Three COVID-19 Testing Locations Closed Thursday Due To Severe Weather Threat
April 23, 2020
Three COVID-19 testing locations in Escambia County will be closed Thursday due to the threat of severe weather.
Community Health of Northwest Florida’s drive- sites at Cantonment Pediatrics and the Brownsville Community Center will be closed. The mobile testing unit will be at Morris Court Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Brownsville Community Center and Cantonment sites will resume operations Monday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prescreening is required for drive-thru testing, but is not required for walk-up testing. Call (850) 746-2684 to be prescreened.
Ascension Medical Group’s drive-thru site will also be closed on Thursday. Testing will resume on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For required pre-screening, call (850) 746-2684.
All three sites are outdoor locations.
Hospitals Support Reopening Local Beaches With Conditions
April 22, 2020
Local hospitals support the limited reopening of local beaches, Baptist Hospital CEO Mark Faulkner said Wednesday morning. He offered little insight into the conditions.
Faulkner said the CEOs of the major hospital in Escambia County will send a letter to the county commissions in Escambia and Santa Rosa county supporting the opening of beaches “with conditions”.
He said limiting the hours for the beach opening to just a few hours per day would lead to larger crowds at one time as opposed to a sunrise to sunset opening.
“When you are at the beach, it is a fairly low risk, low contact ” he said, “whereas at a setting of worship, or at a school, or a prison, where you have different constraints, it’s hard to just say we can open everything back up. We would certainly see a second wave.”
Santa Rosa County will vote on their beaches on Thursday, while Escambia County meets next Tuesday.
Faulkner’s comments came during a virtual “Coffee With A Commissioner” event hosted by District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh.
Pictured: (from top left, clockwide) Baptist CEO Mark Faulkner, Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, County Administrator Janice Gilley, Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore during a virtual “Coffee With A Commissioner” event Wednesday morning.
Escambia COVID-19 Cases Soar To 415; Long-Term Care Cases Up By 52
April 22, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County soared by 75 Wednesday, while the number of long-term care facility cases increased by 52, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The age of the newly diagnosed patients ranged from one to 100, but most were over 65.
The number of Escambia County cases in residents or staff of long-term care facilities increased by 52 and a seventh facility death was recorded. The number of long-term cases in Santa Rosa County remained at 10.
There are now 415 total COVID cases in Escambia County, up by 75 since Monday. It was the largest single day increase since testing started. In North Escambia, a second case was reported in Century.
Escambia County has not provided any official reasoning for the rapid case county increase, but we do know concentrated testing as been done at long-term care facilities such as Southern Oaks.
Santa Rosa County’s total increased by one to 140.
Statewide, there were 28,576 cases including 27,791 Florida residents. There have been 4,445 hospitalizations and 927 deaths.
Editor’s note. There were some slight discrepancies in the numbers provided by the FDOH between their dashboard summary and a more detailed 516 page report Wednesday afternoon. We chose to report the numbers from the detailed report. Differences are very minor. There was also adjustments in the data numbers by the state, such as reclassifying cases by county that resulted in a three case decrease since Wednesday morning in Escambia County.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 415 (+75 since Tuesday, a data adjustment down by 3)
- Long-term care cases — 138 (+52 since Tuesday)
- Pensacola — 325
- Cantonment — 35
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 1
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 33*
- Deaths — 10
- Male — 150
- Female — 171
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 100
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 140 (+1 since Tuesday, data adjustment)
- Long-term care cases — 10 (+0 since Tuesday)
- Milton — 75
- Navarre — 29
- Gulf Breeze — 23
- Pace — 10
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 20*
- Deaths — 6
- Male — 96
- Female — 42
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 28,576
- Florida residents — 27,791
- Deaths — 927
- Hospitalizations — 4,455*
*“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.
North Escambia Storm Damage Was Not A Tornado, Says National Weather Service
April 22, 2020
The National Weather Service has determined that damage in the Quintette, Cottage Hill and Cantonment areas early Monday morning was caused by poweful straight line winds, not a tornado.
“Damage was typical of severe straight line winds with no evidence of a tornado path,” the NWS said. Winds were estimated at 80-85 mph.
A storm survey crew found a corridor of significant wind damage from West Quintette Road east-southeast through Cottage Hill toward the Escambia River. Damage included roof damage to some homes with significant tree damage across the area.
Once the storm passed into Santa Rosa County, it created a brief EF-0 tornado track from Ephrem Lane to Bradley Drive in Pace with winds estimated at 75 mph. But most of the damage in the Pace area was from straight line winds estimated at 80-85 mph.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia (AL) COVID-19 Cases Up By One
April 22, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (AL) in increased by one on Wednesday, the Alabama Department of Health reported on the day after the county record its first death.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Escambia County (AL) has increased to 18, with a total of 246 total tests performed.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 5,610 total positive cases in the state out of 48,387 tests. There have been 201 reported deaths statewide.
Burglary, Vehicle Theft Suspect Captured After Foot Chase On Muscogee Road
April 22, 2020
Steven Paul Griggsby, 43, was charged with burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools, two counts of petit theft, criminal mischief with property damage and resisting arrest.
Griggsby is accused of stealing a vehicle Monday night from a used vehicle dealer on Palafox Street, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He’s also suspected of stealing catalytic converters.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received information that led to Griggsby at a location on Muscogee Road midday Tuesday. After a brief foot chase. he was taken into custody. An ECSO spokesperon said the clothing he was wearing in video from the car lot and catalytic converters were found inside the vehicle.
ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard said Griggsby may face additional charges, and there may be additional arrests in the case.
Griggsby remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $29,000.
Two Injured In Old Chemstrand Road Crash
April 22, 2020
Two people were injured in a two vehicle crash midday Tuesday in Cantonment.
The crash happened about noon on Old Chemstrand Road at the Mill Creek Trail, across from the Cypress Lakes Golf Club. At least one of the injured was transported to the hospital as a trauma alert.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further information.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Photos: Blue Angels And Thunderbirds Fly Over Escambia County
April 22, 2020
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flew over Pensacola Beach and downtown Pensacola Tuesday afternoon. Pictured above and below: The U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell and Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Improvement Committee Continues To Feed Kids Weekly. Here’s How You Can Help.
April 22, 2020
The Cantonment Improvement Committee was able to provide food bags to kids again on Tuesday.
For week seven of the ongoing project, food donations will be accepted on Monday, April 27 at 3 p.m., and food distributions will begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
Donations can also made to $CICfunding on Cash App.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Another Round Of Severe Storms Possible For Thursday
April 22, 2020
There is an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) of another rounds of severe weather in the North Escambia area.
Potential threats include damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 76. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 62. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Calm wind.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.