Escambia County Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19
April 16, 2020
An Escambia County public works employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
The county said the employee does not interact with the community and works in a small building without public access.
The office area has been sanitized and the employee’s office door has been closed. At this time, no other employees in that building show symptoms, and one employee is in self-quarantine out of precaution, according to a county statement. Employees who work in that building have been notified.
The employee is symptomatic and is at home. This case is not travel related. The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County is performing its due diligence to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 by tracing all contacts.
“We are concerned for this employee and pray for a quick recovery,” said Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley.
Fifth COVID-19 Death In Santa Rosa County; Escambia And Santa Rosa Cases Up 19 Thursday
April 16, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE.
A fifth person has died from COVID-19 in Santa Rosa County, as the number of COVID-19 cases increased by 19 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties on Thursday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Santa Rosa County’s fifth death was a 65-year old male with no travel history and unknown contact with a known case. Escambia County has seen four deaths.
There are now 277 total COVID cases in Escambia County and 118 in Santa Rosa County.
The number of Escambia County cases in residents or staff of long-term care facilities increased by three on Wednesday to a total of 52.
Statewide, there were 23,340 cases including 22,674 Florida residents. There have been 3,458 hospitalizations and 668 deaths.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 277 (+16 since Wednesday)
- Long-term care cases — 52 (+3 since Wednesday)
- Pensacola — 213
- Cantonment — 32
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 2
- Molino – 1
- Century — 1
- Residents: 228
- Nonresidents — 19
- Hospitalizations: 24*
- Deaths — 4
- Male — 115
- Female — 129
- Youngest — 2
- Oldest — 95
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 118 (+3 since Wednesday)
- Long-term care cases — 1
- Milton — 63
- Navarre — 29
- Gulf Breeze — 16
- Pace — 9
- Jay — 1 (FDOH reclassified a second patients as not being from Jay)
- Residents: 105
- Nonresidents — 0
- Hospitalizations — 16*
- Deaths — 5
- Male — 82
- Female — 36
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 89
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 23,340
- Florida residents — 22,674
- Deaths — 668
- Hospitalizations — 3,458*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
How Many People Have Recovered From COVID-19 In Florida? Officially, Zero.
April 16, 2020
How many people have recovered from COVID-19 in Florida?
That number is officially zero.
NorthEscambia.com readers commonly ask us why our at least twice-daily data reports don’t include the number of people that have recovered. Officially, we don’t know because the number does not exist.
Each day, the Florida Department of Health releases data about hundreds of new cases, increasing a case total that was at 22,519 Wednesday night. The FDOH data daily increases total in multiple categories, but for the now the numbers do not show the number of patients that have recovered from the virus.
We asked the Florida Department of Health why, and they said there is no accepted definition of what “recovered” means.
“The state is developing new efforts daily as we respond to COVID-19 to keep Floridians and visitors safe and informed about the status of the virus. Currently, there are multiple ways for recovered cases to be recorded and several methods are used by different countries and states. Some states and countries measure a case as recovered when a person has had COVID-19 for more than 14 days, while others upon hospital discharge data – neither of which completely capture recovery of the full COVID positive population,” the FDOH said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
“The Florida Department of Health will continue to provide information on hospitalizations and deaths to keep the public informed about the threat of the virus,” FDOH concluded.
Fire Damages Duplex In Ferry Pass
April 16, 2020
Fire heavily damaged a duplex in Ferry Pass Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 6:20 p.m. 3000 block of Cedarwood Village, near Life Care Center of Pensacola. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
There were no injuries, and one family was displaced by the fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Prison Inmates Have Died As COVID-19 Continues To Spread At Blackwater In Milton
April 16, 2020
Two inmates at Milton’s Blackwater River Correctional Facility have died from COVID-19 as the virus continues to spread.
The first inmate, 69-year-old Jeffrey Sand, died April 9. The second, 84-year-old William B. Wilson, died April 12, according to published reports citing the Santa Rosa County medical examiner’s office. The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has not released any details or acknowledged the deaths.
Sand (pictured left) was serving a three year sentenced from St. Johns and Duval counties for aggravated assault and burglary. Wilson was serving life for sexual battery on a victim under 12 in a Clay County case.
As of Wednesday, there were 33 inmates and eight workers positive for COVID-19 at Blackwater. With no public clarification from FDC, it was not clear if the deceased inmates were included in the 33 counted as positive.
FDC announced Wednesday that 10 inmates at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach have COVID-19, with all of the cases diagnosed this week.
“Tomoka CI transitioned to providing all services including medical services and meals to inmates within their dormitories,” FDC said. “All symptomatic inmates are being tested for COVID-19. Additionally, elderly and immune-compromised inmates are given priority for testing.”
A Wednesday report from FDC showed 58 positive employees or staff members across the state and 42 total inmates, including those at Blackater. One employee or contract staff member at Century Correctional Institution is confirmed positive.
Escambia County (AL) Increases To 11 Positive COVID-19 Cases
April 16, 2020
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Escambia County, Alabama, has increased to 11, according to the latest data release Wednesday from the Alabama Department of Health.
ADH is reporting 191 total COVID-19 tests have been performed in Escambia County, a positive rate of about 5.8%.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 4,241 total cases in the state.
Hudson Hill Road In Century Closed At Highway 29
April 16, 2020
Hudson Hill Road will be closed at the intersection with Highway 29 in Century from Thursday morning until the completion of repair work.
Crews will be performing water line repairs.
Drives can access residences on Hudson Hill Road by detouring on McCall Road to the southern end of Hudson Hill Road.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Great Thursday, Rain Chances Up By The Weekend
April 16, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.
Airports Get $10 Billion In Stimulus Money. Pensacola Will Get $11 Million Plus, Atmore Just $20K.
April 16, 2020
Airport across the country will receive their share of $10 billion in federal stimulus money. In the North Escambia area, payments range from a high of more than $11 million to just $20,000.
The Pensacola International Airport will receive $11,081,566, and Peter Price Field in Milton will get $30,000.
The Atmore Municipal Airport will receive $20,000, and the Brewton Municipal Airport will get $30,000.
The grants announced by the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday are going to 100 Florida airports and total over $896 million. Miami International will get the largest check at $296 million, followed by Orlando International at $170 million, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International with $135 million and Tampa International with $81 million.
Frontier Communications Files Bankruptcy. Company Says Service Won’t Get Any Worse.
April 16, 2020
Frontier Communications, which provides local landline and internet service in part of the North Escambia area, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The company said that as they work through financial restructuring, their service won’t get any worse.
“Frontier expects to continue providing quality service to its customers without interruption and work with its business partners as usual throughout the court-supervised process,” Frontier said in a news release. “The company has sufficient liquidity to meet its ongoing obligations.”
In the local area, Frontier is a landline company in Molino, Bratt and Walnut Hill in Florida, and Atmore in Alabama. They also offer DSL internet service in those areas.
“With this agreement with our bondholders, we can now focus on executing our strategy to drive operational efficiencies and position our business for long-term growth,” said Frontier CEO and President Bernie Han. Frontier is looking to reduce debt by more than $10 billion.
Frontier provides fiber-optic and copper network services in 29 states.