Coronavirus Community Update

#OurCommunityCares

Dear Friends of District 8,

As our country and community continue to mount a response to the threat of COVID-19 (coronavirus), I wanted to share a quick update on how Team 8 is responding.

The District 8 team is working hard to continue supporting our constituents through this challenging time, and to stay on top of state, local and federal updates in order to quickly share resources and policies with residents. Especially top of mind for me is how we support all who rely on county services, particularly the elderly, and Miami-Dade Public School children who are adjusting to schools being closed starting today.

All seniors who normally receive County meals will be served by delivery starting today. Miami-Dade Public Schools are serving free hot grab-and-go breakfast and lunch from 9 am – 12:30 pm daily, Monday to Friday.

I also sent Mayor Gimenez a memo urgently requesting that we set up drive-by testing as quickly as possible to expand our screening capacity.

Starting tomorrow District 8 staff will move to virtual office operations, to ensure our team is taking proper precautions to prevent further spread of coronavirus. We will remain fully operational and accessible by phone (calls to the downtown and district offices will be forwarded to cell phones to ensure we remain an active resource for all constituents).

I am also working to set up new virtual resources and tools over coming days – starting with a daily virtual story time for kids over Facebook Live tomorrow at 11 am, plus other public affairs programming and topics for adults. Please follow my office on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates about upcoming live sessions; our county's Miami-Dade coronavirus page is another hub for info. We’ll continue to share useful tips and resources from community partners with the hashtag #OurCommunityCares.

If you have a small business that may be impacted by this crisis, we urge you to take the Business Damage Assessment Survey to help the state assess impacts and mobilize support.

The most important thing any of us can do right now is to practice social distancing, washing hands often and avoiding unnecessary contact, in order to protect not only our ourselves but our greater community. And with physical distance, it’s more important than ever that we find ways to stay connected digitally and to support one another. Let’s practice empathy and compassion, and make sure we are helping one another through these difficult times – particularly the most vulnerable among us.

Do you have ideas for other ways our office can help? Please send an email to district8@miamidade.gov.

Yours for a healthy Miami-Dade,

Daniella

Key Information About Coronavirus

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue paper or inside your elbow.

Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects, such as desks, phones and keyboard.

Read more: How to protect yourself.

Individuals in Miami-Dade County who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call the local Florida Department of Health at 305-324-2400. If you have a medical provider, call directly. If traveling to a medical office or facility, call ahead. For questions about COVID-19 in Florida, please call the Florida Department of Health at 1-866-779-6121.

WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK?

Older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like: heart disease, diabetes, lung disease.

If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should:

Stock up on supplies.
Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
Avoid crowds and non-essential air travel, and stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.

HELPFUL LINKS TO STAY INFORMED:

HELPFUL HOTLINES:

Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Call Center: 1 (866) 779-6121 or email your questions to COVID-19@flhealth.gov (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Miami-Dade State Attorney Price Gouging Hotline: (305) 547-3300
State Attorney General Price Gouging Hotline: 1 (866) 966-7226
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Hotline: (305) 995-3000