County Council to meet weekly on county’s coronavirus response

Posted On: April 8, 2020

Ordinarily, the Volusia County Council goes into open session twice a month. However, council members decided on Tuesday that they want to meet weekly to stay on top of the rapidly changing developments in the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is April 21. But beginning next Tuesday, April 14, council members will add weekly meetings to their schedule to get more frequent coronavirus updates. The added sessions will be advertised as special meetings so that the council will be able to take action if necessary. The council’s decision came Tuesday during an approximately 90-minute discussion about the county’s COVID-19 response. Here’s a summary of the information that came out of the council’s update on Tuesday regarding the actions, activities and initiatives that county government has undertaken in response to the COVID-19 outbreak:

Public Protection

• Due to the recent modification to the beach closure to permit recreational/exercise activities, including swimming, the county resumed staffing of lifeguard towers on Tuesday.
• The county has several plans for dealing with the health emergency, including a response plan, a supply chain management plan, a continuity of operations plan for staffing and a pandemic plan that is being finalized.
• Employees both in the Corrections Division and at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center in DeLand are sewing masks for use by county employees to help keep them safe and on the job serving the public.
• Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services hasn’t experienced any increase in calls for service.
• Animal Services will temporarily discontinue all elective surgeries, such as spay/neuter, effective Thursday.

Logistics

• As of Tuesday, the county’s logistics center operating out of the exhibit hall in the Ocean Center had distributed the following quantities of supplies to local hospitals, health care facilities, nursing homes and first responders that have submitted orders through the state:

N95 Masks:                  7,375

Isolation Masks:           31,351

Face Shields:               4,588

Goggles:                      384

Gloves:                        17,000

Shoe Covers:               100

Coveralls:                     70

Emergency Operations Center

• The Citizens Information Center (CIC) was activated on April 2 and remains operational during the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The phone number to the CIC is 866-345-0345. The center is averaging approximately 60 calls per-day.

Community Services

• Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division is offering two programs that can provide financial assistance to families and individuals who have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus through loss of employment. For qualified individuals and families, up to $2,000 for past rent and utilities is available. The number to call to make a telephone appointment is 386-239-7757. For up to three months of rent, applications must be submitted electronically. The website address is: https://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/community-assistance/housing-and-grants-administration/covid-19-rental-assistance.stml
• As of Tuesday morning, the county had received 284 applications for assistance.
• The county has received preliminary notification that it will be receiving an additional $1.5 million in federal grant funds to assist qualified local families and individuals who have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus. The full details can be read here:

https://www.volusia.org/news/news-releases.stml?portalProcess_dd_0_1_1=showPublicEvent&calendar_entry_id=26609

• The county has provided $70,000 in grant funds to the Second Harvest Food Bank to assist with food needs. The funds are being shared among four community organizations.

Library Services

• Effective this Monday, April 13, library hours are being reduced. The full details can be read here:

https://www.volusia.org/news/news-releases.stml?portalProcess_dd_0_1_1=showPublicPosting&calendar_entry_id=26605

• After being returned by patrons, books and periodicals are being quarantined for 72 hours before they can be checked out again.

Parks, Recreation & Culture

• Approximately 450 signs have been erected at county parks and trails reinforcing social distancing and other CDC guidelines.

Community Information

• Community Information activated the Volusia-Flagler Public Information Network for coordination of messaging and sharing of resources.
• Community Information is administering the PIN web site, including daily updates.
• Community Information has disseminated more than 50 news releases related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Between March 9-April 5, social media posts generated by Community Information resulted in a reach of more than 317,000 and engagements in excess of 40,000.

Economic Development

• Economic development staff is conducting weekly conference calls with all of the city economic development representatives for information sharing.
• Economic development staff is making outreach to local businesses to offer assistance and to help connect businesses that need help with other businesses so that they can also assist each other.
• Volusia County Economic Development in conjunction with several local agencies are working together to launch a new web site called Volusia Business Resources, initially to serve as a clearinghouse for information related to COVD-19 business assistance resources.