Escambia County’s positive COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities increased by 40 in past 24 hours, four since 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Statewide, Florida had 53 new cases in LTCs in the past 17 hours- which means Escambia accounted for 7.5% of them. Since Wednesday evening, April 22, Florida has seen its LTC cases increase by 1,054 cases – going from 1,332 to 2,386, a 79% jump
Escambia County has increased by 108 cases – from 46 to 142, a 235% jump. Â Escambia has accounted for 10.25% of the new cases in Florida nursing homes over the past week, which has moved the county into the top five for cases in long-term care facilities.
Top 10 Counties for LTC Cases
| Rank | County | LTC Cases | Deaths |
| 1 | Dade | 491 | 56 |
| 2 | Broward | 269 | 40 |
| 3 | Palm Beach | 175 | 31 |
| 4 | Manatee | 146 | 16 |
| 5 | Escambia | 142 | 7 |
| 6 | Pinellas | 140 | 7 |
| 7 | Clay | 122 | 7 |
| 8 | Suwanee | 91 | 9 |
| 9 | Leon | 66 | 1 |
| 10 | Polk | 60 | 8 |
What Does Lanza Think?
As states face decisions on when to reopen, Florida voters say 72 – 22 percent that Florida should NOT loosen social distancing rules by the end of April, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
“The state’s stay-at-home order is scheduled to expire at the end of the month of April, but nearly three quarters of Floridians are not ready to drop their guard,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
About three quarters of registered voters, 76 percent, say that the state’s economy should only reopen when public health officials deem it safe, compared to 17 percent who say it should reopen even if public health officials warn against it.
It should be noted the letter to the county commissioners from hospital executives saying that it’s okay to re-open the beaches was not signed by Dr. John Lanza, director of the DOH Escambia office. Lanza did sign the letter in March that requested the beaches be closed.
“We’ve not asked, nor have we heard from Dr Lanza regarding that because it felt like he was put in a very difficult position back in late March,” said Baptist CEO Mark Faulkner yesterday at Commissioner Jeff Bergosh’s Facebook event. “So we just thought it would probably be easiest and best to send them from me than being asked to sign or not sign.”
When asked who voters rely on most for accurate information about the coronavirus:
- 62 percent of voters say public health officials;
- 18 percent say President Trump;
- 8 percent say Governor DeSantis;
- 4 percent say “your mayor.”
There are clear partisan divides on who voters rely on most to get accurate information about the coronavirus. Large majorities of Democrats, 79 percent, and independents, 66 percent, say that they rely most on public health officials. Republicans, however, are split: 39 percent rely most on public health officials and 37 percent rely most on President Trump.
“Voters make it very clear they want guidance on navigating the crisis not from the White House or the State House in Tallahassee, but from public health officials,” added Malloy.
When asked who they rely on least for accurate information about the coronavirus:
- 47 percent of voters say President Trump;
- 21 percent say “your mayor;”
- 13 percent say public health officials;
- 8 percent say Governor DeSantis.
Florida voters also do not expect the coronavirus crisis to end quickly:
- 49 percent expect the crisis to last a few months;
- 26 percent expect the crisis to last more than a year;
- 18 percent expect the crisis to last a few weeks.
BY THE NUMBERS: CORONAVIRUS — THURSDAY LUNCH EDITION
April 23, 2020
By NSF Staff
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Department of Health released updated numbers Thursday morning about the coronavirus in the state. Here are some takeaways:
— 28,832: Total number of cases.
— 256: Increase in cases from a Wednesday evening count.
— 960: Deaths of Florida residents.
— 33: Increase in deaths from a Wednesday evening count, with deaths of people who tested positive in Broward, Charlotte, Miami-Dade, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Palm Beach, Polk and St. Lucie counties.
— 2,386: Cases involving residents or staff members of long-term care facilities.
— 53: Increase in long-term care cases from a Wednesday evening count.
— 258: Deaths involving residents or staff members of long-term care facilities.
— 10: Increase in long-term care deaths from a Wednesday evening count.
— 26.9: Percentage of deaths involving residents or staff members of long-term care facilities.
— 127: Deaths involving long-term care facilities in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, which have the three highest totals.
— 40: Deaths involving long-term care facilities in Manatee, Sarasota and Lee counties, which have the next three highest totals.
— 335: Long-term care facilities with cases.
Source: Florida Department of Health
