Florence says preparations underway for COVID-19

Florence COVID-19 Preparations

FLORENCE – Mayor Steve Holt and EMA Director George Grabryan, along with City Department heads held a media conference this afternoon regarding the pending arrival of COVID-19, also known as the Novel Coronavirus.

Grabryan said that all departments within Florence have been working on plans for the most-certain arrival of the virus and said that City services will not be interrupted.

Mayor Holt said that the City would follow CDC guidelines that discourage gatherings of 50 or more people. City Schools and the University of North Alabama will be closed to classes, although city school children on food assistance programs will be provided for at about 5 locations around the city. Students at UNA who can’t get home because of lack of transportation to other countries will remain in their dorms, but social distancing protocols are in place.

Florence City Schools will be providing children the opportunity to receive meals Monday through Friday. Locations are setup to distribute grab-and-go breakfast and lunch for all Florence City Schools students and any child 18 or under. Children must be present to receive a meal. Meal distribution will begin on Wednesday, March 18th. Pick-up times will be from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• W.C. Handy School
• Weeden Elementary School
• Harlan Elementary School
• Florence Middle School
• Church of the Highlands at the Shoals Marriott Conference Center
• The Dream Center on Cloverdale Road

We asked what should a person do if they feel that they may have come in contact with a COVID-19 affected person, or if a person were to become ill and suspect the virus. Neither Grabryan or North Alabama Medical Center CEO, Russell Pigg would provide any direct guidance. They said to check with the person’s local doctor, or refer to the Center For Disease Control’s website for guidance.  Pigg did say to check on the North Alabama Medical Center website for more information.  Here is the Link: Centers For Disease Control

Sheffield’s Helen Keller Hospital, which is part of the Huntsville Hospital System, has an informative page on what to do regarding COVID-19. Here’s the LINK: Huntsville / Keller COVID-19 Information