Rick's Blog

New COVID testing at Escambia County Jail fails to launch

Since Friday, Aug. 7, no prisoners at the Escambia County Jail have been tested, according to the county’s latest COVID update–despite assurances from the county administrator.

The COVID-19 testing has decreased each week since July 10 when the county first reported on testing in corrections:

Wk Ended Tested
7/10/20 162
7/17/20 21
7/24/20 13
7/31/20 12
8/7/20 6

The irony is that  last week the county commissioners made it clear that wanted every inmate who requested to be tested to be allowed to get a COVID test.

On Saturday, County Administrator Janice Gilley told commissioners that tests would be available for those who “request them, but also those who volunteer to be tested.”

Rapid execution of a commission directive is not what the current county administration is known for.

The 162 COVID tests reported on July 10 were for the first nine days of the month.  Gilley has nine days until the next county commission meeting on Aug. 20.

Will the commissioners see at least 162 more tests conducted by then?

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