Updated at 4:15 p.m. July 2:
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 9:30 a.m. July 2, 2020 (county SITREP)
- Hospitalizations 99 (running total; this is not a total of current hospitalizations)
- Bed Capacity 1404
- Bed Occupancy 1050
- Beds Available 354
- Total Ventilators 207
- Available Ventilators 153
- Testing Site Information
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Escambia County has launched a public health campaign, "Mask Up, Escambia!" focused on informing residents and visitors that masks are recommended by the CDC. In addition, the county will distribute face masks for the public while supplies last at the Brownsville and Ebonwood Community Centers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, libraries, the Escambia County Extension office located at 3740 Stefani Road, and at Pensacola Beach (Tower 4 at Casino Beach or ask a lifeguard) beginning today, Thursday, July 2 during normal business hours. View the campaign presentation here.
- Dr. Lanza, Director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, gave a COVID-19 update and presentation to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners Thursday, July 2 during Agenda Review. View the presentation here.
- Three inmates at the Escambia County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19 as of this morning, Thursday, July 2. Over the course of four months, the jail has tested over 30 inmates and these are the first three inmates who have tested positive. The three inmates are in a medical unit and are not presenting medical concerns. The three units that the positive inmates came from are being offered testing and will remain in their units collectively pending the results. Read the full release here.
Escambia County Tax Collector
Scott Lunsford, Escambia County Tax Collector, reminds all Escambia County citizens of the following protocols for all offices to help mitigate COVID-19 risks:
- Services are limited to Escambia County residents only
- Masks or cloth face coverings are required for everyone entering the building (masks will only be removed for an official photo)
- Transactions and customers will be pre-screened prior to entering the building
- Customers’ temperatures will be taken with a non-contact thermometer prior to entering the building
- Only the customer directly involved in the transaction will be admitted to further comply with CDC social distancing guidelines
- Wait times currently are longer than normal
- To minimize your wait time, “Join the Line” for service and arrive closer to your service time
- Express services, such as tag renewals, business tax receipts, property tax, hunting and fishing licenses and handicapped parking placards are available online, by mail or through our convenient drive-thrus. These transactions WILL NOT be processed in the lobbies.
After joining the line, customers will receive an estimated wait time by text. Wait times currently are longer than normal. Customers should remain in their vehicles or outside until a text is received to report to a window. Read the full release here.
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 July 6-10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT 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.
- The Florida Department of Health (the Department) issued a Public Health Advisory recommending the following: all individuals in Florida should wear face coverings in any setting where social distancing is not possible, all individuals over the age of 65 and all individuals of any age with high-risk health conditions should limit personal interactions out of the home, and all individuals should refrain from participation in social or recreational gatherings of more than 50 people.
- As of 2 p.m., July 2, Escambia County has had 2,240 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 3:00 p.m. ET.
- The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Escambia County residents is 45 individuals.
- 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.
- 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.
Governor's Press Office
Santa Rosa Island Authority
- The 2020 Pensacola Beach Air Show, originally scheduled for July 8-11, has been canceled. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels team informed the Santa Rosa Island Authority of their decision to cancel their performance on Thursday afternoon.
- In a statement from the Blue Angels: “After much discussion and consideration regarding the current rise in COVID cases in our hometown, we have come to the conclusion that canceling our flights during the Pensacola Beach Air Show is the only way we can ensure the safety of our community we love so much. Each year we look forward to the opportunity to fly for our friends, family and neighbors here in Pensacola. This was not an easy decision to make. Unfortunately, we are navigating very uncertain and unpredictable times. We felt this was the necessary decision to make in effort to keep our community safe.”
- The SRIA looks forward to hosting this popular annual air show event again next year on July 9-10, 2021
