Check Caller ID to Avoid Contact Tracing Scams
The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) encourages everyone to avoid scams by checking caller ID for phone numbers from official COVID-19 contact tracers. The FDOH is asking Floridians to answer calls from the following three phone numbers: (833) 917-2880, (833) 443-5364 and (850) 583-2419. The Department’s team of contact tracers will discuss potential exposure to COVID-19 with you. For more details, visitfloridahealthcovid19.gov/prevention.
COVID-19 Plasma Donors Needed
According to the Broward County Medical Reserve Corps (BCMRC), there is a critical shortage of plasma in our community. If you tested positive for COVID-19, a small amount of your blood could save the life of someone suffering from the coronavirus right now. Donating plasma is safe and easy. Individuals interested in donating may visitbit.ly/2E1q1fT to register. Thank you for being a hero!
COVID-19 Testing Site at Mills Pond Park
The Florida Department of Health is operating a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Fort Lauderdale’s Mills Pond Park, located at 2201 NW 9 Avenue. The site offers free drive-thru testing Monday – Wednesday and Friday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The testing site is closed on Thursdays and Sundays. Testing is available to anyone with or without COVID-19 symptoms. There are no age requirements and no doctor referral is needed. Appointments are not required. Patients will receive test results via text messaging. For more information, contact the Florida Department of Health in Broward County at 954-412-7300 or visit bit.ly/ftlcovid19testing.
COVID-19 Testing at Holiday Park
Fort Lauderdale’s Holiday Park offers free drive-thru rapid COVID-19 antigen testing with same day results. Located at U.S. 1 and N.E. 8 Street (just south of Sunrise Boulevard), the Holiday Park testing site is open Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Rapid testing is available to individuals of any age with COVID-19 symptoms or individuals ages 5 to 17 or 65 and over without COVID-19 symptoms. Appointments and photo ID are required. To schedule an appointment, visit www.tourhealth.com and use the Gov2Go app or Gov2Go web platform. The site uses an on-premises lab to analyze tests with most results delivered via text or email within a two-hour timeframe. In addition to rapid testing, free drive-thru COVID-19 oral self-swab testing continues to be available at the Holiday Park site, Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., to anyone age 5 or older with or without COVID-19 symptoms. No doctor referral needed. Proper photo ID is required. To schedule an appointment for an oral self-swab COVID-19 test, visit florida.curativeinc.com/welcome. Patients who do not receive test results after 72 hours, may contact Curative, Inc. via email at support@curativeinc.com. Since its opening, more than 46,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted at the Holiday Park site.
LauderBriefs: Updates from the September 1 City Commission Meetings Now Online
In case you missed them, highlights from the Fort Lauderdale City Commission Joint Workshop with the Citizens’ Police Review Board, the City Commission Conference Meeting, Community Redevelopment Board Meeting, and Regular Meeting, all of which took place on Tuesday, September 1, are available online at bit.ly/lauderbriefs. The meeting videos are available at youtube.com/cityoffortlauderdale and the vote summary is available at bit.ly/ftlccagendas.
Next Virtual City Commission Meetings on September 15
The next virtual City Commission Meetings are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 15. The public will be able to listen to and view the virtual meetings on FLTV,YouTube, Zoom, Comcast Channel 78, and AT&T U-verse Channel 99. The agendas will be posted in the days leading up to the meetings at bit.ly/ftlccagendas. To learn more about virtual City Commission meetings, including how to sign up to speak, visitfortlauderdale.gov/vcmeetings.
Census Ends September 30! Take Action Now!
Attention Neighbors! The U.S. Census Bureau is ending all counting efforts for the 2020 census on September 30, a month earlier than previously announced. That means we all need to work together to take action today! Please help the City of Fort Lauderdale be accurately counted in the 2020 Census. Currently, Fort Lauderdale’s response rate is 54.3%, which is more than 10 percentage points behind the current national response rate of 65.1%, and more than 7 percentage points under the current state of Florida response rate of 61.7%. Counting every neighbor in our City gives us an opportunity to receive our fair share of more than $1.5 trillion in federal funding for infrastructure, schools, housing, roads, healthcare, and public service programs. An accurate census count also provides critical funding for hospitals, disaster recovery, and emergency readiness for pandemics like COVID-19. Please respond to the 2020 Census today! Fill out and mail back the questionnaire sent to your home; complete the census form onlinewww.my2020census.gov; or take the census over the phone by calling 1-844-330-2020.
September is Broward Attractions and Museums Month
Broward Attractions and Museums Month (#BAMM) runs through September 30. Visitors just need to mention “BAMM” or inquire about the offer, to purchase one regular price admission and get a second admission of equal or lesser value for free at these 12 participating museums and attractions: Art and Culture Center/Hollywood; Bonnet House Museums & Gardens; Butterfly World; Flamingo Gardens; History Fort Lauderdale; International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum; Jungle Queen Riverboats (Noon and 2:30 p.m. 90-minute cruises only); NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale; Old Davie School Historical Museum; Sawgrass Recreation Park; Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts; Xtreme Action Park (XD Dark Ride Theater only). In addition, Stonewall National Museum & Archives and the World AIDS Museum are offering free admission. Participating organizations may have additional restrictions or blackout dates that apply, as well as additional discounted offers available. Visitors should check each attraction’s website or call for details and hours of operation before visiting.
FLIFF’s Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale to Reopen on September 4
The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) announces the reopening of Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, September 4 with screenings of the films Tesla andOut Stealing Horses. For showtimes and tickets, visit www.fliff.com. Savor Cinema will adhere to strict operating guidelines to protect public health and safety that include, but are not limited to, restricting attendance to 30% of capacity, blocking off seats and rows to maintain social distancing, and requiring mandatory facial coverings. Infrared thermometers will take the temperature of each audience member and staffer before entering the building, touchless hand sanitizing stations have been installed in both lobbies, plexi-shields have been erected at both the concession and box office areas, and electrostatic sprayers will be used for frequent sanitizing of all areas. For more details, visit www.fliff.com.
For Additional Information
For additional information regarding Coronavirus, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended protective measures, please visit:
Ways to Stay in Touch
The City of Fort Lauderdale offers numerous ways for neighbors to receive important information and updates:
· If you live in Fort Lauderdale, join Nextdoor
· Contact our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000
