Escambia County COVID-19 Update #81

Updated at 10:15 a.m. May 2:
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.       

Escambia County 

• Escambia County’s Central Office Complex at 3363 West Park Place, the Ernie Lee Magaha building at 221 S. Palafox Street, the Parks and Recreation Department office at 1651 E. 9 Mile Road and West Florida Public Libraries will reopen to the public Monday, May 4, and will operate at 25% capacity, in accordance with Phase 1 of Gov. DeSantis' Executive Order 20-111 and Executive Order 20-112.  

• Victoria Jose has made over 150 masks for Escambia County and helped with making masks for EMS. Both of her sons want to be first responders and her son, Sam, turned 5-years-old on Friday and Escambia County first responders celebrated with a caravan parade past his house. Watch the video here. 

Florida Department of Health in Escambia County 

• On Monday, April 27, 2020, the Florida National Guardsmen were deployed to Escambia County to support Florida’s response to COVID-19. These Ambulance Strike Teams assisted in specimen collection efforts in long-term care facilities in Escambia County. Media questions relating to the FLNG and this response should be directed to [email protected] or 850-815-4940.
• As of 10 a.m., May 2, Escambia County has had 532 positive COVID-19 cases. This number is expected to change daily due to the return of results from ongoing testing. The best source for up-to-date information regarding confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida is the Florida Department of Health website and the associated Data and Surveillance Dashboard and Daily Report. The site is currently updated once daily, at around 3 p.m. ET.
• The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Escambia County residents is 12 individuals.
• The Florida Department of Health announced that the list of long-term care facilities in Florida associated with COVID-19 cases will now include active cases in each facility in order to provide real-time data. The list of long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases is available here.
• The Department is providing a report detailing surveillance data for every Florida county. Previously, this information was only available for select communities. The surveillance data report is available here. 
• 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.
• 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.  

Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local public health authorities, Gulf Islands National Seashore is increasing recreational access at three Florida areas. The National Park Service is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

Beginning on the dates listed below, Gulf Islands National Seashore will reopen access to:  

• The Okaloosa Area on Saturday, May 2
• No restrooms
• The Naval Live Oaks Area on Saturday, May 2
• No restrooms
• The headquarters exhibit area will remain closed
• Santa Rosa Area, including Highway 399 on Wednesday, May 6
• The Opal Beach Complex will remain closed

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:

• The Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas, Perdido Key, and Davis Bayou areas
• Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, Horn, and Ship islands, as well as, the NPS-owned portion of Cat Island

“The Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Naval Live Oaks areas are almost exclusively used by the surrounding Florida counties which cleared the phase one gating criteria on May 1,” said Superintendent Dan Brown. “The other areas of the national seashore draw visitors from areas that have not yet met the required gating criteria based on the White House’s guidance. In evaluating some park areas, the National Park Service assessed communities within an eight-hour drive, as is consistent with visitation information.”

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Gulf Islands National Seashore, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.  

While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services will be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.  

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov/guis and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.