Escambia County COVID-19 Update #112

Updated at 3 p.m. May 29:
Please reference the prior updates and Escambia County COVID-19 Update #11 for a prior comprehensive running list. View an updated list of how to access county services here.  This update only includes new information we have received. Weekend updates will be distributed only when there is new information.         

Escambia County

• Hospital Information totals as of 9 a.m. May 29, 2020 (county SITREP)
  • Hospitalizations 64 (running total; this is not a total of current hospitalizations)
  • Bed Capacity 1,315
  • Bed Occupancy 962
  • Beds Available 353
  • Total Ventilators 207
  • Available Ventilators 157 

• Beginning Monday, June 1, passengers will be encouraged to wear face masks while riding Escambia County Area Transit buses. If a rider does not already have a mask, ECAT employees will offer a mask to the passenger during the month of June to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. ECAT operators will also continue to wear masks. Also beginning Monday, ECAT employees and operators will have their temperature taken when they arrive to work as a precaution. ECAT continues to implement safety measures such as limiting ridership to 10 bus passengers and increased bus and facility cleanings. ECAT lobby areas are open at 25% occupancy (two people in the front lobby and eight people in the customer service area). Beach trolleys, which began service, Memorial Day Weekend, have seating spaced to accommodate social distancing.

• Join District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh at his virtual 43rd Coffee with the Commissioner event Wednesday, June 3. The live stream will take place from 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. Guests will include Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley, Collier Merrill, local real estate developer (Merrill Land Company) and restaurateur (Great Southern Restaurants) and Rick Harper, economic advisor for Triumph Gulf Coast. The discussion will focus on bringing back the economy in Escambia County and the future of the food service industry.

Governor's Press Office  

• Today, Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the Florida Department of Revenue are encouraging Floridians to prepare for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season by taking advantage of the Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which runs from May 29 – June 4. Read more.
• Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has partnered with Home Depot and Publix to establish six additional COVID-19 testing sites. Governor DeSantis made this announcement at the first Home Depot testing site in Boca Raton. Read more.

Florida Department of Health in Escambia County

• FDOH-Escambia’s drive-thru testing site is free to all Florida residents. Individuals are asked to remain in their vehicles, and pre-screening is not required. Open June 1-5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT at 1300 West Gregory St., Pensacola, FL 32502. For more information, please visit the dedicated COVID-19 webpage.
• As of 2 p.m., May 29, Escambia County has had 791 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 33 individuals.
• The Florida Department of Health (the Department) releases a list of long-term care facilities in Florida associated with COVID-19 cases with active cases and number of deaths 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.  
• Printable resources for restaurants and businesses can be found on the resources page of the FDOH COVID-19 website.