Comments on: Long-Term Care COVID-19 Cases Increase To 20 In Escambia County. No One Will Say Which Facilities Are Involved.

By: Dwn

Dwn — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 14:43:49 +0000

Lack of transparency is exactly what consumer advocates, campaign finance reform supporters, environmentalists, among others, have been talking about for decades. This is a classic example of government and business in cahoots with one another, suppressing public knowledge… and even during a public emergency.

It is troublesome when certain county commissioners publicly shame the general public for wanting to receive comprehensive information by calling them “alarmists” and “extremists”. And, when the health department director declines interview requests with the local TV news station (see WEAR 6 PM newscast statement where the director has not responded to repeated requests for an interview since March 26), it generates more suspicion in the public. Also, this website has sounded the alarm on closed meetings where the media were not informed.

Same thing is going on at the White House, where only select members of the press are granted interviews (to control the questions).

Those constantly worried about 2nd Amendment rights should exam what is happening to 1st Amendment rights with regard to freedom of the press.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 14:19:50 +0000

What has happened to the SUNSHINE LAWS of Florida. One should be able to find out if their loved one is in danger.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 13:55:57 +0000

My Mother-in-laws long term care facility called us to let us know that she was ok.
I assume if you have a loved one in one of these facilities you will be contacted and kept up to date. If you weren’t all you have to do is call them and ask. You can also call the resident (We call her every day and prior to this outbreak visited three times a week) Stay in touch with your loved ones and form a working relationship with their caregivers, it pays big dividends.

By: Kel

Kel — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 04:33:40 +0000

Non-transparency is a good way to invoke distrust between officials and citizens of a community, especially in an event where information is key to one’s safety and survival. I’m confused as to how listing the number of confirmed long-term care cases within each hospital without personal identification breaks some sort of privacy law.

By: Suzie B

Suzie B — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 01:02:18 +0000

So basically, a family doesn’t know IF their family member has already been exposed so removing them for the time being may or may not do any good. If the patient has been exposed, this will then expose the rest of the family/caregivers at home yet if they don’t remove the patient, the risk of exposure increases if it’s at that facility. It just seems that the nursing home management should notify family members if there have been cases at their facility to give a family an option to move their patient home or not. This is all so frustrating as each variable arises. Please folks, just do the best you can. I know there are rules to follow but knowing your family member may go through this without family nearby is heart wrenching.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 00:14:22 +0000

Brenda Posey, you are absolutely right. For the sake of the communal health they must release the info on the infection points. But they won’t, the risk of lawsuits is far greater than the risk of infecting other citizens.
This brings the question of what imposes the most danger onto the public health? The fear of lawsuits, the lawyers – they are the ones who put our health at risk, albeit indirectly.

By: JOHN

JOHN — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 19:56:31 +0000

Bottom line: People need to stay home. You don’t need to be going to Wal Mart to buy beer right now. You need to stay home! Stay home! Stay home!!!

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 19:46:16 +0000

Glad we got the mother-in-law out two months ago. Just I in Time! Wish I could name it here but I think the Moderator would remove it.

By: Brenda Posey

Brenda Posey — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 19:41:38 +0000

I understand and respect privacy as it applies to personal information. In these times, the question arises – is it better to list the facilities and how many cases are identified in each OR to maintain the hidden list of facilities and keep hundreds or perhaps thousands of family members and concerned friends in the dark and worried for the health and welfare of their loved ones?