Please keep reading our information because it changes every day. Below is the latest information provided to the association -- please note that we will continue to send updates as soon as we receive any new information.
COVID-19 UPDATE 56
September 29, 2020
Governor DeSantis Announces Phase 3 Re-Opening

Phase 3; Right to Work; Business Certainty; Suspension of Fines

On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida would be entering into Phase 3 of reopening the state. Restaurants, bars, salons, and other businesses will be allowed to reopen under full capacity. This order will override any other restrictions on the local level.

DeSantis determined that it was time to move past Phase 2 based on the COVID numbers continuing a downward trend while maintaining adequate health-care capacity in all hospitals.

The new Pahse 3 order maintains that individuals should continue to social-distance and minimize the time spent in large crowds. Businesses should also continue to practice adequate sanitation practices in order to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Below is a list of the changes in the Phase 3 order:

  • Restaurants, bars and nightclubs that derive more than 50% of sales from alcohol can operate at full capacity. Plastic menus should be cleaned after each use.
  • Gyms and fitness centers can open at full capacity
  • Other businesses that can reopen with limited social distancing; movie theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, bowling alleys, arcades, playhouses and casinos)
  • Businesses should continue to encourage employees to work remotely but should begin implementing plans for them to return to work.
  • Employees can resume non-essential travel and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel
  • Local governments can resume in-person meetings
  • State parks can fully reopen, including for overnight stays, public beaches can fully reopen
  • Large sporting events can resume, but limited capacity is recommended
  • Theme parks can return to normal operations with limited social distancing protocols.
  • Vacation rentals can reopen, but owners should continue disinfecting
  • Business such as salons, barber shops and nail salons should maintain sanitation practices between customer visits and remove frequent-touch items such as magazines, newspapers and service menus.
  • Businesses can still require customers to wear masks, but DeSantis said "all outstanding fines and penalties that have been applied against individuals are suspended."

According to an article published by WUSF, the order still calls for older residents and vulnerable populations with underlying medical conditions to heed caution and avoid large crowds while practicing social distancing. Read the full article by clicking here. Download a copy of the Governor's Phase 3 Order by clicking here.
Update on Mandatory Reporting of COVID-19 Results to Florida Department of Health

September 26, 2020

  • On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued an Interim Final Rule implementing the CARES Act requirement for daily laboratory reporting for COVID-19 test results, with a penalty of $1,000 for the first day of noncompliance and an additional $500 penalty for each subsequent day of noncompliance.
  • On September 11, 2020, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) issued Emergency Order 20-013 prohibiting laboratories that have not reported results of COVID-19 testing performed by the laboratory within 7 days of the completion of the COVID-19 test from electronically submitting the untimely test results through the HL7 Electronic Laboratory Reporting System (ELR) until authorized by FDOH.
  • Upon discovering delinquency in COVID-19 electronic reporting please contact the FDOH ELR program at the following e-mail address: DLElectronicLabReporting@flhealth.gov.
  • In addition, laboratories must immediately comply with Florida Administrative Code Rule 64D-3.031(6) by reporting COVID-19 results, without delay, by fax to the State Surgeon General (fax number (850) 414-6894) and the local Florida Department of Health of the patient’s county of residence. For a list of county health departments and their reporting contact information, please visit: www.FLhealth.gov/chdepicontact.

For additional information, please visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

Additional Resources:
FSLA Presents AHCA Secretary Mary Mayhew
with Assisted Living Champion Award

Recently, FSLA presented Secretary Mary Mayhew with the Assisted Living Champion Award for her extraordinary leadership and support throughout the COVID pandemic. We also would like to thank and recognize her staff, Molly McKinstry, AHCA Deputy Secretary, Kim Smoak, AHCA Chief of Field Operations / State Survey Agency Director, Laura MacLafferty, AHCA Bureau Chief, Health Facility Regulation, and Keisha Woods, AHCA ALF Manager for always being available to answer our questions and participate in our weekly zoom calls.

Secretary Mayhew is leaving AHCA and will begin her new role as the CEO of the Florida Hospital Association on October 5. We look forward to working with her in her new role and wish her the very best.

FSLA's Weekly Video Conference Call
to Discuss COVID-19 Updates & Questions
featuring Kim Smoak, AHCA
 
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
4:00 p.m. EDT
It's time to register for this week's FSLA video call with our members. We will discuss COVID-19 related updates and questions.

Our guest presenter this week will be Kim Smoak, AHCA Chief of Field Operations / State Survey Agency Director. Please send your questions in advance to info@floridaseniorliving.org.
 
If you can't participate on a computer, you can still participate by phone. After registering for the meeting, you will receive a confirmation email containing additional information about joining the webinar and a phone number to dial in to the call. 

We look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday!
Please Participate in the Short Visitation Survey

How many visitors are making appointments and visiting residents in your communities? Please take a minute to respond to the four questions below so we can get a better idea of the numbers of visitors entering your communities.

Please take a minute to answer the following four questions by CLICKING HERE.