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Hand Sanitizer Added to Escambia County's Public Health Campaign: Mask Up, Escambia!

Published Jul 28, 2020
Beginning Wednesday, July 29, Escambia County is now offering 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer in addition to face masks as part of the public health campaign, "Mask Up, Escambia!" The campaign, which began July 1, is focused on informing residents and visitors that masks are recommended by the CDC to protect others. In addition to a 2 ounce hand sanitizer bottle, the public may continue to pick up a free mask while supplies last. The county offered 27,000 free masks to residents throughout the public health campaign and still has supply at the following locations:

Libraries Monday through Friday, 2 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Pensacola Library
    239 N. Spring St.
    Pensacola, FL 32502
    850-436-5060
  • Tryon Branch Library
    1200 Langley Ave.
    Pensacola, FL 32504
    850-471-6980
  • Century Branch Library (not open on Mondays)
    7991 N. Century Blvd.
    Century, FL 32535
    850-256-6217 
  • Genealogy Branch Library (not open on Mondays)
    5740 N. Ninth Ave.
    Pensacola, FL 32504
    850-494-7373
  • Molino Branch Library
    6450-A Highway 95A
    Molino, FL 32577
    850-435-1760
  • Southwest Branch Library
    12248 Gulf Beach Highway
    Pensacola, FL 32507
    850-453-7780
  • Westside Branch Library (not open Saturdays)
    1301 W. Gregory St.
    Pensacola, FL 32502
    850-595-1047
  • Escambia County Extension, 8 a.m.to 4:30 p.m., 3740 Stefani Road
  • Brownsville Community Center, 8 a.m.to 5 p.m., 3200 W. De Soto St.
  • Ebonwood Community Center, 8 a.m.to 5 p.m., 3511 W. Scott St.
  • Pensacola Beach, Tower 4 at Casino Beach or ask a lifeguard
"Escambia County is pleased to be able to offer free hand sanitizer in addition to a free mask for the public during this unprecedented time," said Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore. "Unfortunately, it sounds like COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon we are urging the public to continue to focus on staying clean to stay healthy. The county has supplies, and we are doing everything in our power to encourage the public to 'Mask Up' and stay clean." 

The campaign includes messaging to avoid the "Three C's":
  1. Closed spaces - with poor ventilation
  2. Crowded places - with many people nearby
  3. Close-contact settings - such as close- range conversations
The risk of COVID-19 clusters is particularly high when the "Three C's overlap."

In addition to the "Three C's":
  • It is recommended to wear your mask to protect yourself and those around you.
  • Clean items used by multiple people with disinfectant.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Stay home if you are sick or have symptoms.

As a reminder, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:  

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when physical distancing is not possible

  • The Florida Department of Health Public Health Advisory recommends all individuals in Florida should wear masks in any setting where physical distancing is not possible, unless any of the following apply:

    • A child is under two years of age;
    • An individual has one or more medical conditions or disabilities that prevent wearing a face covering;
    • An individual is obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service;
    • An individual works in a profession where use of a face covering will not be compatible with the duties of the profession; or
    • An individual is engaged in outdoor work or recreation with appropriate physical distancing in place.
    • All individuals over the age of 65 and all individuals of any age with high-risk health conditions should limit personal interactions outside of the home and take all measures to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
    • All individuals should refrain from participation in social or recreational gatherings of more than 10 people. For all gatherings of fewer than 10 people, individuals should practice physical distancing by maintaining a distance of at least six feet from each other and wearing a face covering.

Wash your hands often

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

Cover coughs and sneezes

  • If you are around others and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect

  • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
  • If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
  • Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work.

Monitor your health

  • Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
    • Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
  • Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please contact the FDOH Call Center at 866-779-6121, or FDOH-Escambia’s number, 850-595-6500, prior to traveling to any physician’s office, emergency department, hospital, or urgent care center, to ensure proper protective measures are taken to prevent further risk of spread to others. If possible, also review your signs, symptoms and travel history with your physician over the phone. Your physician will evaluate you for other possible causes of respiratory illness and also contact the health department to access COVID-19 testing. If you are without health insurance or a health care provider, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County so the health department can coordinate your medical evaluation and testing. Most people with confirmed COVID-19 infection reportedly have mild to moderate respiratory illness and can be managed at home in coordination with their health care provider and local health department. Persons with severe illness may be hospitalized. For updates and additional information, visit Florida Department of Health in Escambia County.

The Escambia County Joint Information Center provides daily updates Monday through Friday via news releases which are then posted to our social media channels @BeReadyEscambia on Twitter and Escambia County Emergency Management on Facebook. Please visit the Escambia County COVID-19 web page at https://myescambia.com/covid-19 for additional information.

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