- April 19, 2024
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Updated 8:45 p.m. March 16.
Looking for updated information on the COVID-19 virus?
Local updates and closures are listed below.
Palm Coast will be closing the Palm Coast Community Center, Palm Coast Tennis Center, Palm Harbor Golf Club, and Palm Coast Aquatics Center to the public starting on March 17 and continuing through at least April 30, according to a city of Palm Coast news release.
There will be an exception on Tuesday, March 17, to allow the public to access the Community Center in order to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary.
Non-emergency visits to city fire stations will also not be allowed, and non-essential city meetings and all city-run activities at city facilities will be canceled.
The city will evaluate events scheduled for after April at a later time.
City Hall and city parks and trails will remain open.
Canceled events include:
At 3:30 p.m. March 15, Mayor Milissa Holland signed a proclamation at City Hall declaring a local state of emergency for the City of Palm Coast.
Mayor Holland made the following statement to the residents of Palm Coast in a video that has been shared on City social media and Palm Coast Connect.
"Hello, Palm Coast.
"This is Mayor Milissa Holland, reaching out to inform you, our residents, about COVID-19, also known as the novel Coronavirus.
"For the last several weeks, your City has been mobilizing its efforts and response by utilizing all of our resources. We have been actively engaged with our partners throughout the state and community. And we have been constantly monitoring the most up to date information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health.
"Beginning Monday, March 16, Palm Coast Connect will be the hub for all City responses in an effort to do our part to keep you safe and informed. I strongly encourage you to register for an account now so that you may receive timely information and notifications for any City updates. If you do not already have an account, please take a few minutes to visit palmcoastconnect.com or call 386-986-2360 and create a free account now. This will allow for around the clock, real time updates.
"Through Palm Coast Connect, you will be able to utilize your virtual City Hall that will allow you to pay your utility and water bills, manage permitting virtually, conduct meetings remotely, and more.
"Your Palm Coast team has been working hard to gather the most up to date, reliable information that will be shared in your virtual City Hall Information Center that will answer any questions you may have about the Coronavirus.
"Part-time staff that would have been displaced by this situation are being reassigned to cleaning and sanitizing city parks and facilities.
"Additionally, I am signing an official order declaring a local State of Emergency for the City of Palm Coast.
"It allows our staff to take the necessary actions to address the emergency situations that may arise along with accessing the necessary federal and state support.
"Now is the time to educate yourself on COVID-19 symptoms and what you can do to help prevent the spread of this disease.
"As the impact of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic continues to shape our daily lives, affecting how, where, and when we work, getting sick or anxious, or worrying if our families are at risk, it’s easy to feel like your individual actions may not matter in the grand scheme of things. But every single one of us plays a part in our community’s health.
"I am encouraging all of you to frequently wash your hands, stay home if you feel sick, and limit contact with others, as advised by the CDC. Please shop responsibly and be respectful of your neighbors. As a community we will find a path forward.
"Most importantly, remember that none of us are alone.
"Remember, be calm, be prepared, and stay informed."
A message sent from FCAL to its supporters March 15 included the following: "We have decided to close FCAL from Monday, March 16th through Sunday, March 22nd. All classes for this upcoming week are cancelled and the office will be closed. If your organization has rented the facility for a private meeting or club during this period, you may continue to access it as you have in the past (under the same terms and conditions as you have previously). We will continue to keep you updated as the situation evolves. We appreciate your patronage and membership."
All Florida schools have been ordered to take an additional week off for spring break due to the COVID-19 virus, and students will not return until March 30, according to a news release from the Flagler County School District. Extracurricular activities will be postponed statewide as well.
Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran made the announcement Friday, March 13.
“A decision such as this is not an easy one to make,” Flagler Schools Superintendent James Tager said, according to the news release. “I understand this will put pressures on many of our families, but the Flagler Schools team will be working to determine what, if any services we can give our families the week following Spring Break.”
Tager will meet with his executive team on Monday, March 16, to come up with a plan to get students back on track when the schools reopen, according to the news release, and the Department of Education is expected to provide more guidance in the coming days. State testing will be delayed two weeks, according to the news release.
Employee schedules for the coming week, spring break, remain in effect, and employees should watch their work email for more information, according to the news release.
The district is posting updates at www.flaglerschools.com and on the Flagler Schools social media accounts.
The Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Office is taking extra precautions due to COVID-19 during the Presidential Preference Primary Election, including disinfecting door handles, signature pads, voting booths, pens and other frequently touched surfaces at least hourly, and more frequently between voters, according to a news release.
The Elections Office is also providing hand sanitizer for voters and workers and encouraging frequent hand washing.
“The safety of our voters and election workers remains a top priority," Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart said in the news release. "My office is taking active measures to help ensure our polling places are safe during this election using recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). My office is following these guidelines, including training poll workers to clean voting equipment using disinfectant supplies and by making hand sanitizer available for workers and voters. I encourage voters with concerns to consider voting early today or Saturday. Voters who choose to vote on Election Day may vote during off-peak hours (1-4 p.m.) as a way of minimizing contact with crowds on Election Day."
Options for casting a ballot in the Presidential Preference Primary Election include:
Flagler Playhouse President Monica Clark sent the following letter to Playhouse subscribers and stakeholders on March 13:
Dear Flagler Playhouse Friends,
Because of the threat of the coronavirus (aka COVID-19), we have decided to close the theater for the time being. Although there is no official word from local government we feel it is the prudent thing to do for the safety of our patrons, cast and crew and volunteers. This will include the rest of the run of RIPCORD, Reader's Theater meetings and production and the Legendary Women production next week.
We expect to be up and running for Guys and Dolls and these rehearsals will continue at the discretion of the director.
Please be patient when contacting the playhouse. Exchanges and refunds will be handled as quickly as possible. We will endeavor to respond to your calls, however, the box office will be closed for the safety of our volunteers. Please give us a couple of weeks to process your requests.
Thanks so much for your continued support.
Monica Clark
President
Palm Coast Little League President Peter Schoembs posted a message on the Palm Coast Little League Facebook page March 12 stating that Little League activities are postponed until April 6:
"As per an official memorandum from Little League International, all Little League activity must come to a halt immediately as a result of the ongoing situation with the coronavirus," he wrote.
The Palm Coast Little League, and others that have already started their seasons, are being asked to postpone activities that involve gathering people. The delay will continue through April 6, when the Little League will deteremine whether to extend it.
"Simply put, Coast Little League is shut down in every way, shape, and form until April 6," Schoembs wrote. "Please enjoy your Spring Break (whether you have plans to travel or are staying home), enjoy the time with your family, and most importantly, please be safe!"
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey for the COVID-19 coronavirus on March 12 to assess the virus' impact on local businesses, according to a news release from the governor's office.
To take it online, go to https://floridadisaster.biz/. For questions or help with the survey, businesses can contact Emergency Support Function 18 at [email protected].
Information gathered in the survey will be shared with state and local agencies to help plan appropriate relief programs, according to the news release. It is managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).
Surveys submitted by small businesses can also be used to access the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan, which is made available through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, according to the news release.
“Gathering information about the impact COVID-19 has on Florida businesses and industries will be invaluable to the state’s efforts in coordinating our response,” DeSantis said in the news release. “It is important that we understand the total impact COVID-19 has on businesses to ensure that we access the resources that may be available.”
