COVID-19 – Emily Slosberg for State Representative, District 91

DISTRICT 91 COVID-19 RESOURCE CENTER

LATEST UPDATES

4/17- Palm Beach County Offers Help For Seniors

The Area Agency on Aging announced today a COVID-19 expansion to their Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC Helpline). Seniors 60+ are encouraged to call the ADRC Helpline for assistance with food, food stamps, COVID 19 information such as testing sites, and questions on Medicare or Medicaid. Call the ADRC Helpline at 1(866) 684-5885. Specially trained counselors are available to help in English, Spanish or Creole Monday through Friday 8:00 – 5:00.

4/13- State expands testing criteria for coronavirus

Slosberg feels increased testing is the key to battle this deadly virus. “We don’t really know the magnitude of the problem, we don’t know how many, we don’t know what the burden will be on our health care system,” she said.

4/11- Palm Beach County legislators offer assistance with reemployment assistance issues

Democratic Representative Emily Slosberg says her office has joined in to help make the process for filing easier by providing paper copies of the reemployment assistance applications. The applications have been placed throughout 10 different legislation offices around Palm Beach County. This will allow the unemployment website online to run smoother and efficiently.

4/7- Thousands call seeking appointments, as south county test site opens

“The reason that this is so important is because we’re sitting here in the dark. Palm Beach County doesn’t even know how many cases we have because we haven’t been testing. So I’m relieved to see that we are testing now and that hopefully we can continue to get the resources that we need.,” said State Rep. Emily Slosberg, D-Boca Raton.

3/31- Rep. Slosberg shares potential COVID-19 testing sites for southern Palm Beach County

The outspoken representative sent a letter to the governor’s office days ago, asking for a new drive-through COVID-19 testing site in southern Palm Beach County, so that the most vulnerable in the area aren’t forced to drive forty minutes north to FITTEAM Ballpark of Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, a testing site that opened Tuesday.

3/26- Palm Beach County lags in coronavirus testing

“It’s completely unacceptable,” says state Rep. Emily Slosberg, a Democrat whose Boca Raton district is home to some 30,000 seniors. “It’s March 26 and Palm Beach County has no testing sites.”

3/23- Slosberg calls for testing in southern PBC

The state lawmaker reminded the governor that her district has more 80-somethings than the Villages, where hundreds will be tested.

What you need to know now about COVID-19

Review your symptoms

Use the CDC’s self-checker to help make decisions and seek appropriate medical care regarding COVID-19.

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Call first before testing

Call your health care provider or County Health Department if you have symptoms to determine if you need a test.

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Wash for 20 sec.

Wash hands often with soap and water – 20 seconds or longer (or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol).

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Practice social distancing

If you are around other people, keep 6 feet between you when possible. Avoid hugs, handshakes, large gatherings and close quarters.

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Number of infections in Florida

Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard

This information is brought to you by the Florida Department of Health. The Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 Call Center is available 24/7 1 (866) 779-6121 | COVID-19@flhealth.gov

Additional Resources:

Florida Department of Emergency Management

COVID-19 TESTING SITES

FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

5444 Haverhill Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Any age, by appointment only & need not be symptomatic
(561) 642-1000

South County Civic Center

16700 Jog Road
Delray Beach, FL 33446
Over age 16, by appointment only & need be symptomatic
(561) 804-0250

Belle Glade: Primary Care Clinic at Lakeside Medical Center

39200 Hooker Hwy
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Any age, walk-in only & need not be symptomatic
Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

CDC Self-Checker

The purpose of the Coronavirus Self-Checker is to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. This system is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of disease or other conditions, including COVID-19.

Click Here

Protecting older adults

Specially trained counselors are available to help in English, Spanish or Creole Monday through Friday 8:00 – 5:00.

Reduce Your Risk of Getting sick

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Take extra precautions if your are 65+ to reduce your risk of getting sick.

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Develop a Care Plan

A care plan summarizes your health conditions, medications, healthcare providers, emergency contacts, and end-of-life care options (for example, advance directives). Complete your care plan in consultation with your doctor, and if needed, with help from a family member or home nurse aide. A care plan can have benefits beyond the current pandemic. You can update your care plan every year, or any time you have a change in your health or medications.

Care plans can help reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and improve overall medical management for people with a chronic health condition, resulting in better quality of life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, having a care plan is an important part of emergency preparedness. Guidance on how to develop your emergency preparedness care plan.

Senior Living Facilities

People with loved ones in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other types of senior living facilities may be understandably concerned about their loved one’s risk of illness from COVID-19.

To protect these vulnerable friends and family members, CDC has advised that long-term care facilities

restrict visitors,
regularly check healthcare workers and residents for fevers and symptoms, and
limit activities within the facility to keep residents safe.

CONDOMINIUM REsources

Condominium associations, common interest communities and their property managers should ensure they are taking the proper and appropriate precautions by maintaining cleanliness and discouraging the spread of misinformation. Associations and property managers should implement the following CDC recommendations:

Encourage employees and residents to wipe down commonly touched surfaces including elevator buttons, common door handles, exercise equipment, and appliances, electronics and other commonly held items in community entertainment rooms and workspaces.
Require janitorial staff and others who clean common areas to wear gloves and wash hands immediately after removing gloves.
Ensure that all soap, tissue, hand sanitizers and other hygiene supplies are well stocked. • Supply additional tissues, disposable wipes, hand sanitizer and no-touch trash cans throughout the community.
Raise awareness about COVID-19 without increasing fear and share accurate information about how the virus spreads.
Maintain privacy and confidentiality of any individual seeking health care, who may be part of any contact investigation, and those confirmed with COVID-19, just as you would with someone who has contracted any other virus or illness.

Additional resources for residents and managers:

Unemployment & Small Business Assistance

Palm Beach County

The Palm Beach County Library System has many resources available to help individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19. Ask-A-Librarian staff are available by phone, email and chat to help members who have questions or need assistance filling out unemployment/reemployment forms.

Palm Beach County also provides a list of locations to pick up paper unemployment applications.

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Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity provides state and federal resources both both individuals and employers.

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Health & Wellness

Florida Blue Emotional Support Line

Florida Blue, the state’s leading health insurer, has partnered with New Directions Behavioral Health to offer a free bilingual helpline to assist all Floridians with the stress they may feel during the COVID-19 health crisis. The toll-free helpline connects individuals with specially trained behavioral health counselors who can assist anyone experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, trauma and grief due to the health crisis

24-Hour Toll-Free Helpline Free Bilingual Emotional Support 833-848-1762

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Florida Department of Health, Mental Health

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stressful for most people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.

It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster like the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time. Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during an emergency will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing.

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Florida Community Health Centers

Community Health Centers deliver high-quality, community-based comprehensive health care services to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. With 600-plus locations statewide, Community Health Centers serve more than 1.6 million patients every year, ensuring that all Floridians receive the health care they need in a way that’s economical for taxpayers.

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POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR AND APPROVED BY EMILY SLOSBERG, DEMOCRAT, FOR FLORIDA HOUSE DISTRICT 91