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Pensacola Announces Phased Reopening Plan Beginning Friday
April 27, 2020
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson announced a phased plan Monday he called “Recover Pensacola” for reopening the city while closely monitoring for the resurgence of coronavirus.
Phase One of the plan begins Friday, May 1 with recreation facilities such as outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts and playgrounds in the city reopening, and restaurants will be able to open outdoor seating. There could be adjustments based upon the plan announced by the state.
“We want to begin reopening as soon as possible, but the last thing we want to do is sacrifice safety in the process.,” Robinson said.
Pensacola’s plan will continue with a green light when there is a measured downward trajectory in flu-like illnesses and COVID-19-like illnesses within a 14 days. A yellow “hold” status will occur when there is a three-day reversal in statistical trends, healthcare system concern or public safety impact with a 15% decrease in available active staffing.
A red status would restart the plan, signaled by a 14-day reversal in statistical trends, healthcare system concern or a if 30% of public safety personnel are unable to work.
Once the health department establishes 14-day downward trend in COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms, restaurants, sporting venues, movie theaters and churches could reopen within the crowd size guidelines, which is currently 10 or less. Schools, camps and bars would remain closed.
The final plan may adjust to match state guidance, and officials are working on the next steps in the plan.
Escambia County has not announced a reopening plan.
Comments
25 Responses to “Pensacola Announces Phased Reopening Plan Beginning Friday”
We should have never shut down in the first place. It’s easy protect the vulnerable and keep America running. We’re past the economical tipping point now. Those of you that think we should stay closed have never owned a business that employs people and are shallow. Because as a business owner you feel very responsible for your employees. The next depression is right around the corner.
“Emergencies” have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded. Friedrich August von Hayek We must also watch closely that we don’t give away our essential freedoms lightly. Many times we choose to remain silent in order to avoid conflict. However, there are many that will take silence for approval and once something is lost it’s much harder to get back. It’s much like beach access and hand sanitizer. It’s great when you have some to use but it only becomes a problem when it’s all sold out. Take the information you’re provided and make rational decisions. Just keep your eyes and ears open for those hiding in the shadows just waiting to use chaos and “emergencies” to their advantage.
If we wait too long to get things moving within the economy and food production we will not be ready for an upcoming natural disaster or a second wave. I believe we are going to start seeing more young people affected if we have a second wave. The UK is starting to see an uptake in younger COVID-19 patients. We need to be ready for the unexpected and waiting until it happens is never a good ideal. We need to be buying from our local food producers and helping out each other when possible. It’s always nice to have the government assets available. However, the more we can rely on each other and cut out the middle men the better off we will be when the real hard times hit. A community working as a whole can really make a difference and those living in the rural areas of America can attest to that. If anything we will have after all is said and done is one heck of a voluntary DNA database. Tests that will test the tests made by the people that made the other 12 tests and now we have medical universities making their own tests to test their students. Lot’s of tests yet there in no definitive cure or treatment? Hmmmmm.
We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you’re an asymptomatic carrier and you go out the chain reaction could still be killing people years into the future. On the other hand, a very stagnant economy could disrupt the food supply chain and that too can ultimately lead to deadly consequences. I’m personally in favor of keeping the city closed down until we learn more about this virus but I also respect that there are powerful arguments on both sides. Please, everyone, keep in mind that reopening doesn’t mean we’ve accomplished anything. We don’t know the future. Perhaps the virus has pretty much run its course but on the other hand there may be a second wave that turns out to be the most devastating thing to ever happen to this community. Reopening should not be a careless celebration. We need to continue to be very careful and to remember that our actions don’t only affect ourselves. We need to work together to continue to fight the virus and reinvigorate the economy.
Would your jaw drop?
If- The virus had been here all year and misdiagnosed
That would put the lockdown in a futile position for curve slope affirmation.
We should be watching some of the areas that are seeing a glimmer of hope for their counts to continue decreasing. One of the key components to reopening is what to do about schools, especially public schools. If parents are at work, where will their kids go if schools aren’t open? Then you have to consider how to distance a classroom of 20+ students, who will also need to have food prepared and a place to eat, and ride on buses to school. At least some faculty, staff, and students have someone at home who is in a high risk group. In fact, lots of teachers are at risk just due to age. If a student is infected at school, is asymptomatic, but passes it on to the elderly grandmother who is raising him, then what? The problem is that there are two sides to this coin. One is minimizing lives. The other is money. I know it takes money to live. But you can’t spend money if you’re dead. We need to optimize our return on closing down in the first place, instead of squandering it. Round two will likely be much worse.
Mat, you go ahead and jump. I have no desire to join you! I’m so proud that the Mayor is going ahead to do some openings. If you’re scared to go out, then stay in.
@Heidi, Please don’t give up. There is life after this is all over, it just may be a little different than what it was before. I saw something the other day that fits the situation.
“Don’t be afraid to start over! You might like your new story better.”
Prayers!
I will bet dollars to donuts that those who want to continue the lock-down are those with financial means to weather the storm, are working from home, and/or are still receiving a paycheck. The rest of us are worried about still HAVING a home to stay in not to mention the food to feed our families.
A couple points to ponder:
1) Just what makes you think the grocery store is any safer than an outdoor restaurant? Or the beach, a playground, or any other place of business for that matter. There is no such thing as a Virus Free Zone.
2) If you want to continue feeling safe by staying home then do it. Separate yourself from the rest of us who want to reopen society in order to survive. That’s your right. But your rights DO NOT preempt mine. Let me repeat that: Your rights DO NOT preempt mine. I have the right to house and feed my family.
3) Did you know that in the state of Florida substitute teachers do not have any benefits what-so-ever? That includes unemployment. They are exempt so they have total pay loss.
4) Any and all payments your receive via the government are not sourced from the government. They are sourced from you the taxpayer. Think about it; the IRS is sending out the $1200 checks. Unemployment is largely funded by employers.
5) And speaking of unemployment: Did you know that extra $600 per week that people are getting is about twice the monthly Social Security check our seniors get? And they paid for these benefits via payroll deductions through-out their working life.
6) All elected government employees from the President on down should have their paychecks withheld until such time as this country is reopened. You’d be surprised just how fast things would get done. (This one really doesn’t belong on this list but I couldn’t resist)
Just my two cents worth.
Open Pensacola!! This is absolutely insane and our economy is suffering! Open the beaches, open Pensacola, open Florida, open America.
Dan H. you completly missed Heidi’s point and obviously have no idea where she is coming from or what she is going through.
@ Dan H …concerning Heidis comment…political jab?
Try this on Mr Dan H, FREEDOM OF SPEECH…thats a political jab boy!
I might suggest you find a church
Always trolls belittling people in need
Heidi – President Trump didn’t suggest that but obviously you had to make a political jab which was completly unnecessary. It’s unfortunate the circumstances you are currently in and facing, along with my personal and millions of others.
If we loook back to the previous administration, history shows us that your hero did NOTHING for the common US citizen but if you wish to take statements completly out of context, good luck.
Maybe you should put your school on hold and contact the State of Florida regarding your unemployment. The President has nothing to do with your claim being rejected but continue spinning your trash.
To Heidi,
Find a church near you. There will be help for you there.
Does “camps” mean like campgrounds or like summer camps?
I am a college student and a waitress and have now been out of work for 45 days. I was sick with a respiratory infection 46 weeks ago and took half a week off so my last paycheck was $85 including tips. I was denied unemployment and told to make an appeal. I am falling into debt to the point of impending homelessness and will have to drop out of school and work full time now to pay half my bills and have no ideas what to do about the back utilities and personal loans taken a month ago to pay last months bills, etc. will I ever get govt help?. Feeling hopeless. Maybe I should try that “drinking bleach” advice trump gave…
I’m old enough to remember when we only quarantined the sick.
Who’s on First? What color is Friday the 1st? Green?
Please keep us posted, so we don’t forget what color the day is or week?
Thank Mayor for taking a step forward. As a nurse (over 20 years of experience) I appreciate your careful approach as we move forward. I do want to point out that some test results are delayed in coming in so just because a number goes up doesn’t mean all those cases were diagnosed that day or even the day before and possibly tested weeks ago.
For those with concerning health issues, they can remain at home and limit their activity but for the rest of us we are thrilled to visit some of our favorite places, restaurants and stores.
If you think it’s unsafe, stay home.
simple…., if you are scared, don’t go out… worry about you and leave the rest of us to make money to feed our families. $1200.00 is less than what illegals are getting (and some of us didn’t get that)
Ridiculous campgrounds aren’t opening.
The government just wants to get out of paying for so many out of work checks (which a lot of people are still waiting for) – too bad it will be at the expense of more lives lost. Also, the problem is that only about 1/4 of the people obeys social distancing and masks.
“Phase One of the plan begins Friday, May 1 with recreation facilities such as outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts and playgrounds in the city reopening, and restaurants will be able to open outdoor seating. There could be adjustments based upon the plan announced by the state.”
How do you play basketball and on playgrounds keeping social distancing? Just wondering.
“Only 14 new cases since Sunday”, yesterday. It’s to early to reopen Pensacola.
Let’s all jump into the toilet together and push the flush button.