Honeyville Park Road. (3 family per vehicle limit – all families do not have to be present to receive food. Please, no children. Prepare for long wait times. Please ensure trunk/bed of vehicle has space available. Do not get out of your vehicle. Lower tailgates/lift trunks prior to turning in.)
CDC recommends you stay home as much as possible, especially if your trip is not essential, and practice social distancing especially if you are at higher risk of severe illness. Don’t travel if you are sick or travel with someone who is sick. Residents from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York are still advised to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into Florida or the duration of the individual’s presence in Florida, whichever is shorter. For more information, visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html
LOCAL UPDATES: HEALTH DEPARTMENT Starting May 28, 2020, the Franklin and Gulf County Health Departments will resume full clinic services. This includes annual physical exams, well woman exams, Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and other routine appointments. Some services will continue to be done curbside or over the phone to decrease unnecessary exposure. Please call 850-227-1276 to schedule an appointment! Please do not bring visitors with you to your appointments.
GULF COUNTY- Burn Ban Rescinded.
PIGGLY WIGGLY PSJ is open daily from 6am to 10pm and is now offering ONLINE shopping. Visit
www.DurensPigglyWiggly.com for more information. We ask all customers to remain 6 feet apart. The deli is no longer self-serve but is open. Please try to shop one person per buggy.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE The Sheriff’s Office is no longer allowing visitors in the lobby. Office staff will remain at work and will be accessible by telephone and email.
LIBRARIES Both Gulf County libraries are closed until further notice. Please call or visit NWRLS.com to place holds on library items which are available for curbside pick-up on Tuesdays 10-4 in Port St. Joe and Thursdays 10-4 in Wewahitchka.
ASCENSION SACRED HEART Online urgent care is available through Ascension Online Care at a discounted $20 with the code HOME. You can have a video visit with a doctor without leaving your home. Visit
http://ascension.org/onlinecare to start your visit.
STAY INFORMED: To get the latest information, visit FloridaHealth.gov and follow on Social Media: Florida Department of Health: Twitter @HealthyFla -or- Facebook Florida Department of Health (DOH) Gulf/Franklin County Community Health Improvement Partners: Facebook Gulf/Franklin County Community Health Improvement Partners
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