Mandate Will Close Non-Essential Businesses for Safety of Citizens
 

The City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division has been closely monitoring updates related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The health and safety of Jacksonville citizens is of our utmost concern. We want to ensure that residents have the latest information regarding the virus and its current impacts.

During a virtual news conference on Monday, March 30, Mayor Lenny Curry announced that he signed an executive order prohibiting all hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments from accepting or extending reservations for any person other than essential lodgers. The mandate will take effect Tuesday, March 31, at 5 p.m.

This serves as a notification for scheduled road closures of the Hart Bridge elevated Expressway Ramps. These changes are necessary to allow for the removal of the elevated Expressway ramps from A. Phillip Randolph Blvd eastward to the Hart Bridge connection; reconstruction of Gator Bowl Blvd from Hogan’s Creek eastward to Talleyrand Ave and construction of the new connections to the remaining elevated Expressway Ramp with new bridge spans over A. Phillip Randolph Blvd and new bridge connection to the Hart Bridge Expressway. 

The federally-sponsored drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at TIAA Bank Field in parking lot J will no longer require patients to have an on-site temperature of 99.6 degrees or higher, effective Saturday, March 28. This follows the recent expansion of testing criteria to include patients of all ages. Patients must still either exhibit respiratory symptoms, or be a first responder or healthcare worker who has direct contact with patients.

The federally-sponsored drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at TIAA Bank Field in parking lot J will expand testing criteria, effective immediately. All ages will now be accepted, although patients must still meet certain guidelines.

The free federally-sponsored drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will open Saturday, March 21, at TIAA Bank Field in parking lot J. The site will operate seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for as long as supplies last. While a doctor’s order and appointment are not required at this location, clients will be evaluated by a medical professional on-site. Patients who do not meet the criteria will not receive a test and will be sent home. Test results should be received within three to seven days.

During a meeting with the Jacksonville City Council Monday, March 16, Mayor Lenny Curry declared that he is limiting crowd capacity of recreational and social gatherings and establishments to 50 people.