Updated at 3:45 p.m. April 7:
Please reference the prior updates and Escambia County COVID-19 Update #11 for a prior comprehensive running list. View an updated list of county closures and cancellations here. This update only includes new information we have received. Weekend updates will be distributed only when there is new information.
City of Pensacola
- Due to a significant increase in yard waste being placed curbside for pickup in recent weeks, City of Pensacola Sanitation is running approximately one week behind the normal yard waste pickup schedule.
- The public's patience is appreciated during this time, and crews are working diligently to provide yard waste pickup service to customers as efficiently as possible.
- Yard debris has increased from 35 tons per day to 100 tons per day – an increase of 185 percent per day.
- This is only impacting yard waste pickup for City of Pensacola Sanitation customers. Garbage and recycling pickup continue to run on schedule.
- Sanitation crews will work on the Good Friday holiday and this Saturday, April 11 in an effort to get caught up with yard waste pickup services. This is a voluntary situation, and employees have chosen whether to work the additional days.
- For more information about City of Pensacola Sanitation Services, visit cityofpensacola.com.
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority
- During this time of year, yard waste levels are extraordinarily heavy as residents take advantage of longer days and seasonable weather to spruce up their yards, especially on weekends. This year, with so many residents working from home and students out of school due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are also experiencing very high levels of household garbage, recyclables, and bulk waste items. These elevated levels mean our trucks fill up faster and need to make more trips to the landfill, taking more time to complete their route.
- As a result, some collections are currently running approximately half-a-day behind schedule. If any waste collections are missed, it is likely that the truck did not finish its daily route. Be assured that the truck will complete its route the next day. In Escambia County, all collections will completed by Saturday. Collections in Santa Rosa County will be caught up by Wednesday and Saturday. If a collection has not been completed within these time parameters, customers are asked to contact the ECUA Customer Service Department at 476-0480. We appreciate our customers’ understanding as we work through the issues that arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the greater-than normal springtime yard waste volumes.
Escambia County
- The first installment of virtual story time with EMS is now available on YouTube and Facebook. Today’s reading was “The Kindness Book” by Todd Parr, read by EMS Paramedic Supervisor Crystal Dirks.
- Escambia County Waste Services encourages citizens to place residential waste at the curb, instead of directly hauling to the landfill. For information regarding sanitation services please contact Emerald Coast Utilities Authority or the City of Pensacola.
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COVID-19 Testing Sites:
- The Brownsville Community Center drive-through and walk-up testing site will be closed Friday, April 10 in observance of Good Friday.
- The Cantonment drive-through testing site will now be operational Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Feeding the Gulf Coast
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From April 1-7, Feeding the Gulf Coast distributed over 4,000 meals and 4,000 snacks to children in our communities.
- Last week, during the mobile pantry distributions, Feeding the Gulf Coast distributed over 100,000 pounds of food.
Florida Department of Health in Escambia County
- As of 3:45 p.m., April 7, Escambia County has had 165 positive COVID-19 cases. This number is expected to change daily due to the return of results from ongoing testing. For the most up-to-date information regarding confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida, visit the COVID-19 dashboard. The site is currently updated twice daily.
- One resident of Escambia County who has tested positive for COVID-19 has died, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 2.
