Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and local officials to provide an update on efforts to ensure a coordinated response to suppress the spread of COVID-19 within the community.
“Each day, and seemingly every hour, we’re making difficult decisions as a city government that we are not taking lightly,” said Mayor Dyer. “Every decision that impacts our residents and businesses is being made in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Permitting Services Customer Care Center
Some updates to city operations include:
- Essential city services will be managed and delivered remotely, starting Thursday, March 19. At the current time, residents will not experience any gaps in the services they receive from the city.
- City Hall remains open for business, however, effective immediately; all City Hall visitors/guests will be required to enter through the first floor rotunda.
- Residents are encouraged to request services from the city by phone and online as often as possible. More than 290 services can be requested at Orlando.gov.
- The Permitting Services Customer Care Center, located on the first floor of City Hall, remains open to the public for Drop and Go application submittals. Effective immediately and in an effort to prevent customers from waiting at City Hall, same-day permits will not be issued on-site.
- The Hispanic Office for Local Assistance (HOLA) will be offering services virtually.
- Discover Downtown is closed until further notice.
updated response protocols
The Orlando Fire Department has updated response protocols related to a respiratory illness and will ask for patients to meet paramedics outside of their location if they are able to do so without compromising their medical condition.
In response to questions from local businesses about the Governor’s March 17 Executive Order, Mayor Dyer also provided additional clarification for businesses related to operations within the city during this time.
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
Mayor Dyer again encouraged residents and businesses that are already experiencing financial strain during this unprecedented time to consider the following resources:
- Heart of Florida United Way - connects residents to financial assistance programs and yesterday announced the new ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Fund which provides assistance with rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to help prevent eviction and homelessness.
- Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) - DEO has asked business owners to take a survey to assess the impact of the virus on business operations and has also activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The program will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experience economic injury from COVID-19.
ever-evolving situation
“COVID-19 is already one of the greatest challenges that our community has ever faced and while everyday, every hour, every minute things keep changing, there is one thing that remains the same, we must stop the spread,” Dyer concluded.
The City of Orlando continues to monitor this ever-evolving situation and will continue to update the City’s website dedicated to the city’s response to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
