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PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Due to ongoing repairs in the Palm Bay City Council Chambers resulting from a flood on January 4, 2021, the Regular Council Meeting 2021-01 on Thursday, January 7 was moved to the Tony Rosa Community Center. The change in venue prevented the City of Palm Bay from providing a live stream of the Council Meeting.
Developing story: A passenger jet carrying over 60 individuals crashed after taking off from Indonesia capital, Jakarata.
Four minutes after taking off amid heavy rain, the 26 year old plane lost more than 10,000 feet of altitude in less than 60 seconds according to Flightradar24.
VIERA, Florida – Brevard Public Schools (BPS) is committing to providing the option for COVID-19 related employee sick and family leave through June 30, 2021, even though the new pandemic relief bill passed by Congress last month no longer requires employers to offer this assistance.
The latest bill does not extend the sick or family leave mandates that were included in the previous pandemic relief package, which expired on December 31st. BPS will continue to voluntarily provide two weeks of paid leave to workers who become sick with COVID-19, or up to 12 weeks of family leave to employees unable to work due to child-care needs.
“It is essential that our 9,000 employees continue to have the flexibility and peace of mind to stay home without having to utilize their sick time or lose pay,” said School Board Chair, Misty Belford. “We have already seen the benefit that having paid COVID leave has had in helping keep our students and staff safe while minimizing the spread of the virus.”
“As we remain committed to supporting our employees as best we can through these extraordinary times, I believe we must do what’s right and continue to offer COVID-related paid leave, even as we face our own economic uncertainty as a district.” said BPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Mullins. “It is our responsibility to do whatever we can to help ease their burden, as they continue to put our kids’ physical and academic well-being first.”
Board Vice-Chair Matt Susin added, “Consistently, teachers and our education system as whole seem like an afterthought. Here in Brevard, we are stepping up to maintain this assistance for our employees even without a federal mandate. I commend Superintendent Mullins for taking this important action.”
BPS employees will continue to follow the district’s current guidelines for applying for COVID-19 leave. If that has already been used, they will use their personal/sick time unless the COVID-19 virus was determined to be work-related, in which case a Worker’s Compensation claim may be filed.
Flooding caused by a burst pipe under the Palm Bay City Council Chambers causes meeting changes for City Council and the Planning and Zoning Board.
VIERA, Florida – Brevard Public Schools is working to ensure its employees age 65 and older, and those working in school clinics and responsible for the direct care of sick students or staff, have flexibility in their work schedules to obtain the COVID-19 vaccination series if they so choose. The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County (DOH-Brevard) today announced it will begin offering free, appointment-only, COVID-19 vaccinations of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to those age 65 and older and non-hospital healthcare workers, beginning Monday, January 4, 2021, and weekly through Friday, between the hours of 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., until further notice. CLICK HERE for more information.
Given a large majority of BPS employees are working during the hours when the vaccine will be dispensed by the DOH, the district will work to accommodate schedules to allow time for eligible staff to receive both
the initial and follow up vaccine.
“BPS is committed to providing easy accessibility to the COVID-19 vaccine for our most at-risk employees currently eligible to receive it (and interested in doing so),” said Dr. Mark Mullins, Superintendent, Brevard
Public Schools. “This is a first and promising step to hopefully getting ahead of this devastating and deadly virus and we will do everything within our power to ensure those who want the vaccine can get it.”
BREVARD COUNTY, FL.— Appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations through Florida Department of Health-Brevard can now be made online via the Eventbrite platform at the following link: https://brevardcovidvaccine.eventbrite.com
COVID-19 vaccinations are available starting Monday, January 4, on an appointment-only, drive-through basis for those age 65 and older and healthcare workers who provide direct patient care and are not part of a hospital system.
Appointment line: 321-454-7141
Location: 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940
Review the COVID Vaccine Fact Sheet and screening questions on the COVID-19 Vaccine Screening and Consent Form prior to your appointment. If you answer yes to any screening questions, you will need to bring a doctor’s note to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Print and complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Screening and Consent Form to bring to the appointment for more efficient service. We do not require the insurance information.
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccination series is 2 doses, given 1 month apart. If you receive one dose of the Moderna vaccine, you should receive a second dose of the same vaccine 1 month later to complete the vaccination series. After vaccination you will be asked to wait for 15 minutes to be monitored for adverse reactions. Please see the attached “Moderna Facts and Privacy” for additional information on what to expect during and after the vaccination.
More information about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can be found at https://www.modernatx.com/covid19vaccine-eua/recipients/
Everyone, including those who have received both doses of vaccine, should continue to follow CDC recommendations on wearing face coverings, washing hands, and social distancing.
The move will complement several new policies and procedures designed to ensure operations continue during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
