COVID-19 Last Week In Escambia County: Two Died, Cases Increase By 85; 27 Long-Term Care Cases Reported
April 12, 2020
Two people died from COVID-19 during the past week in Escambia County.
Also during the past week in Escambia County:
- One death was a 78-year old male that had contact with a previous case but no travel, and the second ws a 91-year old female with no travel history and no contact with a known case. A 75-year old female passed away a week prior.
- The number of cases in the county increased from 125 to 210. During the week, the number of cases in Pensacola increased from 84 to 155, and the number in Cantonment went from 19 to 26.
- The number of cases in residents or staff of long-term care facilities increases from just one to 28. Health officials will not name the facility or facilities involved.
- The first cases were reported in Molino and McDavid.
Virus Cases Continue Climb At Milton Prison; Still Only One Reported Case In Century Prison
April 12, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases reported at a Milton prison increased to 40 on Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
There are now 34 positive inmates and six infected employees or staff members at the Blackwater Correctional Facility. Blackwater is privately operated by the Geo Group, Inc. under a contract with the state and has a capacity of 2,000 inmates.
Just over a week ago, the count was three workers and no inmates.
A staffer at the Century Correctional Institution has also tested positive for coronavirus. No CCI inmates were positive as of Saturday’s report.
There are a total of 44 employees and contact staff positive at Florida Department of Corrections facilities, including Blackwater. Outside Blackwater in Milton, the only other positive inmate in the state is at Sumter Correctional Institution west of Orlando.
USDA To Allow Florida SNAP Recipients To Purchase Groceries Online
April 12, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Florida’s request to allow SNAP recipients to purchase groceries online.
SNAP recipients are not currently allowed to purchase groceries online; they must appear in person and present their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.
The approval will allow the Florida to expedite the implementation of online purchasing with currently authorized SNAP online retailers with a target start date later this month.
“Allowing Florida families to purchase groceries online instead of venturing into a public store is a sound practice during this public health emergency and yet another step that will help Florida flatten the curve,” DeSantis said.
The USDA has an online shopping pilot program in several states, including Alabama, with shoppers limited to certain websites.
“Through this innovative pilot program, SNAP households can purchase food online and pay using their EBT card at pickup, among other options. This reduces shopping risk from COVID-19, helps fulfill consumer demand, and keeps Florida-grown products moving to families,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said.
Nearly 3 million Floridians participate in SNAP administered by the Florida Department of Children and Families, which will ultimately determine how the online program will work.
Grab-And-Go Easter Giveaway Provides Over 1,000 Meals, Easter Goodies
April 12, 2020
Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May, retired NFL guard Josh Sitton, retired professional boxer Roy Jones Jr. and retired NFL defensive tackle Fred Robbins hosted a grab-and-go drive-thru Easter event for children Saturday at Legion Field.
Parents and children received a free boxed lunch, fresh vegetables and fruit. A free Easter goody bag was also given to children.
“The last few weeks have been a difficult time for all of us as we adjust to the new normal of limiting gatherings and social distancing amid COVID-19,” Commissioner May said. “We wanted to give kids and families a sense of normalcy and provide a fun way to get out of the house and still celebrate the holiday.”
The even was sponsored by the Sitton family and other local residents.
UWF Coach Is Running Seven Marathons In Seven Days To Help Feed The Community
April 12, 2020
Inspired by an ultrarunner in Palm Bay, Florida, who ran 100 miles in one day to raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts, University of West Florida cross country coach Caleb Carmichael laced up his Nike running shoes and left his home at 5 a.m. on Monday, April 6. He returned about 3½ hours and nearly 27 miles later, one step closer to his admittedly “crazy” goal.
The 35-year-old Carmichael is running seven marathons in seven days to raise money for Argo Pantry, which provides food to UWF students in need of assistance, and for Feeding the Gulf Coast, a food bank that serves 24 counties throughout the Florida panhandle, South Alabama and South Mississippi. He set up a crowdfunding page through Feeding the Gulf Coast. Argo Pantry asks that donations be made through its wish list on Amazon or by visiting the student support webpage and selecting Argo Pantry as the designation.
“As a community we’re going to have a lot of people lose jobs and not be able to feed their kids and we need to do something about it,” said Carmichael, who is in his seventh year as the UWF men’s and women’s cross country head coach and will complete his fundraiser on Sunday, April 12. “It needed to be something crazy enough for people to take notice. Doing seven in a row is a monumental task.”
Since the spread of COVID-19, Feeding the Gulf Coast reports over a 500% increase in people seeking food assistance. From April 1-7, the organization distributed over 100,000 pounds of food during its mobile panty distributions and distributed 4,000 meals and 4,000 snacks to children in the community. The demand put on food banks nationwide increases each day as the unemployment rate skyrockets from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, the largest network of food banks with over 200 affiliates, projects a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months.
Those grim projections motivate Carmichael each morning to lace the Nikes back up and hit the pavement. Last month, he ran 100 miles in a week, capped by a marathon, but seven marathons in seven days—a total of about 186.2 miles—marks a first for him.
“It’s been hard no doubt about it, but I’m just inspired to do something for somebody else,” said Carmichael, after completing his fourth consecutive marathon on Thursday, April 9. “Each day I start off very sore, very tired and kind of work through it. Halfway in I feel better and then toward the end I get tired and worn out. I spend most of the day then resting and eating and getting hydrated so that I’m ready for the next day.”
For more information about Argo Pantry, visit uwf.edu/argopantry.
Escambia, Santa Rosa COVID-19 Cases Increase By 11 Total On Saturday
April 11, 2020
Only 11 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Saturday by the Florida Department of Health.
There are now 210 total COVID cases in Escambia County. The number of cases in Santa Rosa County increased Saturday by just one to 106. Both counties have had thee deaths each.
The number of coronavirus cases in residents or staff of long-term care facilities remained at 28 in Escambia County.
Statewide, there were 18,986 cases including 18,445 Florida residents. There have been 2,607 hospitalizations and 446 deaths.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 210 (+6 since Friday)
- Long-term care cases — 26
- Pensacola — 155
- Cantonment — 26
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 2
- Molino – 1
- Century — 1
- Residents: 188
- Nonresidents — 16
- Hospitalizations: 17
- Deaths — 3
- Youngest: 2
- Oldest: 95
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 106 (+1 since Friday)
- Long-term care cases — 1
- Milton — 56
- Navarre — 27
- Gulf Breeze — 13
- Pace — 9
- Jay — 1
- Residents: 105
- Nonresidents — 0
- Hospitalizations — 13
- Deaths — 3
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 84
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 18,986
- Florida residents — 18,445
- Deaths — 446
- Hospitalizations — 2,607
Overall Crime Rate Falls In Escambia County As Murders More Than Double
April 11, 2020
The overall crime rate in Escambia County dropped 4.1% from 2018 to 2019 while the number of murders more than doubled, according the 2019 Uniform Crime Report released Friday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime rate was down 4.7%, and the Pensacola Police Department’s was down 5%.
The number of murders in Escambia County increased 12 in 2018 to 27 in 2019, robberies increased from 293 to 337, aggravated assaults were up from 1.769 to 1.828, and burglaries increased from 1,769 to 1,828.
Rapes decreased from 224 to 186, larcenies were down from 7,203 to 6,724 and motor vehicle thefts slipped from 679 to 650.
The clearance rate, the percentage of crimes solved, improved from 31.9% in 2018 to 32.5% in 2019
Of the 27 murders in 2019, 24 were in the county and three were in the City of Pensacola.
Across the state, the crime rate in Florida fell by 6.3 percent, marking the 49th consecutive year the state has seen a drop in its crime rate. The report also shows a 4.6 percent decrease of total index crimes, with 26,128 fewer reported offenses compared to 201
Churches Go Virtual For Easter, Sunrise Services
April 11, 2020
One of the largest sunrise services each year in Escambia County is normally held at Blue Wahoos Stadium. This year, the public won’t be able to attend, but it will be streamed live on several platforms.
Marcus Pointe Baptist Church will present the Community SonRise Service from inside Blue Wahoos Stadium as a virtual experience. It will be available at 6 a.m. on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Roku, Apple TV, The Marcus Pointe App, and at PensacolaChurch.org/live. The service will also air on at Country 98.7, The Gulf Coast CW, Blab TV, and WHBR.
To see a list of numerous other Easter services, click here for our Facebook page.
Pictured above and below is the 2019 Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Community Sonrise Service at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Our View Update: Escambia County Decides To Release COVID-19 Situation Report
April 11, 2020
UPDATE: Escambia County announced Saturday afternoon that they will once again make their Emergency Operations Center Situation Report available.
NorthEscambia.com published an editorial Saturday morning (below) calling for access to the report.
Escambia County released the following statement Saturday afternoon:
In support of board direction from April 2 and extensive legal review, we will be providing the COVID-19 Escambia SitRep document in addition to the twice-daily Joint Information Center updates, State of Florida Situation Reports and daily Escambia County specimen collection totals.
“In keeping with Board’s direction on April 2, staff and legal counsel have reviewed the COVID-19 Escambia SitRep to ensure we have the opportunity to continue the mission of protecting the public without jeopardizing the confidentiality of any health related data that is protected by state and federal laws. We believe the information in this incident report will provide the community with more detailed updates during this extraordinary time.
said County Administrator Janice Gilley.
“This information is being released in furtherance of Escambia County’s official duties and responsibilities to serve the county’s citizens, businesses and agencies during a public health emergency. Information appearing in this document was compiled from multiple sources and community partners and thus Escambia County does not assure the accuracy of the reported information,” said Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers.
“It is not the intent of Emergency Management to withhold information. This has been an unprecedented event in which the county is not the lead agency, but serves as the resource manager during the incident. Emergency Management’s intent is to put out accurate information in a timely manner while making sure our community partners’ information does not violate any state or federal regulations. Emergency Management will continue to obtain up-to-date information and to communicate that to the citizens of Escambia County,” said Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore.
Below is the NorthEscambia.com editorial published Saturday morning:
Escambia County is now withholding the public release of a key report that summarizes the local response to COVID-19.
Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers determined that the situation report is exempt from public disclosure as a “threat assessment.” It’s a report called simply the “sitrep.”
While the county’s media relations department has not directly released the sitrep to the media or public, key county leaders have forwarded the report to media outlets including NorthEscambia.com. The report contains varied information from local agencies like ECAT changes, student meal totals from library and school feeding sites, COVID-19 testing sites, hospital information and law enforcement agency statuses.
Essentially, it’s a one-stop summary that was used by EOC partner agencies, county leadership including commissioners, the media and members of the public to monitor the county’s response. Many the report sections basically say “normal operations.” And while it might seem that law enforcement information could be sensitive, there was nothing that the Pensacola Police Department or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has not already stated publicly like the number of quarantined officers.
There were no secrets in the sitrep.
How much of the sitrep did NorthEscambia.com publish? Directly, nothing at all. It served as a reminder for us to create and publish certain stories on our own. But more importantly, it was like a reassuringly good dad talk. “Son, we have a problem, here’s what is happening, nothing is suddenly worse, and what I know, you know. We’ll get through this together.”
Last week, Escambia County Commissioners agreed during a meeting that any information the county has should be released to the public and media.
Commissioner Jeff Bergosh posted a copy of the report on his blog this week and highlighted the percentage of ventilators available at local hospitals (which was actually a good number — about 80% unused). That data is a good bench mark of a worsening problem, which we do not currently have.
But suddenly the sitrep became a confidential document the public cannot see and commissioners cannot distribute under Florida statute 119.071(3) which seems to be geared more toward terroristic threats.
“For the SITREP to suddenly be deemed ‘unreleasable’ is wrong I believe,” Bergosh wrote Friday on his blog. “I want it released as it was being released before. The citizens, especially during these times of uncertainty and panic, deserve complete transparency. To suddenly say a document is ‘classified’ is wrong. This will sow angst, anger, mistrust, and fear needlessly.” The underlining and bold emphasis were his.
“The public records law is supposed to be interpreted liberally — leaning toward maximum transparency. In this instance, the county’s attorney is conservatively interpreting this law. Too conservatively in my opinion. It is wrong, so far as I am concerned,” he continued. “Threat Assessment??!!?? Really? This virus is a common enemy to all (even our real enemies overseas)–It’s not as if we are at war and the enemy is studying our hospital capacity information! We’re all fighting this together—-and information is critical in this fight. And the citizens deserve this information!”
Bergosh is asking for a virtual special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners to decide that the sitrep is available to the public. The sitrep release is an option seemingly available under that the same Florida statute under which it was deemed unreleasable.
It will be up to BOCC chairman Steven Barry to determine if a special meeting will be called.
“Regarding Commissioner Bergosh’s request for a special meeting on his blog today, I believe it’s the chairperson’s responsibility to attempt to accommodate reasonable requests from their colleagues.,” Barry said in a text message to NorthEscambia.com “However, I am certainly not going to ask the board to convene in person for any type of meeting while the Governor’s orders are still active. I have spoken with Attorney Rogers and Administrator Gilley today, and I know they are actively working with Emergency Director Eric Gilmore to address concerns related to the release of different types of information and data. I am optimistic that they will be able to arrive at a course of action that balances the release of information that meets the needs of our board, our media partners, and most importantly, our citizens and constituents, with the privacy issues related to medically protected information and the public safety issues related to the integrity of threat assessment reports. I believe it is only prudent to give the new course of action some time to see how it’s going. In closing, I am open minded to Commissioner Bergosh’s request to schedule what would be a virtual, or electronic meeting, but will consider it more next week.”
Barry made it clear that he does support the release of information.
“I absolutely support the release of any information that does not violate any person’s medical privacy or sensitive law enforcement or operational planning information,” he said.
NorthEscambia.com is joining the call made by other local media, including the Pensacola News Journal and Rick’s Blog, to release the situation report as soon as it is created. There was been nothing in previous editions of the report that needed to be hidden from public view, and we pray our situation improves and nothing in the report gets any worse. But Escambia County citizens are all-in during this pandemic situation, and we should know what our situation is. There’s nothing to hide.
Editor’s note: This story has been update to reflect the sitrep was not always issued every single day, but rather several days per week.
Escambia County, City Of Pensacola Receive $1.3 Million For COVID-19 Response
April 11, 2020
Escambia County and the City of Pensacola will receive over $1.3 million on Community Development Block Grant funding for COVID-19 response.
Escambia County will receive $872,881, and the City of Pensacola will receive $452,160.
These funds will be used to address a wide variety of public health and public service activities to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19. CDBG funds must be utilized for activities that target low and moderate-income households.
Both local governments are awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding the availability date of funding and detailed guidance from HUD as to activities that will be eligible for this funding. Community input will be solicited on how the funds can be utilized to help facilitate COVID-19 response in Escambia County and the City of Pensacola.