City of Miami Beach Update on COVID-19, 6/24

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 We continue to provide our residents and businesses with the latest updates from the City of Miami Beach during this pandemic. As the State of Florida has seen a steady increase in cases, we urge you to remember to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands regularly. Learn more about City of Miami Beach efforts below. OneBlood Donation OneBlood is working with the public and physicians to coordinate the delivery of potential lifesaving COVID-19 convalescent plasma to those in need. People who have recovered from coronavirus infection have developed antibodies to the virus that remain in the plasma portion of their blood.   Transfusing the plasma that contains the antibodies into a person still fighting the virus can provide a boost to the patient’s immune system and potentially help them recover. Click here to learn more and how you can donate today. Still Available! Application Form for City of Miami Beach Small Business Grant We are accepting applications for the city's grant aimed at Miami Beach small businesses affected by the pandemic. The program aims to avoid job losses and assist those small businesses affected by emergency orders and business closures by providing working capital to help retain jobs held by low-income residents. How to Apply To apply for the Miami Beach Small Business Grant, click here. Applications are being accepted now until Friday, June 26 at 5 p.m. Following screening for eligibility, applicants will be entered in either one of two lottery drawings: (1) businesses participating in the MB Standard program (2) businesses who are not participating in the program For more information about MB Standard, click here or visit MBbiz.com . Following expiration of the application window, award recipients will be randomly selected by lottery until program funding is depleted. If a business fails to meet eligibility requirements, the business will be disqualified from consideration. Safety for All Personal responsibility is of the utmost importance as we deal with COVID-19. The city urges everyone to do their part in stopping the spread of this deadly virus, including: Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol Social distancing with members outside of your household Wearing a face covering Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth Avoiding close contact with people who are sick Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipeTaking personal responsibility. If you are sick with a fever, cough or viral symptoms, please stay away from others, including the work environment and crowded area   There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, you can learn more about prevention and treatment by visiting the CDC website. Virtual Sustainachella We continue to bring Virtual Sustainachella to provide the community with the knowledge and tools necessary to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Thursday, June 25 4 PM - 5 PM Urban farming is the practice of growing food in an urban setting. Learn more about how urban farming promotes sustainability, the importance of proper nutrition, and how you can grow your own food. Click here to register now. Virtual Culture Don’t miss the digital premiere of the iconic Nine Sinatra Songs on Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. on the Miami City Ballet's Facebook page. Twyla Tharp’s ballroom inspired Nine Sinatra Songs is simply irresistible. Chill some bubbly, put on your favorite cocktail dress and escape into a romantic, glamorous world filled with the music of Ol’ Blue Eyes and intimate dances that sizzle, dazzle, and fill the heart with joy. Learn more about the other virtual happenings in Miami Beach in our weekly virtual culture guide. 2020 Primary Election Primary elections are just around the corner! Don't wait until August 18 to cast your vote. To protect your health and safety, you can vote by mail. If you prefer to vote in-person, you can go to one of the 23 early voting locations throughout Miami-Dade County. Remember, check your voting location before heading to the polls on Election Day! Be informed. Be involved. Be election ready. For more information on the three ways to vote, call 311 or visit: iamelectionready.org COVID-19 & Antibody Tests Available Both active virus COVID-19 and antibody tests are available at the Miami Beach Convention Center testing facility located on 17 Street and Convention Center Drive. The drive-through antibody testing is being conducted daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a capacity of 300 antibody tests per day. Results are typically provided within one hour. The active virus COVID-19 test is available as both drive-through or walk up daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a capacity of 750 of these tests. Testing is FREE and being offered to anyone 18 years or older, regardless of COVID-19 symptoms. A patient that has been tested is welcome to be retested at any time. Visit the testing tab on our dedicated Coronavirus webpage to learn more about homebound testing. Pediatric Mobile Clinic The University of Miami Pediatric Mobile Clinic is now offering FREE COVID-19 testing for children of all ages. Testing is done by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To to book an appointment, please call 305.243.2049. Virtual Specialty Summer Camp The Parks and Recreation Department is offering Virtual Specialty Camp programming for summer 2020! From coding, dance camp to fine arts, we have something for everyone. For detailed scheduling information, click here. To register, visit register.miamibeachparks.com Get Counted Did you know it is required of everyone to take the census? For the first time in Census history, you can now fill out the form online as well as by phone or mail. The Census provides essential data that will impact our community for the next 10 years. The data has a direct impact on your quality of life and your representation in all levels of government from guiding how federal funding is distributed for disaster response to various public services. Now more than ever it's important to get counted! So call up your friends and neighbors and ask them to visit my2020census.gov and make sure our community gets counted. Stay Informed To help keep you informed on the latest details of this ever evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the city has created a dedicated, city-related coronavirus webpage. We encourage you to continuously visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/coronavirus for the most up-to-date information, including important resources, impacts to city services and more. Our city hotline at 305.604.CITY (2489) is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can also email your questions to MBCovid@miamibeachfl.gov. We will also post updated messages via email, Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and via text message (text MBAlert to 888777).