Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance

The North Central Florida Apartment Association is committed to keeping members informed about issues that may affect you, your businesses, and your residents.

Regarding the current outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) your primary sources of information should be the Centers for Disease Control, the Florida Department of Health, or your local health department.

The National Apartment Association (NAA) is offering general, precautionary guidance from officials, along with common-sense guidelines for our industry. Therefore, we encourage you to review the information provided by the NAA here and here (PDF).

Comprehensive Resource Page from NAA

External Quick Reference Links

Rent Assistance Resources

FL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHFL COVID-19 DASHBOARD (BY COUNTY)

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROLWORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 

NAA CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT (CARES ACT) HOUSING PROVISIONS COVERAGE

ALACHUA COUNTY SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS

Quick Reference Links

NCFAA Resident Resource Page

ALACHUA COUNTY AND FLORIDA'S REOPENING FAQS

Guidance for reopening your amenities

GOVERNOR'S COVID-19 RELATED EXECUTIVE ORDERS

FAA GUIDANCE EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-83

FAA GUIDANCE EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-71

FAA Update on Executive Order 20-112 (reopening Florida)

FAA'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT COVID-19 REOPENING POLICIES TRACKER

It is important to recognize that the North Central Florida Apartment Association, the Florida Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association, local affiliates, and individual members are not healthcare professionals or providers and these resources are provided only as general information. Please refer to the above-mentioned healthcare agencies for specific guidance.

If you are involved in a COVID-19 case with a resident, please email communications@naahq.org and include COVID-19 in the subject line.

https://www.naahq.org/sites/default/files/awareness_acknowledgement_letter.pdf

Resident Resource Page

The North Central Florida Apartment Association has set up a Resident Resource page to help residents navigate the COVID-19 health crisis. Please click on the link below to access this resource. 

NCFAA Resident Resource Page

Local Government Activity

It is important to note that the governor’s executive order (20-112) does not contain a preemption on local rules that restrict or close businesses and buildings. Therefore, local governments may establish additional rules or regulations that could impact apartment community amenity spaces. In an effort to help NCFAA members navigate the patchwork of regulations that are being enacted by local governments across the state, FAA has created a Local Government COVID-19 Reopening Policies Tracker spreadsheet for members. This spreadsheet will be updated as new local regulations are enacted.

Local Government COVID-19 Reopening Policies Tracker

Note: This list is not all encompassing and is expected to grow in the coming weeks. It will be updated as new information becomes available.

Alachua County

• Emergency Order 2020-13 Personal Protective Equipment (4/3)
• Most Recent Emergency Order 2020-12 Stay at Home (4/05)
• Emergency Order 2020-15: Personal Protective Equipment (4/07)
• Emergency Order: Use of Communications Media Technology (4/8)
• Emergency Order 2020-16: Citizen Comments During Commission Meetings (4/8)
• Amendment 2 to Emergency Order No. 2020-12 (4/15)
• Emergency Order: Lifting Burn Ban (4/20)
• Amendment to Emergency Order 2020-25 - Full Phase 1 (5/19)
• County Operations Open to the Public by Appointment Only (5/27)
• Plan to Re-open Vacation Rentals (5/27)
• Emergency Order 2020-28 - Tenth Extension of Local State of Emergency Declaration (6/1)

City of Gainesville

• COVID-19 Update Page
• City Emergency Directive No. 2020-02 (3/17)
• Most Recent Emergency Order 2020-12 Stay at Home (4/05)
• Amendment 2 to Emergency Order No. 2020-12 (4/15)

Baker County 

• Resolution 2020-08 Declaration of a Local State of Emergency (3/16)
• County Office Closures (3/25)

City of Macclenny

• City Update (4/2)

Bradford County

• Proclamation Declaring Local State of Emergency (3/24)
• Bradford County Sheriff’s Office COVID-19 Situation Report #12 (4/7)
• Extention of the Local State of Emergency (4/16)
• Guidelines for Safely Reopening County Offices (5/1)
• Emergency Order No. 2020-08 - Reopening Certian Offices (5/4)
• Emergency Order No. 2020-09 - Imposing Burn Ban (5/16)
• Safety Plan for Vacation Rental Operations (5/27)

City of Starke

• Declaration of a Local State of Emergency (3/17)
• Press Release (4/02)

Columbia County

• Resolution 2020R-07 Declaration of a Local State of Emergency (3/18)
• Emergency Order 2020EO-01 County Closures (3/23)

Lake City

• City Hall Changes (3/20)
• Safer at Home Order No. 2020-2146 (4/2) 

Dixie County 

• Emergency Declaration 2020-27 (3/19)
• Plan for Reopening Short-term rentals (5/18)

Gilchrist County

• COVID-19 Resource Page
• County Facility Closures (3/19)
• Fourth Extension of Local State of Emergency Declaration (4/17)

Lafayette County

• Sixth Extension of Local State of Emergency Declaration (4/23)

Levy County

• Levy County Situational Update (3/26)
• Emergency Order: Gatherings of More Than Ten People (3/31)
• Emergency Order: Closure of County Parks (3/31)
• Levy County Situational Update (4/6)
• Third Extension of Local State of Emergency (4/14)
• Vacation Rental Reopening Plan (5/15)

Marion County

• County Closures and Cancellations Update
• Administrative Order: Court Closures (3/24)
• Ordinance - Temporary Closure of Retail Establishments (3/26)
• Fifth Extension of Local State of Emergency Declaration (4/20)
• County ordinance 20-15; align re-openings with Governor's orders (4/24)
• State-approved county vacation rentals reopening plan (5/22)
• State of local emergency declaration extension (5/25)

City of Belleview

• City Facility Closures (3/24)
• Executive Order 20-03 - Covid-19 Closing Extensions (4/16)

City of Ocala

• City Resource Page

Suwannee County 

• Eighth Extension of Local State of Emergency Resolution (5/26)

City of Live Oak 

• Letter to the City 

Union County

• Eleventh Extension of Local State of Emergency Declaration (6/1)

City of Lake Butler

• City's Update Page
• Letter to the City (4/1)

Webinar

Coronavirus Outbreak: What Real Estate Managers Need to Know

NAA and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) hosted managers from both rental housing and commercial management for a live panel discussion on addressing the spread of COVID-19 and developing policies and procedures around the coronavirus.

VIEW THE WEBINAR RECORDING NOW

Resources for Teleworking

• Best Practices for Teleworking Amidst COVID-19

• Best Practices for Flex Scheduling

• Collaboration Tools for Working Remotely

• Communication Tools for Working Remotely

• Sample - Telework Agreement

Potential Questions from Residents/Media

Q: If someone in an apartment community is diagnosed with COVID-19, will other residents become infected? What are the real risks?

A: According to the CDC, “there is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity and other features associated with COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing.” We encourage you to visit the CDC website for up-to-date information and safety precaution tips and we will provide new information as it becomes available. 

Q: [In the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19] Did the building owner and property management team collaborate with CDC to disinfect an apartment and any other parts of the building? What was done to isolate the virus to the patient’s apartment? How was the patient’s apartment cleaned and sanitized? How did the building owner and manager address sanitizing the public spaces of the building that the patient may have come in contact with? Is my apartment safe? I live on the same floor as he did – am I in danger of contracting COVID-19?

A: We understand your concerns. Your questions are best handled by the local health officials and the CDC. We are cooperating fully with CDC/local public health guidance and are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all residents. We encourage you to visit the CDC website for updated information and safety precaution tips.