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00000177-b32b-d5f4-a5ff-bbfb6e660000Here is the information you need to know about COVID-19 in Northwest Florida. We will keep this post updated with the latest information from local, and statewide agencies. For inforamtion from Centers for Disease Control and prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirusFor updates on Florida cases of coronavirus, visit the FDOH dashboard.The COVID-19 call center is available at 24/7 at 1-866-779-6121

Coronavirus Live Blog: Week Of Sept. 21

Mayra Heitman/WUWF

Sept. 27

4:03 p.m.

State death toll at 14,032

From the state department of health:

Saturday’s statewide positivity rate for new cases is 4.08 percent.  

Saturday was the 45th straight day below 10 percent positivity of new cases.  

Saturday, Sept. 26

State death toll at 14,022

From the state department of health:

Friday’s statewide positivity rate for new cases is 4.15 percent.

Friday was the 44th straight day below 10 percent positivity of new cases.

Friday, Sept. 25

Ascension Sacred Heart is relaxing visitation policies to allow two visitors to patients in inpatient rooms, E.D.s, ORs and procedural areas. Three visitors will be allowed for pediatric patients. We believe we can keep our patients, visitors and staff safe by allowing more than one designated visitor while continuing the strict policies we have implemented such as universal masking.

The following practices will remain in place:

  • We will continue to insist that everyone in our hospitals and care facilities wears a mask, including our staff and visitors. We will continue to provide masks to those who enter our doors without a mask.

  • We will continue screening stations for all visitors to check for COVID-19 symptoms before entry to the facility. 

  • We will continue to prevent overcrowding in waiting rooms. Chairs in waiting rooms will be spaced 6 feet apart.
     

If the number of COVID-19 patients in our hospital begins to rise again, we will again assess the policy and make changes as needed. 

Thursday, Sept. 24

Florida death toll at 13,416

From the state department of health:

Wednesday’s statewide positivity rate for new cases was 4.45 percent.  

Wednesday was the 42nd straight day below 10 percent positivity of new cases.

Thus far there have been 678,776 cases in the state.

Wednesday, Sept. 23

FDOH Update

The Florida Department of Health (DOH), in order to provide more comprehensive data, releases a report each day on COVID-19.

Hospitalizations:

Today, data reported to the Agency for Health Care Administration shows that the number of COVID-19 positive patients that are currently hospitalized is down more than 70 percent since July. As posted on the Agency for Health Care Administration’s hospitalization dashboard at 1:30 p.m., there are 2,254 current hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19.

Positive test results:

  • Yesterday’s statewide positivity rate for new cases is 5.30%.
  • Yesterday was the forty-first straight day below 10% positivity of new cases.

Final Virtual Job Fair For Re-Employ EscaRosa

Tomorrow, September 24th is the last Virtual Job Fair for the Re-Employ Escarosa Campaign from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The direct link is:https://premiervirtual.com/event/register-jobseeker/1069-employ-escarosa-campaign-part

UPDATED Santa Rosa County Small Business Economic Recovery Grant

Santa Rosa County has allocated a total of $2.6 million of CARES Act funding to provide grants of up to $20,000 to eligible small businesses. In partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center, applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

The application period begins on September 28 at 8 a.m. and closes on October 16 at 5 p.m. Applications received before or after the application period will not be reviewed.

Santa Rosa County has increased the grant amount tiers to ensure that businesses can make a quicker recovery. $10,000 for small businesses with 0-25 employees $20,000 for small businesses with 26-100 employees.

To apply, eligible businesses must submit the completed grant application form and all required documents in PDF to santarosacaresgrant@gmail.com with the headline "Small Business Grant." Visit santarosa.fl.gov for eligibility requirements and a list of required documents. There will also be an informational webinarwith the Florida SBDC on Friday Sept. 25 from 10 - 11 a.m. to guide small business owners in applying for the grant.

For more information, contact the SBDC at sbdc@uwf.edu or by phone at (850) 474-2528.

Tuesday, Sept. 22

Death toll in Florida is 13,287

From the state department of health:

  • Monday’s statewide positivity rate for new cases is 5.88 percent.
  • Monday was the 40th straight day below 10 percent positivity of new cases.
  • In addition to the deaths, 678,776 cases have been reported in Florida.

Monday, Sept. 21

CARES Act grants in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa County has allocated $1.9 million of CARES Act funding to provide grants of up to $10,000 to eligible small businesses. In partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center, applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. The application period begins on Sept. 28 at 8 a.m. and closes on Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. Applications received before or after the application period will not be reviewed. 
 
Grant amount tiers:

  • $5,000 for small businesses with 0-25 employees
  • $10,000 for small businesses with 26-100 employees

To apply, eligible businesses must submit the completed grant application form and all required documents in PDF to santarosacaresgrant@gmail.com with the headline "Small Business Grant." Visit santarosa.fl.gov for eligibility requirements and a list of required documents.

Escambia County FDOH Office Reopen

All FDOH-Escambia clinics, and other services provided by FDOH-Escambia, will reopen Monday, September 21, 2020. Clients with appointments scheduled during the temporary closure due to Hurricane Sally may call 850-595-6500 to reschedule their appointment. Community Health Northwest Florida dental services at FDOH-Escambia’s Fairfield Drive Service Center will reopen Monday, September 21. Patients who have appointments in the dental clinic may call 850-912-8880 to reschedule. 

Mobile Testing Suspended At Community Health Northwest

Community Health Northwest Florida’s Covid-19 mobile testing events on Wednesday Sept. 23 at Cantonment Pediatrics and Friday Sept. 25 at Brownsville Community Center have been suspended. All regularly scheduled Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mobile testing sites are expected to resume operations next week

FDOH COVID-19 Update

Today, data reported to the Agency for Health Care Administration shows that the number of COVID-19 positive patients that are currently hospitalized is down more than 70% since July.

As posted on the Agency for Health Care Administration’s hospitalization dashboard at 11 a.m., there are 2,269 current hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19. Positive test results: Yesterday’s statewide positivity rate for new cases is 4.36%.

Yesterday was the thirty-ninth straight day below 10% positivity of new cases.