How to get tested and get help

Dear Neighbor, I am writing to update you on what our federal, state, and local governments are doing to combat the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Here is the latest information on where to get tested, how our government is handling this crisis, where to go for help if your small business or employment has been affected, and how to keep yourself safe. Testing Coronavirus (COVID-19) has now spread to more than 150 countries. Over 430,000 people have been infected worldwide, including over 55,000 in the United States, over 1,400 in Florida, and over 360 in Miami-Dade County. As the number of cases in Florida has swelled, so has the demand for safe, reliable testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have published testing guidelines to help individuals and  health care professionals make decisions about who needs to be tested. Several COVID-19 testing sites have opened in South Florida, and more are expected to be accessible in the coming weeks. My staff is maintaining a list of available testing sites and will continue to do so until this crisis subsides . All the centers are currently drive-thru only, which means you need to be in a car or truck with a working window. You should also put gas in your vehicle before you go, as wait times can be at least two hours. Each of the centers also has different criteria for testing eligibility and different hours of operation. For more information on testing, you can contact the Florida Health Department COVID-19 Hotline, which is open 24/7, at 1 (866) 779-6121, or the Miami Dade County Health Department at 305-324-2400 for guidance. Note that there may be an increased volume of callers, and it may take some time to be connected. If you have a primary care doctor, you should call their office first for instructions on being screened for testing. Government Response Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a public health emergency for our state and closed all public schools through the end of March. He has issued Executive Orders closing all bars and nightclubs for the next 30 days and limiting restaurant entry to 50 percent of capacity so seating can be staggered. He has also directed parties accessing public beaches to follow CDC guidelines and limit gatherings to no more than ten people. Effective March 23, 2020, Governor DeSantis ordered that anyone flying from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut to Florida be placed under a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Several municipalities in Miami-Dade County have issued or are considering shelter-in place orders. I have written a letter with my colleagues in Florida's congressional delegation urging Governor DeSantis to issue a shelter-in place order for the entire state. Small Business Small businesses (two to 100 employees) located in Florida affected by COVID-19 can apply for short-term loans up to $50,000 through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. These loans are interest-free for up to one year and are designed to bridge the gap to either federal SBA loans or commercially available loans. To qualify, a business must have been established prior to March 9, 2020 and demonstrate economic impacts as a result of COVID-19. Small businesses can apply for assistance in one of two ways: ·         Apply online and upload required supporting documentation or ·         Download an application, complete it and mail it with the required supporting documentation to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) at: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, C/O Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, 107 E. Madison Street, MSC-160, Tallahassee FL 32399-4120. The deadline to file for this emergency program is May 8, 2020. Information about the program and where to get application assistance, can be found at www.FloridaSBDC.org.  If you have questions regarding the loan program, please contact DEO toll-free at 833-832-4494 or email FloridaBusinessLoanFund@deo.myflorida.com.  If your small business has been impacted, consider applying for a low-interest disaster loan from the Small Business Administration here. To locate your local satellite office, click here. Additionally, Congress will be voting this week on a multitrillion-dollar package to stimulate the economy and provide further financial support to America's small businesses. Unemployment If you lost your job because of the coronavirus pandemic, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. On March 24, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity issued an emergency order waiving certain requirements for unemployment insurance through May 2, 2020. Applicants no longer need to register online or show they are searching for work. The best way to find out if you are eligible is to apply. If you want help determining your eligibility or completing your application, please contact your nearest One-Stop Career Center Location. Keep in mind that the date your application is finished determines when you will begin receiving benefits. Claims always begin with the Sunday prior to the completion of the application. All claims in Florida must be completed online. The process should take approximately 30-60 minutes to complete, and must be completed within 72 hours of beginning, or you will have to restart the process. For more information on what you will need to provide to submit a claim and how claims are processed, click here. To file your claim, click here. There is more help on the way. The stimulus package Congress is voting on in the coming days includes provisions to expand the amount of unemployment benefits available to every American whose employment status has been affected by the pandemic. Staying Safe If you are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, you should contact your doctor immediately. If you do not have a primary care physician, you should contact the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade at 305-470-5660 or 305-324-2400. Be sure to call ahead so your health care provider can take steps to reduce your risk of infecting others. Finally, I want to again stress the importance of social distancing during this crisis. Many people—particularly young people—do not exhibit symptoms of coronavirus but can still spread the virus, and this is one of the reasons community spread has increased so dramatically over the past week. I urge everyone to be responsible and limit physical interactions in order to flatten the curve and help us all stay safe. Sincerely, Donna