Please complete the form found here if you need assistance of any kind or if you can offer assistance to members of the community.
The COVID Racial Data Tracker is a collaboration between the COVID Tracking Project and the Antiracist Research & Policy Center. Together, we're gathering the most complete race and ethnicity data on COVID-19 in the United States.
Thanks to the Gulf Coast Community Foundation for their generous support of WSLR’s COVID-19 coverage.
The National Conference of State Legislatures brings you up-to-date, real-time information about bills related to and responding to COVID-19 that have been introduced in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The governor said Florida would reopen in three phases in-line with the guidelines released by the White House under President Trump’s reopening America plan. Read the Governor’s Executive Order here.
We are currently in Phase 3, the final phase of reopening. Here's what that means:
***Please click here for Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) new COVID-19 Case Dashboard***
Sign up for a free daily coronavirus briefing from the New York Times here.
Avi Schiffmann's website tracking coronavirus has become one of the most vital resources for people seeking accurate and updated numbers on the pandemic. He's a 17-year-old high school junior from Mercer Island outside Seattle, who started the site in late December, when coronavirus had not yet been detected outside of China. Now the site has been visited by tens of millions, from every country on Earth. It tracks deaths, numbers of cases locally and globally, and provides an interactive map, information on the disease, and a Twitter feed. The resource updates every minute or so, and pulls information from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and elsewhere.
A Sarasota-specific call center for questions and concerns about COVID-19 is now available through the Department of Health in Sarasota County
941-861-2873. Subject matter experts are available Monday – Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
Monday, Dec. 14 was a historic moment in the fight against COVID-19, as the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine were delivered across the country in a mass vaccination campaign.
Thousands of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shots also began arriving in Florida Tuesday, Dec. 22.
Governor Ron DeSantis outlined a general strategy that puts frontline healthcare workers and residents at long-term care facilities first in line in the state.
After frontline workers and assisted living centers, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel recommended the next priority vaccination group include people 75 and older and essential workers like firefighters, teachers and grocery store workers.
Gov. Ron DeSantis disagreed with that recommendation citing the virus mortality rate in those between 65 and 75 years old.
Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines - CDC
COVID-19 Vaccines in Florida - FL DOH
Below are two podcasted stories that outline Florida's distribution plan and explain the science and speedy approval of the vaccines.
NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
Test will take place 7 days per week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, or until capacity is reached.
Click here for information about the type of testing available at this location.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management is operating a walk-up COVID-19 test center at Lincoln Park.
The site will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until they reach the max. of 500 test kits/day).
Keep up with the spread of COVID-19 in the US and around the world: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
COVID 19 RESOURCES -- NEW as of 12/23/20
Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines - CDC
COVID-19 Vaccines in Florida - FL DOH
Information about Emerging Variant COVID-19 Strain - CDC
All Faiths Food Bank Food Distribution
The Food Bank of Manatee Food Distribution
PREVIOUS RESOURCES
Coronavirus Relief Fund Rental Assistance Program
United Way Suncoast Coronavirus Assistance Center
Paper Application Link to File for Unemployment in Florida
COVID-19 Resource Toolkit
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Provisions Related to Unemployment Compensation in the CARES Act
FAQ on the Bill's Rebates (Direct Cash Payments to Americans)
Explainer on How The Bill's Rebates Work in Terms of Social Security
Information for Small Businesses in the CARES Act
Small Business Relief Measures in the CARES Act
IRS Direct Cash Assistance Information
Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
Restaurant Workers Community Foundation
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
Food for Kids
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried activated a text line and call center to find free meals for kids during the school closures. Text FLKIDSMEALS to 211-211 to find the closest participating Summer BreakSpot location with meals available. Residents can also call 2-1-1 to speak with a live operator for additional information. https://summerbreakspot.freshfromflorida.com
Library Hoopla
Hoopla, Hooray! Sarasota County Libraries has temporarily increased all Hoopla checkouts to 10! Get instant access to all your favorite movies, shows, music, books and audiobooks!
https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/library-resources/library-app
The Critical Times team is committed to coming together in this time of stress and anxiety, as it is clear that one of the most important things we can do as a community is take care of each other. Across the country, and the world, we have seen what is possible when we come together to share resources, knowledge, and creativity. Our job is to keep our community informed of critical news developments, and that is what we will continue to do. Below are some community-centered resources, compiled by the Urbana-Champaign Indy Media Center.
Additional suggestions to stay connected and engaged can be found in Pandemic Preparation and Positive Steps to Take, which is also long, leading with a lot of COVID-19 info. Towards the bottom, look for this list, which will provide details under each heading:
What should I do if I have symptoms or have been exposed?
According to the Florida Department of Health, a person who is tested will have three specimens taken: oral, nasal, and saliva. The samples will be given to the county health department, who will then either ship or deliver them to the closest state laboratory. If a specimen is tested positive, it will be identified as ‘presumptive positive’ until the result is confirmed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more information on COVID-19 testing see CDC Tests for COVID-19.
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