Updated at 3:40 p.m. June 26:
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.
City of Pensacola
Face Coverings Required at Businesses within City Limits Starting June 26
Clarification: This order does not apply to churches or places of worship.
Mayor Grover Robinson issued Declaration of State of Emergency 20-03 effective at 5 p.m. today, Friday, June 26, requiring face coverings to be worn by employees and patrons inside businesses within City of Pensacola limits.
This order is in response to a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in the Pensacola area and in accordance with the recent Public Health Advisory issued by the State Surgeon General, along with the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that cloth face coverings be worn in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
"Our top priority in the City of Pensacola is the health and safety of our citizens, and we have to take action to protect our community during these unprecedented times," Mayor Robinson said. "Wearing a mask is a simple step we can all take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and ultimately help our community and economy recover more quickly. It's important to remember that you can spread COVID-19 even if you don't feel sick. Wearing a mask is not a sign of fear or selfishness, but rather a sign of kindness and selflessness since your mask could protect others from getting sick."
This order applies to City of Pensacola limits and includes the following:
- An individual in a business must wear a face covering while in a business establishment.
- All persons who own, manage, or are employed by a business located in the city must wear a face covering while on-duty and having direct or indirect customer contact, including persons working in a kitchen or otherwise preparing or serving food or beverages to customers.
- Each business must post signage notifying individuals of the requirement to wear a face covering as provided by this order. Printable PDF signs are available online, or businesses are welcome to create their own signage:
What is considered a face covering?
- A face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth and that fits snugly against the sides of the face so there are no gaps. It can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen. Coverings with materials made of multiple layers is highly encouraged. A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand, or the cloth face covering can be improvised from household items.
- For additional information about how to make, wear and wash a cloth face covering, visit CDC's website.
Exceptions
This order does not apply to:
- A child under 6 years of age.
- A person who has one or more medical conditions or disabilities that prevent wearing a face covering, including anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. A person asserting this exception for medical conditions or disabilities is not required to carry or produce documentation verifying the health condition to a business or law enforcement.
- A person who is communicating with an individual who is hearing impaired who needs to see the mouth of the person speaking to facilitate communication.
- An individual who is obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.
- Public safety, police, fire, and other life safety and health care personnel whose personal protective equipment requirements are governed by their respective agencies.
- A person in a federal, state, or Escambia County government building.
- A person exercising while observing at least 6 feet of distancing from other persons.
- Persons while eating or drinking. It is the intent of this provision that a face covering be worn while traversing a business for ingress and egress, to use the restroom facilities, and while standing when persons are unable to maintain at least 6 feet of distancing.
- Business owners, managers, and employees who are in an area of a business that is not open to customers, patrons, or the public, provided that 6 feet of distance exists between persons. This exception does not apply to employees who are present in the kitchen or other food and beverage preparation area of a business – those persons must wear face coverings.
- An individual in a lodging establishment who is inside of the lodging unit, including, but not limited to, a hotel room, motel room, vacation rental unit, timeshare unit, or similar unit.
Nothing in this order shall require or allow a person to wear a face covering to conceal the identity of the wearer in violation of Chapter 876, Florida Statutes.
Escambia County
- Hospital Information totals as of 10 a.m. June 26, 2020 (county SITREP)
- Hospitalizations 85 (running total; this is not a total of current hospitalizations)
- Bed Capacity 1404
- Bed Occupancy 1024
- Beds Available 380
- Total Ventilators 207
- Available Ventilators 165
- Testing Sites
Florida Department of Health in Escambia County
- FDOH-Escambia’s walk-in testing site is free to all Florida residents with or without symptoms. Pre-screening is not required. Open June 29- July 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1300 West Gregory St., Pensacola, FL 32502. Dates are subject to change due to inclement weather or shortage of supplies. For more information, please visit the dedicated COVID-19 webpage.
- As of 2 p.m., June 26, Escambia County has had 1,559 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 44 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.
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- On June 26, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation issued Emergency Order 2020-09, suspending onsite consumption of alcohol at bars statewide.
