MAYOR DEMINGS' DIGEST
It has been one year since the COVID-19 pandemic descended on Orange County. I want to let all residents know how proud I am of the sacrifice and resiliency of our community. We are well on our way to getting a handle on the spread of the coronavirus. Right now, our two-week positivity rate is hovering around 5-6 percent and slowly decreasing. That should give us all cause for optimism as we fight this disease.
In other encouraging news, 50% of our residents ages 65+ have received at least one vaccination shot. We have also partnered with LYNX to make sure every senior in need can get a free ride to the Convention Center. In addition, the Governor recently extended eligibility criteria for vaccinations, which include teachers and staff ages 50 and older. There are also more vaccination sites being added. Visit ocfl.net/vaccine for updates.
Our vaccination partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Orange County continues to operate effectively at the Orange County Convention Center. Recently, we administered the 100,000th dose of the vaccine into the arm of local resident Karen Hill from Maitland.
I am pleased to announce our Barnett Park free COVID-19 testing site extends through March 31. The site is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every day, we see roughly 1,000 residents using this free service.
Finally, the first day of spring will arrive on March 20. I am optimistic that the darkest days of the pandemic are behind us and a bright light at the end of the tunnel can clearly be seen.
Sincerely,
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Since the beginning of the pandemic, Orange County’s Health Services Department has supplied more than six million personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to long-term care and assisted living facilities. Learn more by watching this video on how the County is helping keep our most vulnerable residents safe. |
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Meals of Love provides 2,500 hot, restaurant-prepared meals to home-bound seniors and disabled adults every week. The Senior Resource Alliance received $98,500 of Orange County Government CARES Act funding for the Meals of Love program, helping not only seniors, but also restaurants in need of additional assistance to stay open during the pandemic.
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EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
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Orange County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program helps the Orange County’s most vulnerable tenants who are in imminent danger of eviction. The program is distributing more than $33 million of federal funds to assist residents who have been unable to pay their rent due to a loss of income related to COVID-19.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-47, which expands eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccinations. The Order takes effect on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
All providers administering any COVID-19 vaccine are able to vaccinate the following population:
- Persons 65+
- Long-term care facility residents and staff
- Health care professions with direct patient contact
- K-12 school employees who are 50+
- Sworn law enforcement officers and firefighters who are 50+
In addition, select pharmacies, hospital providers and licensed physicians may vaccinate persons deemed to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. Individuals must have documentation by a physician that the patient meets the criteria.
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HELP SHAPE THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY |
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Planning for the future requires input from the entire community. Help guide our growth as a County by participating in the Vision 2050 initiative. To get started, take our surveys on ocfl.net/Vision2050.
For questions about the surveys or registration process, please contact Planning Division staff at 407-836-5600 or at planning@ocfl.net. Stay up-to-date on upcoming meetings for this spring by visiting ocfl.net/Vision2050.
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Orange County is home to six Commission districts that each have a distinct personality when it comes to history, natural beauty, parks and recreation options, resident diversity and business opportunities. District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson, who was elected to the Board of County Commissioners in 2020, gave us her "Top 5 things to know" about her district:
- Come Hungry!
- Nehrling Gardens
- Walt Disney World
- Water, Water, and More Water!
- Golfer’s Paradise
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TESTING EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH |
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Orange County Government’s Health Services Department has extended its FREE COVID-19 testing at Barnett Park through March 31, 2021. The testing site will continue to operate seven days per week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the testing map. Please note that the site may close early due to capacity, so get in line early.
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March 10, 2021
Orange County’s MLK Initiative has completed its February book from its Book Club — Becoming by Michelle Obama. A new book is introduced on the second Wednesday of every month. The next book will be announced on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 on the Initiative’s webpage.
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Orange County Government's Dress in Blue Day
March 22, 2021
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Orange County Government employees will celebrate the awareness initiative on March 22, 2021, by wearing blue and hosting a virtual proclamation reading on social media.
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March 2021
Come enjoy incredible live entertainment, movies and other fun activities during Dr. Phillips Center's one-of-a-kind outdoor festival presented by AdventHealth.
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March 2021
The Orange County Region History Center will celebrate Women’s History Month with several events throughout the month of March. To learn more, visit TheHistoryCenter.org.
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Innovation. Collaboration. Inclusion.
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