According to the latest Inweekly/Political Matrix, nearly 80% of Escambia voters believe face masks help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and want them mandated for county employees and visitors to county buildings. Only about 15% take the opposite view.
Escambia County is one of the few large Florida counties that only encourages its employees to wear face coverings and doesn’t require visitors to county buildings to wear them.
The poll was of 823 Escambia voters equally spread over all five commission districts. Voters were called using an Interactive Voice Response system during the hours of 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2. The Margin of Error for this study is +/- 4.5% with a confidence level of 95%.
When you break it down to commissioner districts, belief in the value of face masks to prevent spread of the virus ranges from 73.9.% to 88.4%.
The most vocal commissioner opposed to any face mask mandates – District 2 Doug Underhill – have 80% in favor of requiring face coverings in county buildings for employees and visitors.
On the other end of the commission spectrum, Commission Lumon May, who has advocated for face masks, has strong support from his district – with 88.4% believing wearing a face mask prevents spread of the virus and who want face coverings required in county buildings.
We will publish the rest of the poll on Tuesday morning.
Do you think wearing a face mask helps prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus?
| Total | Overall % | |
| Yes | 655 | 79.6% |
| No | 122 | 14.8% |
| Undecided | 46 | 5.6% |
| District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 | District 5 | |
| Bergosh | Underhill | May | Bender | Barry | |
| Yes | 73.9% | 75.0% | 88.4% | 81.5% | 79.0% |
| No | 20.0% | 16.5% | 8.5% | 13.9% | 15.3% |
| Undecided | 6.1% | 8.5% | 3.0% | 4.6% | 5.7% |
Should face masks be mandated for county employees and visitors to county buildings?
| Total | Overall % | |
| Yes | 641 | 77.9% |
| No | 126 | 15.3% |
| Undecided | 56 | 6.8% |
| District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 | District 5 | |
| Bergosh | Underhill | May | Bender | Barry | |
| Yes | 72.1% | 79.9% | 88.4% | 76.3% | 72.6% |
| No | 21.8% | 12.8% | 7.9% | 17.9% | 15.9% |
| Undecided | 6.1% | 7.3% | 3.7% | 5.8% | 11.5% |
Deadly, Infectious July for Escambia
| 30-Jun | 31-Jul | Â Increase | % | |
| Total cases | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,046 | Â Â Â Â 7,908 | Â Â Â Â Â 5,862 | 287% |
| Fla cases | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1,692 | Â Â Â Â 7,074 | Â Â Â Â Â 5,382 | 318% |
| Hospitalization | 94 | 440 | 346 | 368% |
| Deaths | 44 | 97 | 53 | 120% |
| Long-Term Facilities | 344 | 714 | 370 | 108% |
| LTC deaths | 34 | 59 | 25 | 74% |
| Tests | Â Â Â Â Â Â 33,938 | Â Â 64,979 | Â Â Â 31,041 | 91% |
| Positivity | 6% | 12% | 6% |