An Open Letter from Mayor Keith A. James
March 23, 2020
Dear resident or business owner:
Your City government is focused on the safety and well-being of West Palm Beach residents, businesses, and employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic presents a significant health and economic threat to our community. COVID-19 knows no boundaries, whether by geography, race or socio-economic status. We are in this together, and are working collaboratively with National, State and County leaders to provide a coordinated response and plan.
HEALTH SERVICES
COVID-19 is expected to spread, and the number of COVID-19 cases is expected to rise. Therefore, we continue to encourage everyone to practice social distancing by avoiding crowds, staying indoors and limiting travel for essential needs only. It’s important for everyone to follow this.
Our Emergency Operations management team is working with local healthcare providers and non-profits to ensure the city is prepared and ready. If you are sick, please call your doctor or medical provider before going to the hospital. To protect our police and fire personnel, please be honest in your response to questions about COVID-19 symptoms.
IMPORTANT UPDATES
- To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, our parks remain open but are now closed to any recreational activities. Closures include basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, dog parks, and playgrounds.
CITY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
A State of Emergency remains in effect for our City. Our Emergency Operations Center remains activated at Level 2. We are operating within the emergency-response framework set forth by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
DOING BUSINESS IN WEST PALM BEACH
We are coordinating efforts with our Chamber of Commerce, merchants associations, and local business leaders to minimize the impacts that COVID-19 will have on local businesses and employees.
Last week, Governor DeSantis issued an executive order closing all Palm Beach County beaches, movie theatres, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys, arcades, gyms, and fitness studios. Also, any restaurants, bars, taverns, pubs, night clubs, banquet halls, cocktail lounges, cabarets, breweries, cafeterias and any other alcohol and/or food service businesses with seating for 10 or more are closed. These closures are in effect through March 31st. These establishments can remain open for takeout, pickup or delivery service. Businesses not outlined in the Governor’s executive order can remain open, and that decision should be made by each individual business owner.
My administration is developing short-term and long-term strategies to support our local business community. We immediately developed pick-up zones for restaurants. We are also connecting businesses to information about federal loans and financial assistance. We are working with our local banks on financial assistance to local businesses. We are also developing a marketing campaign to promote West Palm Beach businesses during and after COVID-19. More information will be made available once these efforts are completed.
The City is implementing extra security measures with our police department to protect local businesses and residents. Looting will not be tolerated.
RESIDENTIAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES
We are working with our Emergency Operations Management Team on ensuring our City’s most vulnerable are protected. Coordinated efforts are in place to check on nursing and senior facilities. Food distribution options for the elderly are being put in place with assistance from the private sector.
During this time, it is important that we continue to be good neighbors with each other. Check on your neighbors, support local businesses where you can, and if you are sick, please contact your doctor or medical provider first.
FOOD AND GROCERY UPDATES
- Publix Stores and Pharmacies will be open early from 7 am – 8 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for customers 65+ to shop ahead of the crowds.
- Whole Foods will open at 7 am daily for customers 60+.
- Target will allow for the first hour of shopping on Wednesdays only for the most vulnerable customers – 65+, pregnant women and CDC-defined vulnerable or at-risk.
- Walmart, beginning on Tuesday, March 24th and for each Tuesday after through April 28, will open one hour early for customers 60+.
- Please check with your local grocery to confirm these details.
As information and recommendations change, we will keep you updated. Please stay informed by visiting https://www.wpb.org/, following us on social media, or subscribing to the Insider Newsletter.
West Palm Beach is working to make sure our city is prepared, coordinating efforts with other governmental organizations, and making the safety of our community a top priority.
Yours in Service,
Keith A. James, Mayor
