9/16/20 @ 9:25 a.m. - The Health Department will host free drive-through COVID-19 testing tomorrow, Thursday, September 17, 2020, from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the Journey Church in Fernandina Beach.

100 tests will be available for children and adults ages 5 and up. Must have photo ID.

See flyer for more details or contact the Health Department at (904) 875-6100.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/10/20 @ 3:20 p.m. - The Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Emergency Management have collaborated efforts to bring a COVID-19 testing bus to Nassau County this Saturday, September 12th. The bus will be located at the 8 Flags Shopping Center on South 14th Street in Fernandina Beach from 12:00-5:00 p.m.

Testing will be on a first come, first served basis and is open to both children and adults. You do not have to have symptoms to be tested at this event. Please bring some form of photo identification.

Individuals without transportation can use the Island Hopper by visiting one of the bus stops at the designated time shown in this attachment.

If you have any questions, please contact the Nassau County Department of Health at (904) 875-6100.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/8/20 @ 5:30 p.m. - The Nassau County Department of Health has issued the attached Press Release in observance of National Suicide Prevention Month. The release includes information on suicide rates throughout the United States, risk factors and warning signs. It also includes a list of resources for suicide prevention.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/3/20 @ 4:10 p.m.

Children and teens often react based on what they see from the adults in their lives. As parents and caregivers, it's important that we deal with issues calmly as to not generate any additional stress on them.

The Nassau County Health Department has provided this flyer containing tips on helping youth cope with the COVID-19 pandemic:

• - Be a role model
• - Reassure them that they are safe
• - Try to keep up with regular routines
• - Let them know its okay if they are upset
• - Provide accurate and honest information
• - Limit your family's exposure to news

Since not all children will respond to stressful situations in the same way, the Center for Disease Control says to watch out for the following changes:

• Excessive crying or irritation in young children
• Returning to behaviors previously outgrown (ex. bedwetting,toileting accidents, etc.)
• Excessive worry or sadness
• Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
• Irritability and "acting out" in teen years
• Poor school performance or avoidance of school
• Difficulty concentrating
• Avoidance of activities they previously enjoyed
• Unexplained headaches or body pain
• Use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs

If you notice any of the signs, please seek help right away. Visit your primary care physician for a referral to a mental health counselor if necessary. You can also contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/1/20 @ 6:30 p.m. - An update on the Center for Disease Control's website for August 14, 2020, indicated that, "U.S. adults reported considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions associated with COVID-19. Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance abuse and elevated suicidal thoughts". 

The CDC is encouraging increased intervention and prevention efforts to address mental health conditions of all kinds, including those associated with the pandemic. As a result, the Nassau County Department of Health has developed new communication strategies to raise awareness. Efforts include this flyer containing warning signs of suicide.

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these feelings or thoughts, please seek help immediately. Everyone's life is important!

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline representatives are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, and can provide you with options to cope with feelings and situations that are overwhelming you. Call 1-800-273-8255 or visit their website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/1/20 @ 11:15 a.m. -The Nassau County Department of Health has issued a Press Release encouraging the community to practice universal precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 this holiday weekend.

Safer Celebration During COVID-19 for Labor Day

Contact: Michael Godwin
Michael_Godwin@flhealth.gov
(904) 875-6100

Yulee, Fla - As we near the Labor Day holiday, the Florida Department of Health in Nassau County encourages the community to practice universal precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The COVID-19 virus spreads when people are close and talking, coughing or sneezing. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. “Individuals infected with COVID-19 may show mild or no symptoms but are still able to spread the infection, stated Dr. Eugenia Ngo-Seidel, Health Department Director, “so when gatherings are planned, it is important to remember how to prevent spreading COVID-19 unknowingly to friends and family.”

DOH reminds all Nassau residents to protect the vulnerable by avoiding the Three Cs: Closed Spaces, Crowded Places and Close-Contact Settings and by wearing a mask in public:

• Closed Spaces. Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation that could allow contagious droplets to linger in the air.
• Crowded Places. Avoid crowded places with many people nearby; the greater the number of individuals in an area, the greater the chances of COVID-19 spreading from person-to-person.
• Close-Contact Settings. Avoid close-range conversations and stay at least six-feet from others.

This Labor Day weekend, residents are encouraged to celebrate outdoors or in larger indoor spaces and to wear a mask if they cannot physically distance from others when they gather together with those outside their household.

Everyone plays a part in lowering the impact within our communities, homes, workplaces and gathering spaces.

Taking every day preventative actions helps to impede the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. Preventative actions include:

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying home when you are sick. This message cannot be emphasized enough.
• Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F or greater
• using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.

For additional information, visit the Florida Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage at www.FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

8/28/20 @ 5:15 p.m. - The Nassau County Department of Health provided the below information to address concerns that more than 40% of today's new COVID-19 cases are associated with clusters in congregated living settings.

What FDOH Nassau CHD is doing to investigate and mitigate spread in congregate settings:
 

• DOH-Nassau has been working with all local county congregate living facilities to provide infection control guidance, education on appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing assistance, and support in caring for their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• DOH-Nassau recommends that during a local COVID-19 outbreak, long-term care facilities and other congregate living facilities take proactive steps to prevent introduction of this illness into the facility, including restricting visitors and limiting contact between staff and residents.
• DOH–Nassau will continue this support role for facilities with cases of COVID-19 using guidance from the CDC for Shared or Congregate Housing https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/shared-congregate-house/guidance-shared-congregate-housing.html

 
Current status: Information on number of cases in Long Term Care Facilities is available on the FDOH COVID19 website (https://floridahealthcovid19.gov)
 
As a reminder, we remain under a State Declaration of Public Health emergency and all Nassau residents and visitors should follow guidance from FDOH and CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html on how to limit spreading infection, especially to most vulnerable.
 
DOH reminds all Nassau residents to protect the vulnerable by avoiding the Three Cs: Closed Spaces, Crowded Places and Close-Contact Settings and by wearing a mask in public:

• Closed Spaces. Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation that could allow contagious droplets to linger in the air.
• Crowded Places. Avoid crowded places with many people nearby; the greater the number of individuals in an area, the greater the chances of COVID-19 spreading from person-to-person.
• Close-Contact Settings. Avoid close-range conversations and stay at least six-feet from others.

 
Everyone plays a part in lowering the impact within our communities, homes, workplaces and gathering spaces.
 
Taking every day preventative actions helps to impede the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. Preventative actions include:

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying home when you are sick. This message cannot be emphasized enough.
• Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.

 
 
Thank you,
 

8/26/20 @ 4:45 p.m. - At today's special meeting, Health Director, Dr. Eugenia Seidel, provided an update on COVID-19 which included case counts, current hospitalizations and COVID related deaths. She indicated that the positivity rate in Nassau County is declining and she attributed it to all mitigation factors taking place including physical distancing, hand sanitizing, and wearing masks. She is urging residents to continue use of masks in close settings where social distancing isn't possible. 

The Board discussed the current Executive Order mandating masks at indoor business establishments which was set to expire today. After some discussion, it was determined that the Board would extend the mask mandate an additional 30 days. As a result, the Board approved Executive Order No. 22, extending the mandate through September 25, 2020.

Several Commissioners acknowledged that they have been contacted by residents on both sides of this issue. While it certainly wasn't an easy decision, they ultimately believe that the health and safety of residents is a priority. They also stated that they will be working with the Health Department and Emergency Management to establish criteria for lifting the mandate.

We encourage all residents to listen to this discussion and perhaps gain a better understanding on how they arrived at the decision to extend the mandate an additional 30 days. The meeting can be found here.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/26/20 @ 3:00 p.m. -The above photo depicts upcoming drive-through COVID-19 testing sites. These services are FREE to Nassau County residents with proof of residency.

If you have any questions, please contact the Nassau County Department of Health at (904) 875-6100.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/14/20 @ 11:15 a.m. - The Nassau County Department of Health will host FREE Back-to-School COVID-19 testing for students, ages 5-17, this Saturday, August 15th from 9:30-11:00 a.m.

This drive-through testing will be held in the Journey Church Parking Lot located at 95707 Amelia Concourse, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.

100 tests are available on a first come, first served basis. Youth or parent guardian ID required.

Please see flyer for additional information.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office