Three-Quarters Of Escambia County COVID-19 Fatalities Are Long-Term Center Residents Or Staff

May 10, 2020

About three-quarters of the COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County have been in local long-term facilities, according to recently released data from the Florida Department of Health.

There have been 18 coronavirus deaths in Escambia County, with 13 of those tied directly to local long-term care facilities. Twelve of the deaths were residents, while one staff member has also died.

According to FDOH data:

  • Bayside Health And Rehabilitation Center has had four resident deaths, 33 positive residents and 15 infected staff members.
  • Brookdale Pensacola  has had four resident deaths one infected resident and six positive staff members.
  • Southern Oaks Care Center  has recorded three resident deaths, one staff member fatality, 94 positive residents, four positive residents transferred to other facilities and three infected staff members.
  • Arcadia Health & Rehabilitation Center has seen on resident death. The latest FDOH report does not indicate any other cases at the facility.

A total of 656 patients and eight employees have died at long-term care facilities across Florida — nearly 40% of of the state’s confirmed 1,715  COVID-19 deaths.

Nursing home populations are at the highest risk of being affected by COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention due to their nature and a resident population that is often older adults with underlying chronic medical conditions.

Pictured: Southern Oaks Care Center on West Gregory Street.  Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Three-Quarters Of Escambia County COVID-19 Fatalities Are Long-Term Center Residents Or Staff”

  1. NursingHomeNurse on May 11th, 2020 10:25 am

    Thank you Rasheed Jackson for your kind words. People seem to forget that LTC residents are more vulnerable to any virus. They are in Nursing Homes for a reason and that is not good health! Who is going to take care of these vulnerable elderly people if there is no staff? Aren’t we supposed to isolate for 14 days after being tested? Family members are not taking their loved ones out of nursing homes to care for them at home at this time. Thank you all nursing home staff members for your dedication to your residents!

  2. Unknown Mother on May 11th, 2020 8:43 am

    My young adult child works at one of the facilities mentioned. I was not too worried about said child until I saw this!!!!!! Pray for them all. Said child has been tested and she is waiting on the results. First time they have tested said child since this started!!

  3. Sherry Ewy on May 10th, 2020 10:23 am

    This should not have have happened.

  4. Rasheed Jackson on May 10th, 2020 9:31 am

    Healthcare workers at long term care facilities are the real heroes in all this. They are the ones that were, and still are, on the front lines battling this pandemic. Putting themselves at risk isolating from their families and yes even contracting the virus, and after they were cleared, returned to their jobs. Many times, working 16 hour shifts with no days off.
    One of the big issues and the most heart breaking was the fact that their patients were having to die alone. No family members to sit with them and comfort them. So not only were they their care givers but their family.
    The struggle for these healthcare workers was more than just physical but emotional as they watch people, they had cared form and grown to love, in some cases many years, die alone without the comfort of their family being with them. Then there are the family members to deal with as they too are drained emotionally not being able to be with the mom, dad, or husband, wife, sister, brother whatever the case might have been. Yes, these people in the long-term care facilities, nurses, CNA’s, and all the staff are the ones who have truly fought the good fight.
    Prayers to for them all and may the hand of God be upon them guiding them and giving them strength.