CDC Now Recommending Americans Wear Face Masks
April 4, 2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
The CDC said the recommendation applies in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as in grocery stores and pharmacies, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
Maintaining six-feet minimum social distancing remains important to slowing spread of COVID-19. CDC also advises use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The cloth face coverings recommended to slow spread of COVID-19 are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those critical supplies must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
Here Are DIY Face Mask Instructions. No Sewing Necessary. (With Printable Guide)
April 4, 2020
For instructions from the CDC how how to make your own face masks with or without sewing from common household items. Click here or the image below to enlarge (printable pdf instructions).
State Attorney’s Office Employee Tests Positive For Coronavirus
April 4, 2020
The Office of the State Attorney announced Friday that an employee of the Pensacola office tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
The employee was sent home and will not return until being medically cleared.
As a result of the positive test, the office has contacted the Florida Department of Health and is following all recommended procedures. Any employee who has been in close contact with the individual who tested positive will be out of the office for 14 days or until medically cleared
. All areas of the office were deep cleaned and individual’s work area was cordoned off for 72 hours.
The employee who tested positive is a non-courtroom employee and has had little or no contact with any agencies outside the State Attorney’s Office.
“This situation will not affect the ability of our office to perform the duties of our office. No further information will be provided,” the State Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Escambia (AL) Schools Cancel Free Meals For Kids In Response To Governor’s Stay-At-Home Order
April 4, 2020
The Escambia County (AL) School System reacted to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s stay-at home order by canceling free meals for kids.
The district began offering free meals on March 30 to ages 18 and under at school across the county.
“Food distributions have been suspended due to the stay at home order by Governor Ivey,” was posted with no further explanation on the district’s Facebook page.
It was not clear what portion of the governor’s order led to the decision — Ivey’s order states that persons can leave home to obtain food, government-funded services or benefits, and it’s a critical function for schools to prepare meals for eligible students.
Florida Dept. Of Corrections Resumes Inmate Intakes, Establishes Quarantine Procedures
April 4, 2020
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has resumed intake of new commitments from Florida counties.
Under CDC guidelines, FDC is asking county jails to quarantine inmates scheduled to be transferred to prison for 14 days prior to transfer, when possible.
“This two-week pause in new intakes gave us the time we needed to establish robust precautions against introducing COVID-19 into the inmate population,” said FDC Secretary Mark Inch. “We appreciate Florida’s law enforcement community working with us as we took this preventative measure and move forward with a new protocol during this evolving health emergency.”
New intakes will be placed on a 14-day quarantine limiting movement and interaction with the general inmate population except in emergencies. Inmates will be socially distanced as much as possible within their housing units. All meals will be served to the inmates within their housing unit. Medical staff will monitor the inmates twice daily to ensure no inmates show symptoms of illness. At the conclusion of the 14-day quarantine, the inmates will be moved to the general population and the entire dormitory will be sanitized.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century’s Mayor, Good Samaritans Donated Medical Supplies To Local Practice
April 4, 2020
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins and several good Samaritans recently donated medical supplies to Community Health Northwest Florida’s Century adult practice. They delivered bandages, gowns, gauze sponges, glucose testers, and more supplies are on the way.
Century’s Clinical Office Manager Jennifer Johnson said she is “grateful and humbled”.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alabama Governor Issues Stay-At-Home Order
April 3, 2020
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has issued a stay-at-home order that goes into effect at 5 p.m. Saturday.
“Folks, April stands to be very tough, and potentially very deadly,” Ivey said Friday afternoon. “You need to understand we are past urging people to stay at home. It is now the law.”
To read the complete order, click here.
“We’ve got to take this order dead serious; otherwise, the fact is more people will end up dying,” she said.
The order means that everyone in Alabama must stay home except to receive or perform essential services and activities including:
- Obtain necessary supplies
- Obtain or provide necessary services
- Attend religious services
- To take care of others
- To work
- To engage in outdoor activity
- To seek shelter
- To travel as required by law
- To see family members
Non-essential businesses must remain closed as previously ordered. Non-work gatherings of 10 or more are prohibited. The occupancy of essential businesses such as grocery stores is limited to no more than 50%. Religious services mch involved less than 10 people who stay at least six-feet apart or a drive-in type service.
Anyone that does leave home must make a reasonable effort to maintain a six-foot separation from other people.
To read the complete order, click here.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson Tests Negative For COVID-19 After His Son Is Confirmed Positive
April 3, 2020
Update: Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson has tested negative for COVID-19 after being tested today, Friday, April 3. Mayor Robinson was tested due to his son testing positive for COVID-19.
Mayor Robinson will continue to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for two weeks, according to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with City of Pensacola policy.
In an abundance of caution, City Hall will be deep cleaned and sanitized over the weekend, in addition to the enhanced daily cleaning measures already taking place due to COVID-19.
Mayor Robinson has not exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19, and he will continue to be available to perform his job duties from home while quarantined as he is able.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson announced Friday afternoon that he has been tested for COVID-19 after his son tested positive.
Robinson released the following open letter:
Dear citizens of Pensacola,
Today, I was tested for COVID-19. I have not received the test results, but regardless of the outcome, I will be self-quarantining until I can confirm that it is safe for me to be around others.
My son, Grover Robinson V, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is recovering at home. He is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.
I wanted you, the citizens of Pensacola, to hear this first from me rather than from another source or rumor.
Regardless of what happens, rest assured that you are in good hands with very capable employees here at the City of Pensacola. We have an incredible team of hardworking people working every day to serve our citizens.
I will continue to do everything I can to serve you while ensuring I am not putting anyone else at risk while I await the results of my test.
It is always my commitment to be as transparent as possible with those who have elected me to serve them, and these circumstances are no different. I will provide an update to the public once I have my test results, whether positive or negative.
I urge you all to continue to do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Follow the directives you are receiving from health officials and Gov. DeSantis. The safety and the future of our city is dependent on all of us working together to stop this virus from spreading.
DeSantis Suspends Mortgage Foreclosures And Evictions For 45 Days
April 3, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Thursday that suspends foreclosures and evictions for 45 days. The order does not relieve an individual’s obligation to make mortgage payments and rent payments.
DeSantis’ order suspends all statutes “providing for a mortgage foreclosure cause of action.” For evictions, the order only specifies tenants may not be removed for nonpayment, which seemed to indicate evictions for other reasons would be allowable.
“I,m not sure you’re going to rent out a lot of new places anyways, but you never know how people are going to act.” DeSantis said during a press conference.
ECAT To Receive $10.3 Million In Federal Funding; Temporarily Suspends Fares
April 3, 2020
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) is expected to receive $10.3 million in COVID-19 stimulus funding, and they are temporarily suspending all fares.
The CARES Act funds are for capital and operational expenses during COVID-19 for local transit services. It’s 100% funding with no local match required.
Beginning Monday, April 6, ECAT will temporarily suspend fare collection for passengers of ECAT bus services due to COVID-19 In addition, bus passengers will be instructed to enter and exit through the rear doors only and sit behind the accessibility-reserved seating area. Front-door access will be permitted only for passengers needing the boarding ramp or operator assistance to access the bus. ADA accessible seating space near the front of the bus is reserved for individuals in mobility devices, individuals in need of special assistance and families with children in strollers.
The changes will provide some separation between the operator and the passengers—and between passengers. The changes are being implemented in addition to precautions already implemented by ECAT, including increased sanitizing efforts of every bus on a daily basis.
Escambia County Mass Transit Director Tonya Ellis stated, “In continuing service during this state of emergency, our priority remains the safety and health of our employees and passengers. By eliminating close interactions at bus fareboxes, we can better implement social distancing by avoiding interaction in this high contact area.”