Escambia County COVID-19 Update #170

Updated at 3:35 p.m. Aug. 20:
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  
  • Hospitalizations 152 (current hospitalizations as of 3 p.m. Aug. 20, 2020)
  • Bed Capacity 1408 (as of 9 a.m. Aug. 20, 2020 (county SITREP) 
  • Bed Occupancy 1047 (as of 9:30 a.m. Aug. 20, 2020 (county SITREP) 
  • Beds Available 440 (as of 3 p.m. Aug. 20, 2020)
  • Total Ventilators 222 (as of 3 p.m. Aug. 20, 2020)
  • Available Ventilators 133 (as of 3 p.m. Aug. 20, 2020)
• Testing Site Information 
• It has been requested to provide our daily COVID employee data. This spreadsheet shows what is currently happening and is not historical data.
• View Escambia County COVID-19 dashboard.
• View the CARES Act backup documents from Thursday's BCC meeting here. 

Escambia County Corrections

• Cumulatively, 229 Escambia County inmates have been tested:
  • 157 positive (138 have been medically cleared due to the amount of time and eight have been released from custody, leaving 11 active positive cases with no medical concerns at this time)
  • 72 negative
  • 0 pending
• At the Walton County jail, 29 Escambia County inmates tested positive out of the 146 inmates housed there.

Escambia County School District

• The Escambia County School District’s Transportation Department has posted a video about Covid-19 precautions on www.escambiayellow.com. Buses will be stocked with sanitation spray and wipes and drivers will thoroughly disinfected at least twice a day while students are not on the bus. The mist they will use is safe to be used in environments where students will be present. Hand sanitizer will be provided as students enter and exit the bus. All drivers will be masked and parents are asked to be sure students arrive at the bus stop with a mask and to help reinforce with their children the importance of wearing it properly and staying in their assigned seats with their seat belts on. If a student forgets their mask, drivers will have child and adult sized masks to give students.
• Escambiayellow.com also has information about how to find out bus assignments that reads, “Parents can now find their child's transportation assignment and the status of their transportation accommodation requests without calling or writing for updates.  Simply register for a Focus Parent Portal account. You can check student bus assignments, grades and more from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.”
• If families have moved since schools closed in May, parents need to update their address and contact information in Focus this week. Bus routes are based on the addresses in Focus and update nightly.  Parents can go to the Focus Parent Portal page to find instructional videos: http://ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/focuspp. For more information about the Escambia County School District, visit ECSD’s web page at www.escambiaschools.org. 

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 August 17-21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT at 1300 W. Gregory St., Pensacola. 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 and all individuals should refrain from participation in social or recreational gatherings of more than 10 people.
• As of 2 p.m., August 20, Escambia County has had 10,595 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 Florida Department of Corrections issued a press release on their response to COVID-19 in the Century Correctional Institution. To view FDC COVID-19 Statistics, visit their COVID-19 Information webpage that is updated daily. FDOH-Escambia is working with FDC to investigate this situation and provide advice toward their effort mitigate the spread of coronavirus.
• The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Escambia County residents is 170 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

• On Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the release of an online survey to allow residents, especially older adults, to make important self-assessments on their COVID-19 behaviors through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. The survey asks Floridians to review their decisions with respect to COVID-19 situations, to see how different actions affect their own health, and the health of others. The Florida Safe Survey allows individuals to have a tool at their disposal that fully engages them in the outcomes of their actions.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, Pensacola Library will start a weekly giveaway STEAM activity kit, LEGO kit and craft kit. This first week will focus on a STEAM activity kit (paper walking horse). Each week will alternate between those three categories (LEGO kit, STEAM activity kit and craft kit.)

Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, all libraries will be open inside to the public at 10 a.m. instead of 2 p.m. See updated hours and locations below:

Pensacola Library - 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola

• Reserved Parking for Materials Pickup: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Use www.mywfpl.com to place reservations online or call 850-436-5060.

• Inside library services: Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Molino Branch Library - 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino

• Reserved Parking for Materials Pickup: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Use www.mywfpl.com to place reservations online or call 850-435-1760.

• Inside library services: Monday - Friday from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Southwest Branch Library - 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola

• Reserved Parking for Materials Pickup: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Use www.mywfpl.com to place reservations online or call 850-453-7780.
• Inside library services: Monday - Friday from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tryon Branch Library - 1200 Langley Ave., Pensacola

• Reserved Parking for Materials Pickup: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Use www.mywfpl.com to place reservations online or call 850-471-6980.
• Inside library serviced: Monday - Friday from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Century Branch Library - 7991 N. Century Blvd., Century

• Reserved Parking for Materials Pickup: Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Use www.mywfpl.com to place reservations online or call 850-256-6217.
• Inside library services: Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Genealogy Branch Library - 5740 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola

• Reserved Parking for Materials Pickup: Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Use www.mywfpl.com to place reservations online or call 850-494-7373.
• Inside library services: Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Westside Branch Library - 1301 W. Gregory St., Pensacola

• Reserved Parking for Materials Pickup: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Use www.mywfpl.com to place reservations online or call 850-595-1047.
• Inside library services: Monday - Friday from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.