Escambia County COVID-19 Update #180

Updated at 3 p.m. Sept. 3:
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 107 (current hospitalizations as of 3 p.m. Sept. 3, 2020)
  • Bed Capacity 1385 (as of 9:10 a.m. Sept. 3, 2020 (county SITREP) 
  • Bed Occupancy 967(as of 9:10 a.m. Sept. 3, 2020 (county SITREP) 
  • Beds Available 418 (as of 3 p.m. Sept. 3, 2020)
  • Total Ventilators 222 (as of 3 p.m. Sept. 3, 2020)
  • Available Ventilators 139 (as of 3 p.m. Sept. 3, 2020)
• 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.
• Testing sites
• APPLICATION WINDOW FOR RENT & MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE TO CLOSE: Due to the high volume of submissions received since applications opened on Tuesday, Sept. 1, Escambia County will temporarily close application submittals on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, at 5 p.m. CST, for the Escambia CARES Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program to allow staff to review applications. All applicants will be notified by county staff regarding their eligibility, and the county asks applicants for their patience during the review process.

Escambia County Corrections

• Cumulatively, 328 Escambia County inmates have been tested:
  • 172 positive (149 have been medically cleared due to the amount of time and nine have been released from custody, leaving 14 active, positive cases with no medical concerns at this time)
  • 156 negative
  • 0 pending
• At the Walton County jail, 29 Escambia County inmates tested positive out of the 146 inmates housed there.

• 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 should refrain from participation in social or recreational gatherings of more than 10 people.

• As of 2 p.m., Sept. 3, Escambia County has had 11,360 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 190 individuals.
• The Department releases a list of long-term care facilities in Florida associated with COVID-19 cases with active cases and the 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.  
• FDOH-Escambia Downtown Center – Walk-in testing, no appointment needed for all Florida residents with or without symptoms, all ages. Bring your Florida driver’s license. Open Aug. 31-Sept. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1300 W. Gregory St., Pensacola. Dates are subject to change due to inclement weather or shortage of supplies. Cloth face coverings are required to enter the building for testing.
• Data reported to the Department of Health on Sept. 2 shows a steady decline statewide in the number of reported Florida resident deaths who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Compared to the fourth week of July, the fourth week of August showed a 75 percent decrease in the average number of reported COVID-19 related deaths.

Governor's Office

• Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) have proclaimed September as Florida Preparedness Month to highlight the critical need for Florida residents and visitors to be aware of and prepare for natural and human-made hazards. Governor DeSantis and the agency re-iterate how important it is to be prepared as we face the middle of hurricane season and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
• Governor Ron DeSantis and VISIT FLORIDA are encouraging the state's residents to travel in and around Florida, highlighting the importance of tourism to the Florida economy. Tourism in the state accounts for more than 1.5 million jobs and $91 billion in annual revenue, but the sector has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.