Coronavirus Live Blog: Week Of June 22

Sunday, June 28

Here is what Gulf Breeze residents need to know

The Santa Rosa County office of public information issued the follow items from Gulf Breeze:

• The city is still in Phase II of its phased reopening plan, as established June 8.
• The community center is open from 1-9 p.m., Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and 12-6 p.m. Sunday for free play activities only. Allowed free play activities for youth and adults include basketball, volleyball and pickleball.
• Group reservations and organized fee for service programming such as Jazzercise, fitness classes, etc. has resumed with limited hours Monday through Friday from 6-7:30 a.m. and 5:30-9 p.m. and Sat., 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• The Community Center will operate at no more than 50% capacity. All such group programming and activities may be limited at the discretion of recreation staff based on CDC social distancing guidance.
• Outdoor facility rentals with reservations, playgrounds, and concessions will reopen.
• Park restrooms are open.
• Summer camp will begin July 1, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with the camp program having exclusive use of the community center during those hours.
• Limited special event permitting will resume for all city-controlled public property and special events with less than 50 requiring city services will resume.
• City Hall is open for lobby walk-in service.

8,530 new positive COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths

From the state Department of Health:

• On June 27, 12.40 percent of new cases tested positive.
• There are a total of 141,075 Florida cases with 3,419 deaths related to COVID-19.

Since Saturday, the deaths of 29 Florida residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have been reported in Collier, Dade, Lee, Manatee, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Polk counties.

Saturday, June 27

Nearly 9,600 new cases and 24 more deaths in Florida

The state Department of Health issued the following information as of 10 a.m. Central today:

There are:

• 9,585 new positive COVID-19 cases (9,518 Florida residents and 67 non-Florida residents)
• 24 Florida resident deaths related to COVID-19
• On June 26, 12.82 percent of new cases tested positive.
• There are a total of 132,545 Florida cases with 3,390 deaths related to COVID-19.

Since Friday, the deaths of 24 Florida residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have been reported in Broward, Collier, Dade, Gadsden, Hardee, Manatee, Martin, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk and Volusia counties.

Destin testing site canceled

A drive-thru test site tentatively scheduled for Tuesday in Destin has been canceled due to insufficient availability of testing supplies. Details about future testing plans with the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County will be announced at a later date.

Friday, June 26

There are 1,559 positive COVID-19 cases

As of 2 p.m., Escambia County has had 1,559 positive COVID-19 cases. The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Escambia County residents is 44 individuals.

Escambia’s walk-in testing schedule announced

Pensacola, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) is expanding specimen collection for COVID-19 offered to Florida residents in June and July. The primary focus is virus testing from swab samples to help identify those who are COVID positive and that need contact tracing. This effort is part of the continuing public health surveillance and monitoring for COVID-19 that is occurring across the state.

*Dates are subject to change due to inclement weather or shortage of supplies.

The samples collected at this site will be processed by private labs, with results received typically in one week.

Sites for COVID-Testing in Escambia County

Persons who become sick should call, do not visit, their health care provider and tell them about their symptoms and travel history or exposure to a COVID-19 patient. Persons who do not have a health care provider or health insurance, may call (do not visit) Community Health Northwest Florida at 850-436-4630 or other community walk-in care locations, and tell them about their symptoms and travel history or exposure to a COVID-19 patient.

An online assessment screening for COVID-19 is available to determine if further diagnostic testing is needed. The screening can also be accessed by texting “Screen” to 850-318-3080. The screening is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also call the screening center at 850-434-4080 to determine if you need an appointment.

COVID-19 testing is available at several locations in Escambia County, including drive-thru and walk-up testing.

IMPORTANT: Pre-screening may be required before arriving at testing centers by calling the local COVID-19 Screening Call Center at 850-746-2684.

Overnight there were 8,942 new cases – 39 deaths -- in Florida

From the state Department of Health:

Test results for more than 71,400 individuals were reported to DOH as of midnight Thursday. Today, as reported at 10 a.m. Central, there are:

• 8,942 new positive COVID-19 cases (8,850 Florida residents and 92 non-Florida residents)
• 39 Florida resident deaths related to COVID-19

There are a total of 122,960 Florida cases with 3,366 deaths related to COVID-19.
Since June 25, the deaths of thirty-nine Florida residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have been reported in Alachua, Broward, Clay, Dade, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Martin, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk and Washington counties.

UWF guidelines for visitors

The University of West Florida has established new guidelines and protocols for visitors to protect the health and safety of the University community. 
Visitors, vendors and volunteers are required to comply with the below guidelines and protocols that promote a safer and healthier campus:

• Do not visit a UWF location if you are sick. 
• A face covering is required everywhere at UWF except when in a private office, and areas separated by at least six feet from others.

Practice social distancing:

• Stay at least six feet, or about two arms’ length, from other people.
• Do not gather in groups.
• Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
• Follow Centers for Disease Control prevention guidelines. 

Any individual on campus who refuses to adhere to University health and safety policies will be asked to leave the premises immediately.

For more information about new guidelines and protocols, visit uwf.edu/return.

Thursday, June 25

Escambia tops 1,400 cases; 43 dead

As of 2 p.m., Escambia County has had 1,404 positive COVID-19 cases. The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Escambia County residents is 43 individuals.

46 deaths, more than 5,000 new cases

Today, as reported at 10 a.m., the state Department of Health said there are:

• 5,004 new positive COVID-19 cases (4,981 Florida residents and 23 non-Florida residents)
• 46 Florida resident deaths related to COVID-19

There are a total of 111,724 Florida cases with 3,327 deaths related to COVID-19.
Since June 24, the deaths of 46 Florida residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have been reported in Broward, Collier, Dade, Dixie, Duval, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, St. Lucie and Suwannee counties.

The First Baptist Church of Pensacola to host Drive-thru food pantry

The church issued the following news release:

We are concerned about people in our community who have been economically impacted by COVID-19 and now face, mounting debts, impending evictions, and hunger. While we cannot help everyone with everything, we do believe we can help 1200 hungry families. On Saturday, June 27, First Baptist will host a large-scale food distribution. Food will be delivered in a contactless method, by having volunteers place the food in the open trunk or backseat of guests. There will be clear signage of where to line up prior to the distribution starting. 

Food will include meat, dairy, produce, canned goods, and a 5-day emergency food box. There will be enough food for 1,200 cars. 

We will be starting the food distribution at 8:00 AM and serving until the food is gone. We ask that guests enter via the Guillemard St. 

Wednesday, June 24

Crestview Drive-Thru Testing 

Drive-Thru Testing Schedule*

Thursday, June 25

8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Crestview Community Center

1446 Commerce Dr.

Crestview, FL

Escambia tests top 1,300

As of 2 p.m., Escambia County has had 1,312 positive COVID-19 cases.  The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Escambia County residents is 43 individuals.

Latest Numbers 

State reports 44 more deaths, record number of cases

From the state Department of Health:

Test results for more than 36,300 individuals were reported to DOH as of midnight Tuesday.As of 10 a.m. Central today, there are:

• 5,508 new positive COVID-19 cases (5,437 Florida residents and 71 non-Florida residents)
• 44 Florida resident deaths related to COVID-19

There are a total of 109,014 Florida cases with 3,281 deaths related to COVID-19.
Since June 23, the deaths of 44 Florida residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have been reported in Charlotte, Collier, Dade, Hendry, Hillsborough, Martin, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and St. Lucie counties.

Tuesday, June 23

As of 2 p.m., Escambia County has had 1,244 positive COVID-19 cases. The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Escambia County residents is 43 individuals.

Monday, June 22

Escambia County tops 1,200 cases; 41 deaths

As of 2 p.m., Escambia County has had 1,202 positive COVID-19 cases.  The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Escambia County residents is 41 individuals.

12 more deaths in Florida as cases top 100,000

The state Department of Health issued the following information:

• There are 2,926 new positive COVID-19 cases (2,908 Florida residents and 18 non-Florida residents)
• 12 Florida resident deaths related to COVID-19
• There are a total of 100,217 Florida cases with 3,173 deaths related to COVID-19.

The deaths of twelve Florida residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have been reported in Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Orange, Pinellas and Seminole counties.

State issues public health advisory:

The Public Health Advisory provides the following recommendations:

All individuals in Florida should wear masks in any setting where social distancing is not possible, unless any of the following apply:

A child is under two years of age;

An individual has one or more medical conditions or disabilities that prevent wearing a face covering;

An individual is obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service;

An individual works in a profession where use of a face covering will not be compatible with the duties of the profession; or

An individual is engaged in outdoor work or recreation with appropriate social distancing in place.

All individuals over the age of 65 and all individuals of any age with high-risk health conditions should limit personal interactions outside of the home and take all measures to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

All individuals should refrain from participation in social or recreational gatherings of more than 50 people. For all gatherings of fewer than 50 people, individuals should practice social distancing by maintaining a distance of at least six feet from each other and wearing a face covering.