Baptist Releases Full COVID-19 Test Result Information. The Other Local Hospitals Have Not.
March 28, 2020
Baptist Healthcare became the first local hospital to release full COVID-19 testing data, but so far other local health care providers have not.
On Saturday, Baptist said they have collected 316 samples outside of their hospitals. Of these samples taken, 119 have resulted negative; six have resulted positive; and 191 results are pending. That is about a five percent positive rate among results.
Baptist also said they have three COVID-19 positive patients at Gulf Breeze Hospital and two COVID-19 positive patients at Baptist Hospital.
Ascension Sacred Heart, West Florida Hospital and Community Health of Northwest Florida have not provided complete data on the COVID-19 tests they have administered. They have not said how many of their tests are negative, how many are pending or the number of positives.
“We expect to join other area providers in jointly reporting testing data soon to provide the community with an accurate accounting of COVID-19 cases in the area,” Baptist said in a statement.
Staff Member At Century Prison Confirmed Positive For COVID-19
March 28, 2020
A confirmed positive COVID-19 case has been reported in an employee or contract staff member at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
NorthEscambia.com first learned of the a reported COVID-19 case on Tuesday and sent numerous questions about it to the FDC. The corrections department public affairs office acknowledged most of our inquiries, but they did not confirm the case at the Century prison until late Friday. The FDC will not say if the individual is a staff member or a contract employee at the prison.
“In order to protect the personal health information of these individuals, FDC will not identify the name or occupation of the employees,” FDC said in a statement. “Staff…may be employed by FDC or one of its contractors. Any employee who is symptomatic, or who has tested positive for COVID-19, will not be allowed entry to a correctional institution. The employee will not be allowed to return to work until a full recovery is documented by a medical professional and DOH and CDC guidelines are followed. Additional questions on the above individuals (gender, age, travel status) should be directed to the Florida DOH (Florida Department of Health).”
State officials said that no inmates have tested positive at Century CI or any other prison facility in the state.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Missionaries Trapped In Peru By Coronavirus Lockdown Are Headed Home
March 28, 2020
A Pensacola missionary and her intern that were stuck in Peru by the coronavirus pandemic are now set to head home.
Linda English, director of Reimagine/Doers of the Word Ministry arrived a their mission headquarters in in Peru on March 9 only get caught up in a lockdown of the country a few days later. Her intern, Caitlin Salak, had been in the country for several months and was also caught in the lockdown that is not set to end until at least April 12.
“God will redeem this time the enemy has taken from us for He is a good, good Father,” English told NorthEscambia.com Friday night from Peru.
“At least in Pensacola, there are people driving around, they’re still working, I mean this country is shut down,” English said.. “We’ve bowled with water bottles in the hallway and a basketball, we’ve been really creative.”
“Our quarantine is much different than what is going on the United States right now,” English said by video from Peru. “We have not left this building for 11 days. We are both people-people. It’s been difficult.”
But Friday night English and Salak learned they would be heading back to the United States.
“Caitlin and I just received our letter from the US Embassy that we are going home tomorrow,” English said Friday night. “There are so many to thank….for all the strings you pulled and all the prayers you’ve said on our behalf. Thank you!”
She said they will fly into Washington, D.C. and travel home to Pensacola.
Reimagine Cantonment, the ministry’s next major outreach in the United States, is planned for October 10 at Ascend Park in Cantonment.
Pictured: Linda English (left) and Caitlin Salak by video from Peru.
Florida Temporarily Increases SNAP Benefits To The Max Allotment
March 28, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday directed the Florida Department of Children and Families to temporarily increase SNAP benefits to the maximum monthly benefit.
The governor said a family of four that was receiving $449 a month will now receive $509. The increase will be for March and April.
Oh How We Miss You! Here’s A Look Back At Opening Day At Youth Ballparks
March 28, 2020
It’s that time of the year for opening day at North Escambia youth ballparks, but so far they are all on hold due to COVID-19.
Here’s a look back at opening day 2019 at three area parks. Click links for a photo gallery.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
First COVID-19 Case Reported In Escambia County, Alabama
March 28, 2020
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 has been reported in Escambia County, Alabama, by the Alabama Department of Health.
The Alabama Department of Health did not provide additional information such as city of residence or age of the patient. The Escambia County Healthcare Authority said Friday night that the patient’s sample was not collected at either hospital in the county — Atmore Community Hospital or D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton.
There are 639 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide in Alabama as of early Saturday morning with three reported deaths in Mobile, Madison and Jackson counties.
County Provides Mobile Hand-Washing Stations To Homeless Centers Amid Coronavirus
March 28, 2020
Escambia County is providing hand-washing stations at homeless centers during the coronavirus pandemic.
The mobile hand-washing stations are at the Waterfront Rescue Mission, 380 W. Herman St., and the Alfred Washburn Center, 31 Murphy Lane.
The hand-washing stations have been placed in strategic areas surrounding the buildings to allow homeless individuals to practice good hygiene and hand-washing techniques.
Waterfront Mission is currently open and providing limited day services, walk up lunch, and limited overnight stay for men. The Alfred Washburn Center is also open and providing to-go meals, showers and laundry facilities for homeless individuals. Find more information about these agencies online at www.waterfrontmission.org and www.alfredwashburn.org.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida To Add Road Checkpoints As Louisiana Added To Travel Self-Isolation Requirements
March 27, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday afternoon there will be highway checkpoints in the Panhandle as he adds Louisiana residents to the state’s quarantine requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In a letter Thursday to DeSantis, Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley requested that Louisiana be added to the required 14-day self-quarantine the governor has imposed upon travelers from the New York area. On Monday, the governor ordered people traveling by air to Florida from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to self-isolate for 14 days.
“My request is that you acknowledge travel restrictions for visitors coming into Northwest Florida, particularly those coming from Louisiana. Many of these travelers may be bringing the virus with them but are not yet symptomatic,” Gilley wrote. “I believe that Escambia County could be protected if you issue a statement specifically requiring a quarantine of at least 14 days for any visitor coming from Louisiana.”
“There’s a fear that as New Orleans becomes more of a hotspot that you could have an influx of people into the Florida Panhandle from Louisiana,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis said counties and the Florida Highway Patrol will be able to enforce the requirements at checkpoints on the “main thoroughfares” into Florida, including I-10. He suggested vehicles with Louisiana license plates would be flagged, stopped at the checkpoints, and informed of the 14-day self-isolation requirement.
“All we’re trying to do is keep our residents here safe. If you’re coming from one of the epicenters, we probably think that you should follow the directions of your state and local officials, and if they’re telling you to shelter in place, then do that, but don’t come here because we’re trying to protect our folks,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also suspended new vacation rentals for 14 days.
As of Friday afternoon, Louisiana had 2,746 positive cases and 119 deaths due to coronavirus. Florida had 2,900 cases with 34 deaths. Louisiana is under a shelter-in-place order, while Florida is not.
Log Truck Driver Passes Away After Running Into Wooded Area In Century
March 27, 2020
A log truck driver has passed away after being trapped in mangled cab of his truck over an hour and a half midday Friday after crashing into a wooded area on North Century Boulevard in Century.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 59-year old John Rivers of Greenville, Alabama, was northbound on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) about 11;!5 a.m. when he crossed the paved median just south of West Highway 4 and ran the entire semi-truck into a wooded area. The force of collision downed downed several mid-size trees.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Firefighters were forced to cut away parts of the cab, freeing the driver about 12:50 p.m. He was transported to Atmore Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
North Century Boulevard was closed for the duration of the extrication.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation.
The Century, Cantonment and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were among those that responded.
Escambia Schools Distributing Meals At Over Three Dozen Sites Next Week (With List)
March 27, 2020
The Escambia County School District is adding nearly three dozen additional schools to the list of sites where families can pick up breakfast and lunch for free beginning Monday, March 30
All sites will provide children or teens a breakfast meal and a lunch meal during the same visit. The meals are designed to be carried away and consumed off campus; cafeterias and dining rooms will not be open. Meals will be distributed in a curbside pick-up operation. Food items will be in to-go containers and will consist of ready-to-eat food items that should be consumed when received or should be quickly refrigerated for consumption at a later time.
Meals will be distributed to children 18 and younger from 9 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday, except for Friday, April 10. Students must be present according to USDA policy.
Distribution sites are:
- Jim Allen Elementary School, 1051 Highway 95A North, Cantonment
- Jim C. Bailey Middle School, 4110 Bauer Road, Pensacola
- Bellview Elementary School, 4425 Bellview Ave., Pensacola,
- Beulah Elementary School, 6201 Helms Road, Pensacola
- Beulah Middle School, 6001 W. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- Blue Angels Elementary School, 1551 Dog Track Road, Pensacola
- Bratt Elementary School, 5721 North Highway 99, Century
- Brentwood Elementary School, 4820 N. Palafox St. (U.S. 29), Pensacola
- Cordova Park Elementary School, 2250 Semur Road, Pensacola
- Ensley Elementary School, 501 E. Johnson Ave., Pensacola
- Ernest Ward Middle School, 7650 Highway 97, Walnut Hill
- Ferry Pass Elementary School, 8310 N. Davis Highway, Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School, 8355 Yancey Ave., Pensacola
- Global Learning Academy, 100 North P St., Pensacola
- Lincoln Park Elementary School, 7600 Kershaw St., Pensacola
- Longleaf Elementary School, 2600 Longleaf Drive, Pensacola
- L.D. McArthur Elementary School, 330 E. Ten Mile Road, Pensacola
- Molino Park Elementary School, 899 Highway 97, Molino
- Montclair Elementary School, 820 Massachusetts Ave., Pensacola
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School, 6115 Lillian Highway, Pensacola
- Navy Point Elementary School, 1321 Patton Drive, Pensacola
- Northview High School, 4100 West Highway 4, Bratt
- Oakcrest Elementary School, 1820 N. Hollywood Blvd., Pensacola
- Pensacola High School, 500 W. Maxwell St., Pensacola
- Pine Meadow Elementary School, 10001 Omar Ave., Pensacola
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School, Owen Bell Lane, Pensacola
- Ransom Middle School, 1000 W. Kingsfield Road, Cantonment
- Scenic Heights Elementary School, 3801 Cherry Laurel Drive, Pensacola
- O.J. Semmes Elementary School, 1250 E. Texar Drive, Pensacola
- Sherwood Elementary School, 501 Cherokee Trail, Pensacola
- A.K. Suter Elementary School, 501 Pickens Ave., Pensacola
- J.M. Tate High School, 1771 Tate Road, Cantonment
- Warrington Elementary School, 220 N. Navy Blvd., Pensacola
- Warrington Middle School, 459 South Old Corry Field Road, Pensacola
- Booker T. Washington High School, 6000 College Parkway, Pensacola
- C.A. Weis Elementary School, 2701 North Q St., Pensacola
- West Pensacola Elementary School, 801 North 49th Ave., Pensacola
- Workman Middle School, 6299 Lanier Drive, Pensacola
NorthEscambia.com photo.