Rick's Blog

COVID-19 second wave is here

Rick Outzen

The period of Nov. 1-10 was Escambia County’s third worse 10-period for new COVID-19 cases (767) and positivity (7.54%) since August 1, ending a three-month decline. In October, it took 26 days for Escambia to top 760 new cases, in September 22 days. We did it in 10 in November.

To date, the Florida Department of Health officials have refused to release the results of its contact tracing to let us know what events and behavior are causing the increases.

Date Negatives Positives Total Positivity
Aug 1-10 10317 1957 12274 15.9%
Aug 11-20 8776 826 9602 8.6%
Aug 21-31 8569 516 9085 5.7%
27662 3299 30961 10.7%
Sept 1-10 8942 478 9420 5.1%
Sept 11-20 6562 246 6808 3.6%
Sept 21-30 9555 301 9856 3.1%
25059 1025 26084 3.9%
Oct 1-10 8952 204 9156 2.2%
Oct 11-20 7511 323 7834 4.1%
Oct 21-31 10714 519 11233 4.6%
27177 1046 28223 3.7%
Nov 1-10 9407 767 10174 7.54%
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Mayor Grover Robinson issued Declaration of State of Emergency 20-07, declaring a state of emergency in the City of Pensacola due to COVID-19.
This state of emergency is in response to the number of local COVID-19 hospitalizations increasing to 78 hospitalizations total within the three local hospital systems as of today, Tuesday, Nov. 10. Daily hospitalization numbers can be viewed on the City of Pensacola’s COVID-19 dashboard.

According FDOH data, the COVID-19 deaths have increased by 11 – from 272 to 283 – over the past 10 days.

The Escambia Board of County Commissioners meets this morning. The meeting is primarily about the CARES Act allocations. For the first-time, County Administrator Janice Gilley has provided detailed background material on her recommendations:
State and Federal deadlines are quickly approaching:
  • Thursday, November 12 – Spending plan must be finalized and sent to FDEM to receive 100% of funds.
  • Monday, November 16 – 100% of Phase 1 and Phase 2 backup documents (Agreements, Invoices, Receipts, etc.) must be uploaded to the FL CARES portal, showing that all of Phase 1 and Phase 2 funds have been spent (Total of $25,778,383).
  • Thursday, December 3 – 100% of Phase 3 Requests for Reimbursements must be submitted into the FL CARES portal. These are not reimbursements, but encumbrances with the spending plan.
  • Wednesday, December 30 – The last day expenses can be incurred. Treasury has clarified that for a cost to be considered to have been incurred, performance or delivery MUST occur during the covered period. Final reporting due.

That the Board take the following action:

A. Eliminate the “FEMA Reimbursement” Category – FEMA approval has not been received in time to be able to utilize the 12.5% Local cost reimbursed by December 30 through CARES. The allocation of$60,389 will be reallocated to the “COVID Ops & Oversight” category;

B. Increase the funding for the “COVID Ops & Oversight” category to $400,000 as employees will be needed in an overtime capacity until the end of November to complete the Family Cares applications;

C. Finalize spending for the remaining $16,370,698.50 that has been set aside in the “Public Health and Safety” bucket under Fire, Correctional and Detention Officers Payroll; and

D. Discuss the considerations for new asks:

1. Medical Examiner Expenses for Escambia County:

  • COVID-19 Expenses $107,195.88
  • Medical Examiner Salaries $51,454.02

2. Clerk of Court Human Resource Information System (HRIS) – Implementation of a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) for the Clerk – $134,300

3. Escambia County Sheriff increase in inmate transportation services from $23 to $28 per hour starting July 1. 

4. City of Pensacola – Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act CARE Act Ask:
i. Public Facilities – $2,600,000
ii. Employee Health and Safety – $2,100,000
iii. Public Health and Safety – $725,000
iv. Total ask – $5,425,000

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