COVID-19
Recent Updates
New City Process Keep Tallahassee Building
April 10
Home is more than where the heart is these days. It is the center of our worlds due to COVID-
19. Local homes must be structurally and mechanically sound to help keep residents safe. This is partially ensured by inspectors with the City of Tallahassee’s Growth Management
department, who are taking a solution oriented approach to overcome challenges related to COVID-19. With a commitment to protecting customers and employees, new, innovative
processes have been established to ensure vital building inspections and permits continue.
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COVID-19 City Commission Update
April 8
Over the last four months, the novel coronavirus has spread across the globe, disrupting the safety, health,
economy, and security of all societies. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 - commonly known as COVID-19 –
was formally recognized as a threat to US communities in February 2020. Since February, the City of
Tallahassee has been focused on protecting the community, preserving the health and safety of more
than 3,000 City staff members, and delivering continued quality services to the Tallahassee area.
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In the News
Community Aid
Utility Relief Program
The Utility Relief Program provides City customers facing financial hardships with an option to defer payment of current monthly bill for water, sewer, electric and natural gas and other utility charges until this fall.
Local Assistance and the CARES Act
The following page provides updates and links to more information about the recently approved local and national programs intended to offer relief as we navigate this health crisis. Check out the key impacts these programs provide.
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.
Impact on Services
Governor Issues Statewide Stay-at-Home Measure
Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an Executive Order that implements statewide stay-at-home measures through May 3. Per the order, all people in Florida are required to limit their movements and personal interactions outside their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential service or conduct essential activities. This is in addition to a number of other executive orders that have been issued as safety precautions.
City Offices and Facilities Closed to the Public
All 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.
- Animal Services
- The Animal Service Center is providing adoption, stray surrender and reclaim [of lost pets] services between the hours of 12:00n - 5:00pm (Tuesday thru Sunday) 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.)
- All April Code Magistrate and Code Board hearings have been postponed, and affected cases are granted 60-day extensions.
- 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.
- Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs
- While we are still open for parks, trails, greenspaces and disc golf courses, all other facilities and activities are closed until further notice.
- For a more complete list of what is open/closed, check out the PRNA COVID-19 Information Sheet (PDF)
- 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 10am-2pm.
- StarMetro
- StarMetro has modified its regular weekday service to end at 8 p.m. Start times for these routes remain unchanged. Saturday and Sunday daytime service remains normal.
- All night service, trolley service and the Park Route are temporarily suspended.
- 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.
- For StarMetro or Dial-a-Ride assistance, call 850-891-5200.
- Utilities
- Customer support remains available by calling 850-891-4968 or via DigiTally (online or mobile app).
- Effective March 12, the disconnection of utility services for non-payment including electric and water is halted for 60 days. Billing for usage continues.
- Energy audits will be conducted via telephone for the foreseeable future.
- The April 18 Cash for Trash event has been cancelled.
- Waste Pro
- WastePro, 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 WastePro 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.
- The April 8 City Commission Workshop has been cancelled.
- The April 8 City Commission Meeting will be held via teleconference - and will include the postponed CRA Board Meeting.
- The City is operating under enhanced cleaning protocols at City facilities, on City buses, and at the Tallahassee International Airport.
Parks and Recreation leadership are coordinating with Second Harvest to offer meal support for our youth and neighborhoods. TFD has modified the Meals on Wheels delivery process to deliver meals to seniors at the door, while Elder Care Services staff will coordinate the meals that must be delivered inside the home. Likewise, Leon County Schools is working with Second Harvest of the Big Bend, United Way and others to prepare to feed students who rely on school meals. If you would like to donate or help with food donations, please email Food@LeonSchools.net.
- Leon County Schools are closed through May 1.
- All skills tests for Leon County students have been cancelled.
- Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College will conduct all classes online for the rest of the spring semester.
The CDC recommends that individuals and families follow everyday preventive measures including:
- Hand Hygiene: Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Sanitizers: If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
- Voluntary Home Isolation: Stay home when you are sick with respiratory disease symptoms. At the present time, these symptoms are more likely due to influenza or other respiratory viruses than to the COVID-19-related virus, but the symptoms can be similar.
- Respiratory Etiquette: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then be sure to throw it in the trash can.
- Environmental Health Action: Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
- Flu Shots: Health experts recommend getting a flu shot to reduce the chances of getting the regular flu and weakening your immune system further.
- Florida has purchased more testing kits than any state in the country combined.
- If a person that experiences a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath or has had close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-advised area or been in contact with a person with laboratory- confirmed COVID-19, they should call ahead to a health care professional and their local CHD. The health care provider will work with the Department to determine if the person should be tested for COVID-19.
- The private sector is assisting as well, such as Quest and LabCorp. They do not take the sample, but they process the tests and determine the results.
The Florida Department of Health in Leon County has opened a call center to answer community questions about COVID-19. The number for the call center is 850-404-6300, and the center is staffed on weekdays from 8:00am - 5:00pm. For after-hours calls, leave a message, and someone will get back to you.
In addition, the Florida Department of Health has opened a 24/7 COVID-19 call center at 866-779-6121. They are also available by email at covid-19@flhealth.gov. Their website can be found at FloridaHealth.gov and you can view their online COVID-19 dashboard.
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