Updated at 10:45 a.m. April 17:
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.
Baptist Health Care
- Conservation of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic is a nationwide effort. As a part of that initiative, Baptist Health Care has developed a process for its own hospitals and clinics and has reached out to Escambia County emergency medical services, Pensacola Police Department and Community Health Northwest Florida to provide services to sanitize N-95 respirator masks so that they can be reused in the field.
- Baptist is using robotic ultraviolet technology to sanitize the N-95 masks used by team members within the hospital and clinics. The process, called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation or UVGI, allows each mask to be used up to four times before it is discarded.The robots are mobile units that are typically used by Baptist environmental services teams to disinfect hospital rooms. In this time of need, teams at Baptist tested the process on PPE and found it to be effective. Because the demand on PPE supplies has never been so high, a process to sanitize the N-95 respirator masks had to be developed to adapt to current needs.
- The innovative cleaning process using the robotic units was put in place as was the implementation of an efficient and safe means of gathering used masks from locations including Gulf Breeze and Jay hospitals, Baptist screening centers and clinics, EMS, PPD and CHNF. This includes transporting them to the main campus of Baptist Hospital to be sanitized, and returning them to the correct team member in time for his or her next shift.
- Several departments within the organization worked together to fine-tune the sanitization procedure. Team members from Global Connections to Employment, an affiliate of Baptist Health Care, developed the logistical plan for pick-up and delivery and now run the routes. GCE is the area’s largest employer of people with disabilities. Providing sanitization services beyond its affiliates to local partners EMS, PPD and CHNF represents Baptist’s first step in expanding the program to first responders in the community.
Escambia County
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- As of 3:55 p.m. Thursday, April 16, Escambia County area hospitals reported 220 total ventilators with 173 available, and 1,315 total beds with 519 available.
- An Escambia County public works employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
Florida Department of Health in Escambia County
- As of 9:45 a.m., April 17, Escambia County has had 282 positive COVID-19 cases. These numbers are 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.
- To view demographics of cases in Escambia County, visit the COVID-19 dashboard and select Escambia County. The following case data will appear: age, gender, race, and ethnicity.
- Florida residents are encouraged to take the COVID-19 Community Action Survey by visiting: www.StrongerThanC19.com.
- Use the COVID 19 testing self-checker to determine if you need to call your healthcare provider to be tested.
- Need extra support dealing with stress and coping during this time? Find a list of available resources at Escambiahealth.com.
- Guidelines on making and wearing cloth face coverings can be found at CDC.gov.
