FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 19, 2020
COVID-19 UPDATE #9:
PARK UPDATES; EXECUTIVE ORDER; UTILITIES INFORMATION; EDUCATION/SCHOOL MODIFICATIONS
En Español
DAVIE, Fla., - Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an unprecedented virus that is causing Town officials to continuously reassess plans and make modifications to protect the health and welfare of the residents, businesses, and visitors.
Town Parks and Open Spaces
Parks, open space and trails are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pine Island Park including Bamford Sports Complex is closed until further notice. Due to residents congregating at our recreational facilities, effective at 11:59 pm, March 19, 2020, the Town will be closing all playgrounds, basketball, tennis, volleyball and racquetball courts. This includes Peaceful Ridge Dog Park.
Emergency Order 20-01
Emergency Order 20-01 is effective as of March 18, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. which requires the closure of all entertainment facilities including dance halls, concert halls, movie theaters, banquet facilities, auditoriums, bowling alleys, video arcades, gymnasiums, fitness studios, and other similar type entertainment facilities, and businesses. This order shall not apply to gymnasiums or fitness centers which are:
- Amenities of hotels and which have a capacity for 10 persons or less,
- Are an amenity of residential building(s)
- Are interior to any fire or police stations, or
- Are located inside any single-occupant office building.
Davie Utilities
Residents who receive their utility bill from the Town of Davie are encouraged to pay online at www.davie-fl.gov/UtilitiesPaymentCenter. If you need to drop off payments in-person, please utilize the drop box located on the west side of Davie Town Hall, 6591 Orange Drive.
Florida Power & Light (FPL)
For customers experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19, FPL has made resources available to assist its customers. A good place to learn more about all the resources available is FPL.com/Help. For now, FPL is suspending disconnections at least through the end of March.
Florida Department of Education
- The Florida Department of Education announced significant changes to the state’s requirements, calendar and other educational expectations of all school districts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- All Florida schools, public and private, are closed until at least April 15, 2020.
- School districts should be prepared to extend their school year until June 30, 2020, to the extent it is feasible and necessary.
- All state testing, Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs), End-of-Course exams and other state-mandated examinations are canceled.
- Student graduation and promotion decisions will be based on local criteria.
- Eligibility for Florida Bright Futures scholarships shall be based on available data and results. Tests that were not available to be taken shall not be counted.
- The Commissioner of Education has been granted authority to adjust the minimum instructional requirement hours requirements for schools to accommodate closures.
- School and district grades will not be calculated for the 2019/2020 school year.
- School districts have been provided flexibility and given direction to collaborate with parents to determine the best manner and timeframe to provide Exceptional Student Education services, hold Individual Education Plan meetings, provide Bilingual/ESOL services and provide other student support services.
- School districts have been authorized to utilize certain federal grant and state categorical funds to procure digital devices and provide internet connectivity.
- School districts have been authorized to utilize certain federal grant and state categorical funds to provide telephone and internet-based mental health, social-emotional and other comprehensive wellness supports.
- School districts will receive their full allocation of funding for programs this fiscal year as if the school year had not been interrupted by COVID-19.
Shopping Hours for Seniors and Normal Operating Hours – Effective March 19, 2020:
- Publix: All stores will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. are designated for customers 65 and over.
- Winn-Dixie: All stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. - only seniors and high-risk customers can shop
- Walmart: All stores will be open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; every Tuesday, customers 60 and older can shop at the store from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
- Dollar General: The first hour of operations will be dedicated to senior shoppers. All stores will also close an hour earlier for employees to clean and restock shelves.
- Target: All stores will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The first hour of shopping each Wednesday is dedicated to vulnerable guests.
- Trader Joe’s: All stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Whole Foods: All Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. and Canada will service customers who are 60 and older one hour before opening to the general public, under the new adjusted hours posted on the store’s web page. (example: if a store’s new hours are 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., customers who are 60+ can shop starting at 8 a.m.).
For all prior information posted, please visit our website at www.davie-fl.gov/coronavirus.
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Media Contact:
Leona Henry, Intergovernmental Affairs Manager
Office: 954-797-1035
Sussette Rodriguez, Public Relations Assistant
Office: 954-797-1102