COVID-19

*Number of cases indicates the cumulative total since the first case was diagnosed in Polk County. This number can only climb or remain steady and cannot decrease. For more information regarding statistics that affect our business community visit thefloridascorecard.org.

Routinely Updated Pages for latest information:

Form for Physicians to fill out for the COVID-19 Determination of Extreme Eligibility

Restaurant Revitalization Fund FAQ Updated 4-16-2021

Draft Restaurant Revitalization Fund Application - 4-16-2021

Winter Haven Mask Ordinance
The City of Winter Haven on July 13 passed a mask ordinance requiring masks in indoor spaces within the City limits (with execeptions). This ordinance has been extended through October 15, 2020. To read the ordinance, click the link below.

City of Winter Haven Emergency Ordinance for Face Coverings

Business Mask Signage:

Masks are now required indoors in the City limits (with some exceptions). If you are a business and need some quick signage to print and put up, we've made some for you. The City is asking businesses to post signage. You can make it yourself as well. Check out a few easy options here -> (Updated September 15, 2020)

Download Masks Required Color Signage Here

Download Masks Required Black & White Signage Here

Download Color Restaurant Signage Here

Download Black and White Restaurant Signage Here

Download Masks Required Detailed COLOR Signage Here

Download Masks Required Detailed Black and White Signage Here

Polk CARES 2020 Program:
This program is currently closed.

Polk CARES 2020 Information
Polk CARES 2020 Business Relief Grant Program: For Small Businesses, here are the FAQ’s in full
Polk CARES 2020 Households/Individuals: For Individuals/Households, here are the FAQ’s in full

Winter Haven & Polk County Resources:

Winter Haven Chamber Resources:

Visit the community Facebook page, Supporting Small Business Winter Haven
Flyer for your employees to help them during furlough or layoff
Job Opportunities through the COVID-19 Crisis

Community Resources:

Employee & Reemployment Assistance Resources:

Florida's Reemployment Assistance Program
- Click here for PUA Application Process.
- Click here for PUA Frequently Asked Questions.
- Click here for COVID-19 Employment Scenarios.

Applicants should utilize the following criteria when applying for PUA:

Individuals who applied for the state’s Reemployment Assistance benefits on or after April 5, 2020, and were deemed ineligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits will receive additional application information from the Department. They can also visit www.FloridaJobs.org/cares-act for more information regarding these programs.

Pursuant to the requirements of the CARES Act, 20 C.F.R. 625.4, and section 443.036, F.S., those who are self-employed, contract employees, gig workers, or others who applied for the state’s Reemployment Assistance benefits on or before April 4, 2020, should apply at www.FloridaJobs.org and select “File a Claim” to request PUA.

Helpful Resources and Links:

CareerSource Polk Operation Recovery 2020
File Size:	490 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

COVID-19 Best Practices Guide for Businesses

Businesses should be ready to implement strategies to protect their workforce from coronavirus while ensuring continuity of operations. Please visit the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for more on best practices and recommended strategies.

Implement Recommended Strategies for Employee Health and SafetyAny sick employees should stay home and away from the workplace, respiratory etiquette and hand washing should be encouraged, and routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces should be performed regularly.

Establish a Cross-Functional Team to Manage Preparation and ResponseWhen faced with an event that has potential to significantly impact your business and its people, forming a team to manage your assessment, preparation, communication, and response is an important best practice. The earlier this team is in place, the better organized your response will be to limit impact on the business and your people.

Risk Assessment and Possible ScenariosUse your team to conduct a risk assessment and implement measures that balance the health and safety of employees with business continuity. Have your team brainstorm solutions to possible scenarios and considerations:

What if schools are closed in your community? Will you provide childcare? Are all your employees equipped to do their job remotely?
What is your business continuity plan and have you tested it? Can your business continue to operate efficiently if all your employees had to work remotely?
What are guidelines for assessing the threat level to your business? What steps will you take as the threat increases? This team will prepare and have response plans in place should the threat level increase.
How does this impact your supply chain? While your community may not be impacted, have you mapped your supply chain to determine sourcing of ingredients, parts or equipment to assess potential risk and how that will impact productivity of the business?
Do you need to implement travel restrictions and who is monitoring the changing state of play there?
What FAQs do your employees need to be equipped to answer? For example, if you make a product in China, are your employees able to confidently answer when a customer asks if it has been exposed and if they are in danger of getting sick upon receipt of the product?
What is your response when employees ask if your major corporate meeting is still on for May? What if they ask about limiting domestic travel?
Are you legally allowed to take an employee’s temperature?

Assign Team Members to Implement Strategy Determine the strategies that best support your business and assign team members to implement them. Possible actions include:

Establish an ongoing process to communicate health and safety measures to all employees, through email and other digital media, staff meetings, hanging posters, water-cooler conversations, etc.
Communicate and continue to communicate with customers, vendors, business partners, etc. know what measures you are taking to address coronavirus.
Assess the risk of business travel and follow recommendations for safe business travel.
Assess your essential functions and determine what is needed to maintain critical operations.
Explore flexible and/or remote work if needed.

Revisit or Create Planning and Response DocumentsUse the current coronavirus situation as an opportunity to develop or revisit existing plans and procedures, including your:

Business Continuity Plan
Emergency Response Plan
Outbreak Response / Pandemic Plan
Event Cancellation Policy
Sick Leave, Business Travel, and Remote Work Policies and Procedures

Stay Engaged, Up-To-Date, and Flexible

Continue to monitor news provided by official channels, including the CDC, WHO, local and state governments and health departments.
Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.
Maintain regular communication with employees and business partners as the situation changes and develops.
Continue to use your cross-functional team to adjust to the changing needs of your business to maintain successful operations.
Share best practices with other businesses in the community (especially those within the supply chain), chambers of commerce, and associations to improve community response efforts.

COVID-19 Resources

Business Mask Signage:

​COVID-19 Best Practices Guide for Businesses

COVID-19 Best Practices Guide for Businesses