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.
Employee Of Target On Nine Mile Road Tests Positive For COVID-19
April 15, 2020
Target has confirmed that an employee at their store on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola has tested positive for COVID-19.
Target released the following statement:
“We’re working in close partnership with local health departments and can share that we have been notified that a Target team member at our Pensacola store on 9 Mile Road has a positive case of the coronavirus. Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members and guests, and we’re taking a number of steps to move forward. First, we’ve communicated directly with this team member, who is in quarantine and following all health department guidelines, and we’ll pay them while they’re on leave. We’ve also worked quickly to deep clean and sanitize the store, which is the recommendation of public health experts. We’ve notified the entire store team and provided them with the appropriate CDC guidance. We’ll continue to first and foremost take care of our team and guests.”
“Target is providing all team members in stores and distribution centers with high-quality, disposable face masks and gloves to wear at the beginning of every shift and strongly encourage that they be worn while working. Those supplies are rolling out now. “
Target has installed plexiglass partitions at checkout lines and other areas to separate employees and customers.
County Emails: Southern Oaks Has Long-Term Care COVID-19 Cases, Name Three Other Facilities Visited By Health Department Team
April 15, 2020
We are learning more about the reported cases of COVID-19 in Escambia County nursing homes through emails obtained through a public records request.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 48 coronavirus infections among staff members or residents of long-term care facilities in Escambia County, according to the Florida Department of Health. That is an increase of six cases on Wednesday. The FDOH has not and refused to identify the facilities.
Through emails obtained through public records requests made independently by NorthEscambia.com and Rick Outzen of RicksBlog.biz, we have learned that on April 7, Southern Oaks Care Center Administrator Lois Petty emailed Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore that a staff member and a resident had tested positive for COVID-19 (see email below). She said the health department and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration had visited the facility on West Gregory Street in Pensacola on the previous day and tested eight additional residents.
Petty said they toured her facility, reviewing systems and equipment. She said she was informed that she should have emergency management fit test staff for N95 masks. She asked for help with the fittings and help securing more N95 masks.
Gilmore responded that Escambia County Emergency Management does not fit test masks, and he provided a link to local vendor ProHealth that does.
Another email from Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, to Gilmore states on April 8 that eight nurses and an infection control practitioner would visit Southern Oaks, Brookedale, Bayside and Arcadia on April 9.
Brookdale Pensacola assisted living is located on University Parkway. Bayside Health and Rehabilitation Center is on Langley Avenue, and Arcadia Health and Rehabilitation Center is on Hillview Drive. The emails obtained Wednesday from Escambia County do not specifically say there are positive COVID-19 cases at Brookdale, Bayside or Arcadia, and no information about the facilities has been officially released.
