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Orange Co. update on COVID numbers, wastewater monitoring; hosting free legal forum on eviction and tenants' rights

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From the Orange County Newsroom

As of Sunday, August 29, 2021, the Florida Department of Health is reporting that Orange County’s 14-day COVID-19 rolling positivity rate is 17.86 percent. Additional County statistics include:

CDC level of community transmission: HIGH

Eligible residents (12+) who have one vaccine dose: 66.81 percent

Total positive cases for Orange County residents: 206,686

Total deaths in Orange County: 1,533

FREE LEGAL FORUM ON EVICTIONS

The Orange County Clerk of Courts will host an upcoming Legal Matters Forum on post-moratorium evictions on Thursday, September 9, 2021.

The free event will provide the public with valuable resources and insight on the evictions process, as well as inform them of their rights in the event of an eviction. Speakers from the Clerk’s Office, Orange County Government, Legal Aid Society, Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Judiciary will present and be available to answer questions during the event.

Legal Matters Forum: Post-moratorium Evictions

Thursday, September 9, 2021

6-8 p.m.

For more information or to register for the event, visit myorangeclerk.com.

Additionally, residents who are seeking legal advice regarding evictions may contact the following Orange County Government partners:

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida

Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE

Following the most recent announcement regarding federal eviction moratoriums, Orange County residents are urged to apply for the County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program if they are behind in rent payments due to the pandemic.

The program may be able to help eligible residents pay 12 months of past due rent and 1 month of future rent, up to a total of $20,000. To date, more than $7.5 million have been distributed to keep 1,356 families in their homes – and Orange County has more to provide.

Eligible residents include those living in unincorporated Orange County, Apopka, Bay Lake, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood, Lake Buena Vista, Maitland, Oakland, Ocoee, Windermere, Winter Garden and Winter Park. The program is not available for those living within the direct city limits of the City of Orlando, which has its own program for its residents.

Residents can visit ocfl.net/RentalAssistance to review program details and to check if their address is eligible.

COVID-19 WASTEWATER MONITORING

Orange County Government’s Utilities Department continues its participation in the National Wastewater Surveillance System. The program monitors wastewater from water reclamation facilities to analyze the concentration and spread of the coronavirus. Below is information from last week:

Northwest Water Reclamation Facility - Apopka

Concentrations have increased from 154,243 in June to 1,611,681 on August 25

945 percent increase over the number of viral remnants in June**

South Water Reclamation Facility

Concentrations have increased from 149,113 in May to 1,088,540 on August 25

630 percent increase over the number of viral remnants in May

East Water Reclamation Facility

Concentrations have increased from 267,916 in May to 2,342,916 on August 25

774 percent increase over the number of viral remnants in May

**The Apopka Voice reached out to the Orange County Utilities Department on August 13, 2021, and spoke with Sarah Lux, the Public Information Officer regarding COVID-19 in the wastewater. Specifically we asked if a person could get COVID-19 via the reclaimed water, and she answered "No - no virus remains in the water after it is treated." She went on to explain that even the raw wastewater only has "dead, non-viable fragments" of COVID-19, which, even in the raw form would not transmit the virus to people. She explained that the raw wastewater is then "heavily treated" and is "extremely clean", so not even the dead, non-viable fragments are in the water by the time it gets to a property to be used as reclaimed water for irrigation.

PARKS AND RECREATION AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Orange County Government’s Parks and Recreation Division continues to ensure the safety of its students and staff participating in County-operated After School Programs.

Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in our community, facemasks are now required for children who take part in After School Program while indoors. Facemasks will be provided to students who do not have one. Children playing outside will not be required to wear a facemask.

Social distancing, sanitation, and frequent hand washing procedures will continue at all program sites. This new requirement is consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

COVID-19 TESTING CONTINUES

Residents who are interested in receiving a COVID-19 test are recommended to arrive early to Orange County’s free drive-thru testing sites. It is important to know that testing sites may close early due to reaching its daily capacity or severe weather.

Apopka Location

Former site of Clarcona Elementary School - 3607 Damon Rd, Apopka, FL 32703; Open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached; No walk-ups, only four (4) persons per vehicle

Other Locations

Barnett Park - 4801 W Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808; Open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached; No walk-ups, only four (4) persons per vehicle

Econ Soccer Complex - 8035 Yates Road, Orlando, FL 32807; Open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached; No walk-ups, only four (4) persons per vehicle

For additional COVID-19 testing locations, please visit ocfl.net/Testing.

ORANGE COUNTY VACCINATION OPPORTUNITIES IN APOPKA

In an effort to exhaust all measures to combat the COVID-19 virus and protect the residents of Orange County, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County used Federal CARES Act dollars to purchase a 24-foot long mobile trailer to ensure it had a versatile tool to reach and vaccinate homebound and hard-to-reach residents in Orange County.

A total of five staff members, made up of nurses, EMTs and clerks, operate the mobile vaccination trailer. This mission can vaccinate more than 300 Central Florida residents a day.

Tuesday, August 31 - Kelly Park

400 E. Kelly Park Rd, Apopka, FL 32712

9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, September 2 - Hope CommUnity Center

1016 N. Park Avenue, Apopka, FL 32712

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Orange County Health Services continues to administer free drive-thru COVID-19 vaccinations at Camping World Stadium. Both Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are available at the site — first and second dose only. Third-dose booster shots are not available at this time. Camping World Stadium also provides Monoclonal Antibody therapy treatments.

Camping World Stadium

1 Citrus Bowl Place, Orlando, FL 32805

Open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached

No appointments needed, only four (4) persons per vehicle

Additionally, the full schedule for the #IGotMyShot Mobile Vaccination Trailer is now available for Monday, August 30 through Sunday, September 5 at ocfl.net/IGotMyShot.

For additional COVID-19 vaccine locations, please visit ocfl.net/VaccineSites.

After School Program, COVID-19, Evictions, Florida Department of Health, Legal Forum, Masks, Orange County Government, Rental Assistance, Rolling Positivity Rate, Vaccinations

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