SFPMA has been monitoring the COVID-19 & Omicron and its impact on our industry

We are encouraging all members, Property Managers, Board Members for Condo and HOA's and the industry in general to follow:

 

* The latest guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

* View the Florida Counties Map ( Up to date Statistics of the virus )

* Omicron Variant - What you need to know.

 

 

We understand that everyone has questions:

It is important to recognize we are not health care professionals. We have been looking to the experts. The CDC and other qualified health officials should continue to be the primary source of current information and guidance. Were offering general, precautionary guidance from officials and adding some common-sense guidelines for our industry.

Mask Mandates are changing!

Many States have already set as requirements for businesses, schools and Offices all over the US. The reversal of wearing Masks. This is great news for many, now you do not have to put on the masks if you dont wish to. As we go forward some that are at risk still will protect themselves, while others wont put them on. Dont get mad at them or start a problem.... You dont know what they are doing in Their Live! they might have a lower immune system in their bodies? they might take the stand that masks dont work? they even may believe in the Science or lack of?

Every person has the right to keep wearing a mask or not! so work with your group, community and management to find a solution you can adapt to keep everyone in your buildings safe. this could mean, in the common areas, with visitors and guests inside and outside your buildings. its best to have an open discussion with a group. find out what they think? and put in place rules to keep everyone safe.

Thank You, Be Safe. SFPMA

 

Whatever your community decides to do regarding meetings, events, common areas, amenities, and other measures regarding COVID & OMICRON, you should clearly and consistently communicate with residents. Use your newsletters, websites, emails, social media, or bulletin boards to inform and educate.

 

Get Vaccinated- Find COVID-19 vaccines and boosters near you.

Find a vaccine near you
Call 1-800-232-0233 
Text your zip code to 438829

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance.

Omicron Variant in the United States

The recently identified Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are exponentially increasing in multiple countries. Increases in infections are most likely due to a combination of two factors: increased transmissibility and the ability of the variant to evade immunity conferred by past infection or vaccination (i.e., immune evasion). Though the precise contribution of each of the two factors remains unknown, a substantial degree of immune evasion is likely as has been demonstrated in early in vitro studies.

CDC has collaborated with partners to model scenarios of the epidemic trajectory in the U.S. that simultaneously consider transmissibility and immune evasion. Results from scenario analyses indicate that current increases in Omicron cases are likely to lead to a national surge in the coming weeks with peak daily numbers of new infections that could exceed previous peaks; these scenarios may be realized as soon as January. In scenarios with lower immune evasion, a surge is still likely, but the peak could be lower and begin as late as April 2022. Projected large surges in cases indicate surges of hospital demand even if severity is reduced, because of the large number of anticipated cases occurring in a short period of time.

 

CDC has been collaborating with global public health and industry partners to learn about Omicron, as we continue to monitor its course. We don’t yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it.

Spread

The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and how easily Omicron spreads compared to Delta remains unknown. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.

Severe Illness

More data are needed to know if Omicron infections, and especially reinfections and breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated, cause more severe illness or death than infection with other variants.

Vaccines

Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. The recent emergence of Omicron further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters.

 

We have the Tools to Fight Omicron

Vaccines

Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging.

  • COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.
  • Scientists are currently investigating Omicron, including how protected fully vaccinated people will be against infection, hospitalization, and death.
  • CDC recommends that everyone 5 years and older protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated.
  • CDC recommends that everyone ages 18 years and older should get a booster shot at least two months after their initial J&J/Janssen vaccine or six months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.

Masks

Masks offer protection against all variants.

  • CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.
  • CDC provides advice about masks for people who want to learn more about what type of mask is right for them depending on their circumstances.

Testing

Tests can tell you if you are currently infected with COVID-19.

  • Two types of tests are used to test for current infection: nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and antigen tests. NAAT and antigen tests can only tell you if you have a current infection.
  • Individuals can use the COVID-19 Viral Testing Tool to help determine what kind of test to seek.
    • Additional tests would be needed to determine if your infection was caused by Omicron.
    • Visit your state, tribal, local, or territorial health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.
  • Self-tests can be used at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results.
    • If your self-test has a positive result, stay home or isolate for 10 days, wear a mask if you have contact with others, and call your healthcare provider.
    • If you have any questions about your self-test result, call your healthcare provider or public health department.

 

CDC  Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

2019-ncov-factsheet  Read the pdf. fromt he CDC

What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Can people in the U.S. get COVID-19?
Yes. COVID-19 is spreading from person to person in parts of the United States. Risk of infection with COVID-19 is higher for people who are close contacts of someone known to have COVID-19, for example healthcare workers, or household members. Other people at higher risk for infection are those who live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Learn more about places with ongoing spread at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html#geographic.

Have there been cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.?
Yes. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. The current count of cases of COVID-19 in the United States is available on CDC’s webpage at  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html.

How does COVID-19 spread?
The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source, but is now spreading from person to person. The virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses at  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory
illness with symptoms of
• fever
• cough
• shortness of breath

 

Download and distribute to your communities:  From Florida Health Dept. you can download these on the Health Depts. Website.

   

   

Again here are some tips for your community and you!

We are opening our State (Florida) Not everyone will be happy with some of the restrictions, Please relax - everyone is working on these issues and we feel every one of them will be addressed!

It is not too soon for condominium, cooperative and HOA boards to be discussing the issue of Covid-19 with their residents. We’ve already suggested to our Members statewide that the following protocol may be helpful:

  • Urge residents who have frequent guests to limit or reduce guest usage for the near future.
  • If there is Airbnb and other short-term rental activity occurring in your community that violates your governing documents, work with association counsel to curb that activity.
  • Place hand sanitizer stations in high traffic areas in the community.
  • Speak to association counsel before engaging in conversations with potential purchasers or potential renters about Covid-19 and their possible travel-related exposure.
  • Speak to association counsel about the applicability of emergency powers now that Governor DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency in Florida. Don’t assume that this means that your board can utilize the same emergency powers that are activated in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency is declared.
  • Make sure you have updated emergency contact information for all owners including any residents who may be particularly vulnerable.
  • Let your residents know that if they are feeling ill or have any questions or concerns that they can contact the

 

* Speaking with your Counsel and adding to your Documents are a good suggestion!

~Most governing documents for condominiums, cooperatives and HOAs contain a standard prohibition against owners using their units/homes for anything other than residential purposes so if this remote work proves to be a lasting remnant from the Covid-19 experience, what does this mean for the millions of Americans who live in mandatory community associations?

~Associations should consider amending their documents to permit work from home that does not create a nuisance for neighbors. This amendment is just the tip of the spear when it comes to amendments that should be considered in the coming months to incorporate lessons learned from this pandemic.

 

Stay safe from all of us at the State of Florida Property Management Association

 

We are taking this seriously, you should also!

 

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There are other ways to slow down the contagion that don’t involve a medical background, like regularly washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, and practicing social distancing. This can help ease the burden on health care workers and try to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients.

 

“Our American hospitals have had very little room to take on increased capacity,” Makary said. “Most ICUs function at full capacity or near full capacity. We only have 100,000 ICU beds in the United States. We could see 200,000 new patients that need critical care up to 2 million.”

In Italy, some hospitals in the northern region, which has been hit the hardest in the country by coronavirus, are on the verge of running out of beds. According to the Washington Post, the hospitals have been able to manage so far “by delaying surgeries, stopping HIV treatments, converting regular hospital space into COVID-19 units, and depending on exhausted doctors and nurses — some of whom are becoming sick themselves.”

“We’re watching what’s happening in Italy very closely,” Makary said. “China was not transparent. Iran was not transparent. But Italy has been extremely transparent, and what we’re seeing there is a hospital system that’s entirely overrun, even with the quarantine, which we have not done.

So I think we need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. 

That means stopping nonessential activities and travel for as long as needed to contain the spread of the virus, he said, along with working from home.

 

Services and Insights

A Message from Our Managing Shareholder, Gary C. Rosen

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“Condo dwellers give up some ‘personal rights’ amid COVID-19 pandemic | Opinion,” Sun-Sentinel

For those living in community associations during the time of COVID, the changes are radical. Not only are condo dwellers expected to abide by federal, state and…

 

“COVID-19: Key Considerations for Privately Owned Construction Projects,” Practical Law

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A candid discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on construction projects throughout Florida and, on a broader scale nationally. Speakers share insight from differing industry perspectives including from the viewpoint of an attorney, contractor, and insurance professional.