Escambia, Santa Rosa COVID-19 Cases Up By 33 Total On Thursday
April 9, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases increased by just three in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in the Thursday evening report from the Florida Department of Health.
FDOH reported 192 total COVID cases in Escambia County. Of those, 168 are local residents. The number of cases in Santa Rosa County increased to 70. Escambia County has had three fatalities, Santa Rosa one.
The number of coronavirus cases in in residents or staff of long-term care facilities increased to 20 in Escambia County. For the first time Thursday, Santa Rosa County reported in infection in a resident of staff of a long-term care facility.
Statewide, there were 16,826 cases including 15,826 Florida residents. There have been 2298 hospitalizations and 371 deaths.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 192 (+8 since Wednesday)
- Pensacola — 132
- Cantonment — 25
- Bellview — 5
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 2
- Molino – 1
- Century — 1
- Residents: 176
- Nonresidents — 16
- Hospitalizations: 17
- Deaths — 3
- Men — 95
- Women — 95
- Youngest: 2
- Oldest: 95
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 96 (+25 since Wednesday)
- Milton — 53
- Navarre — 20
- Gulf Breeze — 13
- Pace — 9
- Jay — 1
- Residents: 48
- Nonresidents — 0
- Hospitalizations — 12
- Deaths — 2
- Men — 67
- Women — 29
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 84
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 16,826
- Florida residents — 16,353
- Deaths — 371
- Hospitalizations — 2,298
Escambia County (AL) Now Reporting Five COVID-19 Cases
April 9, 2020
Five COVID-19 cases have now been confirmed in Escambia County, Alabama, according to the latest data release Thursday morning from the Alabama Department of Health, up from three cases on Monday.
ADH is reporting 136 total COVID-19 tests in Escambia County; however, the two hospitals in the county reported conducting 199 total tests. Tuesday evening, the Escambia County Healthcare Authority said there were 126 total specimens collected at Atmore Community Hospital with four positives, 97 negatives and 24 awaiting results. At D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton, there were 73 total tests administered with one positive, 61 negatives and 11 pending results.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 2,547 total cases in the state.
Five Walnut Hill Volunteer Firefighters, Two EMS Medics Quarantined After Contact With Suspected COVID-19 Patient
April 9, 2020
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
Seven Escambia County first responders are quarantined after responding to a medical call in Walnut Hill early Tuesday morning.
All are quarantined due to suspected COVID-19 exposure, according to Laura Coale, Escambia County spokesperson.
Five volunteer members of the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and two Escambia County EMS crew members are all in self-quarantine at their respectives homes pending COVID-19 test results for the patient.
NorthEscambia.com has learned the patient was pronounced deceased shortly after the original medical call; a cause of death has not been released.
Coale said two EMS employees are also quarantined for non-work related reasons. There have been no positive cases of COVID-19 in any Escambia County EMS or Fire Rescue employee or volunteer, she said.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged After Allegedly Threatening Man, Escambia Deputy
April 9, 2020
A Cantonment man was charged after allegedly threatening to kill a man while holding a loaded shotgun and threatening to kill an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
Steve Green Dunn, 68, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of aggravated assault, threatening a deputy and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on a $16,000 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported armed disturbance involving an intoxicated male waving a gun the at the end of Bibbs Road off Muscogee Road.
Deputies arrived on scene to find Dunn carrying a shotgun on Bibbs Road before walking to the rear of his trailer, according to an arrest report. He emerged from the trailer without a gun, advising deputies that he had put the shotgun in the trailer. The shotgun was later found in the backyard.. Dunn told deputies that he was just cleaning the gun, and he did not know why the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was called.
A witness said Dunn called him a coward and told him he would kill him as he was holding a long gun, and that Dunn had about a year ago discharged a weapon three times to intimidate him.
Deputies said in their report that Dunn was highly intoxicated and had a metal pipe containing marijuana residue. The report also states Dunn called the deputy multiple names and told him that when he got out of jail he had another gun and would kill the him. Dunn’s statements were captured on the deputy’s in-vehicle video system.
Rumor Control: Alabama Troopers Aren’t Shutting Down The State’s Borders
April 9, 2020
Alabama State Troopers have no plans to shut down the state’s borders, according to a statement released Wednesday evening.
“These are rumors,” said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Secretary Hal Taylor. “ALEA State Troopers continue to patrol roadways daily, to promote public safety and to enforce the law. There are no plans to shut down our state borders.”
ALEA said they are receiving a high volume of inquiries from motorists concerning enforcement along Alabama’s roadways since Gov. Kay Ivey announced a stay-at-home order last week in response to COVID-19.
Nearly Two-Thirds Of Those Tested For COVID-19 In Escambia County Have Their Results
April 9, 2020
Nearly two-thirds of those tested for COVID-19 in Escambia County have received their results.
The latest data Wednesday night shows that 4,786 tests have been performed in Escambia County by Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist Hospital, West Florida Hospital and Community Health Northwest Florida. Of those tests, 3,699 were conducted in drive-thrus and 1,087 were conducted in hospitals’ inpatient, outpatient and emergency facilities.
There were 2,873 negative test results received, and 165 positives. That puts Escambia County positive rate at 5.4%; statewide the positive rate was 11%.
The Florida Department of Health lags behind in reporting testing numbers. The FDOH only showed 2,544 tests conducted in Escambia County Wednesday night with 2,544 negatives.
As of Wednesday night, there have been 16 hospitalizations and three deaths in Escambia County.
Back To School And Disaster Sales Tax Holidays To Return In 2020
April 9, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a tax cut bill allowing for a back to school and a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday for 2020.
It’s estimated that the sales tax holiday will cost the state about $37 million in revenue and local governments will take an $11 million cut.
The disaster preparedness holiday will be May 29 to June 4 with items such as flashlights under $20, portable radios under $50, tarps under $50, ground anchor systems or tie-down kits under $50, gas or diesel containers under $25, batteries under $30, coolers under $30, generators under $750 and reusable ice packs under $10.
The schools sales holiday August 7-9 includes clothing and shoes under $60 per item; backpacks, handbags and wallets, under $60 per item; school supplies priced $15 or less per item and computers and accessories under $1,000.
“These programs are needed now more than ever,” said Scott Shalley, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. “Not only do these important tax-free holidays provide relief to consumers buying necessities, but they will inject a shot of adrenaline into Florida’s retail businesses after suffering through the COVID-19 pandemic and forced closures. Thank you to the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis for delivering this tax relief.”
DeSantis Signs Bill Legalizing Fireworks On Three Holidays
April 9, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a bill that legalizes fireworks in Florida on three holidays every year.
The full use of fireworks in Florida is now legal on Independence Day on July 4, New Year’s Eve on December 31 and New Year’s Day on January 1.
Sparklers, noisemakers and the like are legal all year. On the three holidays, people will be able to shoot real fireworks — the kind that explode or shoot in to the sky.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Forecasters Becoming More Concerned About Easter Sunday Severe Weather Threat
April 9, 2020
The National Weather Service said confidence is increasing in the potential for severe storms for Sunday and Sunday night.
The entire North Escambia area is now in the enhanced risk area (level 3 of 5). The National Weather Service said all modes are severe weather are possible. We’ll keep you updated on NorthEscambia.com.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: Isolated showers before 1pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 81. Windy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Florida Launches New Mobile Friendly Unemployment Claims Site
April 9, 2020
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has rolled out a new mobile friendly online application site in an effort to solve problems that have plagued the agency after a surge in COVID-19 related claims.
“The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is committed to ensuring Floridians are able to receive the benefits owed to them during this global pandemic,” said Ken Lawson, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “The team is working around the clock to make the process for applying for Reemployment Assistance as easy as possible for Floridians.”
Floridians who do not have a current open claim should complete their application online at www.FloridaJobs.org/RAApplication.
To utilize the user-friendly online application or to download the paper application, Floridians should visit www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19. If a person chooses to file a paper application, they should mail their application to DEO, and a representative will call when their application is processed.
Paper applications can be mailed to:
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
P.O. Box 5350
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350
CareerSource locations across the state are available to assist with completing and submitting an online application. They are also available to provide paper applications.