COVID-19

Recent Updates

The Florida Department of Health in Leon County, which is run by the State of Florida, is charged with leading vaccine distribution efforts in Tallahassee/Leon County. If you are age 65 or older, you may be vaccinated through the Florida Department of Health in Leon County or your primary health care provider as vaccines become available.

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, DOH-Leon announced additional COVID-19 vaccinations sites are coming to the community. See details below:

Publix stores in Leon County – Scheduling opened today, Feb. 10, and information is available at https://www.publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida.
Select Walmart/Sam's Club stores in Leon County – These sites are part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Appointments begin Friday, Feb. 12. For a list of Florida sites, click here. Appointments are required and can be made on the following websites:

Walmart: http://www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine
Sam's Club: http://www.samsclub.com/covid

For local information about COVID-19, visit leon.floridahealth.gov.

To protect public health, capacity on StarMetro buses remains limited to 15 passengers. Per federal law, all passengers must properly wear a face mask while using the service. For more information, including routes and schedules, visit Talgov.com/StarMetro.

Statewide COVID-19 Vaccine Pre-registration

The Florida Department of Health in Leon County (DOH Leon) has been included in the new statewide COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration system, which was announced on Friday, Jan. 29. As of Sunday, Jan. 31, DOH Leon is working with community partners and finalizing plans to transition to the new appointment system.

Although Leon County residents aged 65 and over can now sign up by visiting https://myvaccine.fl.gov/, it may be weeks before DOH Leon is able to implement the system and for local seniors to get a vaccine appointment. Those without internet access can register by calling 866-200-3856. For those requiring TTY access, the phone number is 833-476-1455.

The changes to come will not impact individuals who have made vaccine requests through the DOH Leon COVID-19 call center or who registered a vaccine request online.

People who registered in the DOH Leon system, should have received an automated alert on January 8 letting them know their request for an appointment has been received. DOH Leon representatives are following up to notify individuals who could not be reached.

If you’ve already requested a vaccine appointment through DOH Leon, you do not need to sign up for the new COVID-19 vaccine appointment waiting list.

DOH Leon Health Officer Claudia Blackburn continues to ask for patience and understanding during this process. “We’re in a situation right now where there are many more who want to get the vaccine —and who are eligible for it— than there is vaccine to meet the need,” Blackburn said. “Our plan in Leon County is continue working with our partners to try to get as much vaccine as we can and administer it as rapidly and as safely as possible.”

Please monitor the DOH Leon website for updated information as it phases into the new system (http://leon.floridahealth.gov/).

The Leon County vaccine team wants to hear from clients who might not have been given a second appointment or may have forgotten the date. As of late January, they can send an email to LeonCHD.Feed-back@flhealth.gov. Type “second dose” in the subject line. In the body of the email, put your name, date of first dose and brand of the vaccine. Clients will be emailed an appointment for the second dose.

All DOH-Leon vaccination clinics are now operating from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clinics are still tentative based on vaccine supply and could change. Clinics are by appointment only and are held at DOH-Leon’s Municipal Way Administration Building. Please note, weather and cold temperatures could change the location:

Municipal Way Administration
2965 Municipal Way
Tallahassee, FL 32304

The Department of Health is offering phone text alerts for vaccination distribution updates. Residents can sign up for updates about vaccine availability by texting FLCOVID19 to 888777.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Capital Regional Medical Center, Florida State University, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and some physician’s offices are now administering the vaccine to eligible patients as vaccine supply becomes available.

For additional questions or information about the vaccine, the State COVID-19 Call Center can be reached by calling 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

While vaccine distribution continues in the community, it’s important to stay informed about your health and take precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19. For testing site information, visit http://www2.leoncountyfl.gov/ei/. It’s important to continue wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently and staying home when sick.

The CDC has issued an order, effective Feb. 2, that requires face masks to be worn by all travelers while on public transportation, which includes all passengers and all personnel operating conveyances. People must wear masks that completely cover both the mouth and nose while awaiting, boarding, disembarking or traveling on airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares as they are traveling into, within or out of the United States and U.S. territories. People must also wear masks while at transportation hubs (e.g., airports, bus or ferry terminals, etc.).

To provide Floridians with the latest information about vaccinations in the state, the Florida Department of Health has issued a COVID-19 vaccine report that is updated daily. This report includes information on the COVID-19 vaccine by county, race, sex and age. Find the COVID-19 vaccine report here.

The Florida Department of Health continues to provide updates on cases, testing, and fatalities related to COVID-19. Please find all daily reports here.

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital is hosting weekly Zoom talks at noon on Fridays about local COVID-19 vaccine efforts. This virtual event brings together local community experts to provide updates on the impact of COVID-19 in our community. Learn more at TMH.org/CovidTalk.

Golf Openings

Both of the City’s golf courses are open for restricted play from 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. During restricted play, only one person per cart is permitted. Players are asked to not touch or remove flags and to bring their own water, hand sanitizer and scoring pencils. There will be at least 15 minutes required between tee times, and tee times for Hilaman Golf Course must be reserved online via Hilaman.com. Players are asked to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to tee times. The practice putting green will be reserved for players warming up before their tee time. The practice putting green will be limited to six players at Hilaman and two at Jake Gaither. The pro shop at Hilaman will remain closed; access to the pro shop at Jake Gaither will be limited to two players at a time. The restaurant at Hilaman will be open and serving food in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order. The driving range is open.

View Active COVID-19 Testing Sites
Leon County list of open testing sites.
NOTE: COVID-19 test results are reported to the Florida Department of Health. Local testing data includes public and private tests performed in Leon County, including Antigen tests performed by Patients First.

City offers free rides to FAMU testing site
To ride free on a StarMetro fixed route on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., simply tell the coach operator as you board that you are headed to or coming back from the FAMU testing site. All riders are required to wear a mask on the bus. To ensure riders can properly distance themselves, bus capacity is limited to 15 people.

View Updated Parks and Recreation Sports Guidelines
Following the guidance of local and national medical experts, the City of Tallahassee has begun phasing in some recreational offerings that do not involve crowds and continues to evaluate how and when to phase in additional options. Focused on slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community, residents are encouraged to continue practicing physical distancing while enjoying these activities.

Community Aid

Medical Equipment Donations

Capital Medical Society is collecting Personal Protection Equipment. Donations of new, unopened N-95 masks, safety glasses, facial shields, gowns, nitrile disposable gloves, surgical masks, and touchless thermometers are needed. Items can be dropped off at Capital Medical Society at 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308 from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday thru Friday.

For further details visit their website, or call 850-877-9018 or 850-559-8611.

City Service Impacts, Modifications and Cancellations

General Impacts

Some City offices and facilities are closed to the public until further notice. To the greatest extent possible, City employees will work remotely during this time.
The City is operating under enhanced cleaning protocols at City facilities, on City buses, and at the Tallahassee International Airport.

Animal Services

The Animal Service Center is open every day between the hours of 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. by appointment only.
City Animal Control is responding to emergency calls (sick, injured or aggressive stray animals), investigations of animal cruelty or abandonment and stray dogs.

Code Enforcement

Interior code enforcement inspections and interior inspections for housing construction programs are suspended until further notice. (Please note this does not currently apply to inspections on construction permits conducted by Growth Management.)
For code enforcement inquiries, call 850-891-7007 or email code.enforcement@Talgov.com.

Growth Management

All Growth Management site plan, plan review, permitting and inspection processes are fully operational. Online applications (now also including residential and environmental permits) are available through the customer portal. Growth Management staff can be reached by calling 850-891-7001 and selecting the option that applies to your specific inquiry.
Virtual Building Inspections are being implemented for a limited number of services starting April 6. Check out the full details of this new service (PDF).
Type A, Type B/DRC site plan meetings and Board of Adjustments and Appeals (BOAA) meetings are being held via Skype and staff is available by phone and email to assist customers with any specific needs.

Housing

Applications and requests for assistance can be received online at Talgov.com. For housing services inquiries, call 850-891-6566.

Public Safety

TPD and TFD have implemented protocols for responding to calls where an individual exhibits or reports COVID-19-like symptoms.
The Citizens Police Academy has been cancelled.
Public access to the main TPD headquarters is limited. Citizens are encouraged to use online reporting. Learn more
TPD has suspended private, off-duty support for activities.
Property and Evidence is open to retrieve property only Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

StarMetro

Hours and Service Modifications: The last outbound trip of the day from C.K. Steele Plaza for all regular, fixed routes is at 7:30 p.m., with service ending at 8 p.m. Regular weekday fixed service is extended to 8 p.m. Weekday and Saturday Night routes are temporarily suspended. Saturday and Sunday Daytime service remains normal. Weekend Trolley service is temporarily suspended. Park Route is temporarily suspended.
Capacity: Bus capacity is being limited to accommodate no more than 15 passengers. Passengers must stay behind the yellow line and remain seated, in staggered formation, through the entire trip. Should the StarMetro bus be at capacity, Coach Operators are instructed to call a Supervisor. Depending on the availability of standby buses, passengers may be picked up before the next scheduled bus is set to arrive. These courtesy pickups are not guaranteed and may be fewer during peak travel times.
Masks: Federal mask mandate requires mask use on public buses. Click to learn more, including about medical exemptions. To obtain a medical exemption card from StarMetro, which will allow you to ride our vehicles or enter our facilities and stops without a mask, StarMetro requires medical documentation from a licensed medical provider stating you require exemption from this mask requirement. You can provide that documentation in person at 555 Appleyard Drive, via fax at 850-891-5143 or via email. Please be assured your documentation and its handling will remain confidential. Once documentation is received, you will be issued a medical exemption card within 48 business hours. Please show your card each time you board the bus and upon request at C.K. Steele Plaza, bus stops and shelters. Federal law mandates that StarMetro provides medically exempt individuals transportation if there is adequate social distancing available. Currently, StarMetro has a 15 person capacity limit on its buses to promote social distancing. If a bus is at capacity, you may be required to wait for another bus, or a supervisor will be called to assist. If you have questions, please contacting StarMetro at 850-891-5199 or via email. StarMetro looks forward to serving your public transit needs.
Enhanced Cleaning and Safety Protocols: All StarMetro Coach Operators and employees are screened daily for COVID-19, including temperature checks at the beginning of each shift. All regular, fixed route and Dial-A-Ride vehicles are outfitted with custom-built plexiglass barriers to protect Coach Operators and passengers. Commercial-grade, CDC-approved disinfectant is used every night during the bus cleaning process and during mid-route layovers at C.K. Steele Plaza. High-traffic touch points, such as handles and seats, are cleaned with the same disinfectant multiple times a day. All Coach Operators have been issued face masks, gloves and hand sanitizers/wipes for use during shifts. Where social distancing is difficult to maintain, Coach Operators may wear face shields. This situation may arise when a Coach Operator needs to assist a passenger with the wheelchair lift. All regular, fixed route and Dial-A-Ride vehicles are outfitted with hand sanitizer for public use. All StarMetro employees are required to wear a face mask or covering at StarMetro and City of Tallahassee facilities, even when not operating a vehicle. Employees must also adhere to strict sanitizing and social distancing protocols.
Call 850-891-5200 for more information.

Utilities

Customer support remains available by calling 850-891-4968 or via DigiTally (online or mobile app).
Energy audits will be conducted via telephone for the foreseeable future.

Waste Pro

Waste Pro, the City's garbage and recycling provider, has modified its service to protect the health of employees. As a safety measure, WastePro has implemented a no touch policy and will only collect waste and recycling materials that are inside carts until further notice. Waste placed outside the receptacle, either loose or bagged, will be left curb side. For more information, call Waste Pro at 850-561-0800. If you feel your service was missed in error, report it via the free DigiTally app or by calling the City's Customer Operations line at 850-891-4968.