City of Lakeland Introduces Safety Protocols as Employees & Visitors Return to City Facilities
LAKELAND, FL (May 15, 2020) | As the federal, state, and local governments are starting to unveil their return-to-work plans, employers are anxious to resume operations and get employees back to the workplace. The City of Lakeland has developed a plan that will begin Monday, May 18th that outlines safety protocols as many employees who have been working remotely return to work. The plan also addresses visitors who may be coming to City facilities to conduct business. Many City of Lakeland business functions were modified due to the Governor’s Safer at Home Order to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
City Manager Tony Delgado said, “The City of Lakeland continues to work closely with public health officials and stringently follows the guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control including the recommendations established for those organizations that are seeking to resume normal or phased business operations.” He added, “We are eager to get back to business in a safe manner so we have initiated organizational procedures for employees and visitors.”
View PDF - Visitors | View PDF - Screening
Daily Health Checks
All visitors will be screened upon entry to City buildings. During the screening, the visitor’s name, date, and time of visit will be recorded along with a phone number to assist in contact tracing purposes. Visitors will also have their temperature taken and the temp must be below 100.4 degrees in order to enter a City facility. Visitors must also answer two health-related questions.
- Have you travelled out of state in the last 14 days?
- In the last 12 hours, have you had a cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or problems breathing, chills, muscle pains, and/or loss of taste or smell?
If a visitor fails the screening or refuses to comply, they will not be allowed to enter the facility.
Masks/Face Coverings
Each visitor is required to wear a mask or cloth face-covering inside City facilities that covers the nose and mouth. If a visitor doesn’t have their own, then a new disposable mask will be provided for their use while inside a City building.
City Hall
Visitors will only be allowed to enter through the Iowa Street double doors. The front information desk is where visitors will be screened by staff at the security check-in. Visitors will also be required to practice social distancing and be responsible for their own personal hygiene by using sanitizer and washing hands with soap for at least 20-seconds. City of Lakeland employees will continue using technology to assist in remote meetings, appointments and other methods to reduce contact if at all possible when conducting City business until further notice.
Contact
About Lakeland
The City of Lakeland was incorporated in January 1885 and has grown to become one of the largest inland communities in Florida. With a current population over 100,000, Lakeland continues to grow. It has been designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area by the US Census Bureau for over 30 years. With tourist attractions and gulf beaches only an hour away, Lakeland continues to capitalize on its ideal central Florida location along the I-4 corridor. The City owns and operates Lakeland Electric, the third-largest publicly owned utility in Florida and it was one of the first to offer power in the Sunshine State over 110 years ago.
For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please explore lakelandgov.net.
Citizens are also invited to follow the City on social media.