Rebekah Jones was part of the Florida Department of Health (DOH) team running the state’s official coronavirus dashboard but was fired for, in her words, refusing to manipulate data, while DeSantis said she was terminated for insubordination. Jones has since set up her own dashboard and measures COVID stats against the DOH criteria for reopening.
She doesn’t believe Escambia or Santa Rosa counties meet the DOH criteria to open up further.
For Escambia:
According to DOH, Escambia County does NOT meet the criteria for the next phase of reopening.
Does Escambia meet the following criteria?
Decrease in ER Visits for COVID-like illness: NO
Decrease in ER Visits for influenza-like illness: NO
Decrease in new cases by date: NO
Considering only the most recent week of data (6/28/2020-7/4/2020) and not the full, two-week period required for reopening:
ER visits for COVID-like illness increased by 82% and ER visits for influenza-like visits increased by 108%
New cases by date in Escambia increased by 125%.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) outlined the criteria for proceeding to the next phase of reopening here.
Per DOH, a minimum of two weeks of continued decrease in the above-referenced criteria determines a county’s readiness to begin the next phase of reopening, in addition to another criteria determined by the percent positivity of lab results. By the state’s and CDC guidelines, if any increase in any of the above variables is observed over the previous two weeks, the state should, at a minimum, wait another two weeks before allowing the county to enter the next phase of reopening.
For Santa Rosa:
According to DOH, Santa Rosa County does NOT meet the criteria for the next phase of reopening.
Does Santa Rosa meet the following criteria?
Decrease in ER Visits for COVID-like illness: NO
Decrease in ER Visits for influenza-like illness: NO
Decrease in new cases by date: NO
Considering only the most recent week of data (6/28/2020-7/4/2020) and not the full, two-week period required for reopening:
ER visits for COVID-like illness increased by 25% and ER visits for influenza-like visits increased by 40%
New cases by date in Santa Rosa increased by 224%.
Hospitals: According to Jones, Santa Rosa Medical and West Florida have the most beds available.
ASCENSION SACRED HEART PENSACOLA
PENSACOLA, ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Total Available Beds: 109
Adult ICU: 2
Pediatric ICU: 6
Isolation: 0
BAPTIST HOSPITAL
PENSACOLA, ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Total Available Beds: 70
Adult ICU: 1
Pediatric ICU: 0
Isolation: 6
JAY HOSPITAL
JAY, SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Total Available Beds: 16
Adult ICU: 0
Pediatric ICU: 0
Isolation: 0
GULF BREEZE HOSPITAL
GULF BREEZE, SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Total Available Beds: 37
Adult ICU: 5
Pediatric ICU: 0
Isolation: 6
SANTA ROSA MEDICAL CENTER
MILTON, SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Total Available Beds: 79
Adult ICU: 8
Pediatric ICU: 0
Isolation: 4
SELECT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL PENSACOLA
PENSACOLA, ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Total Available Beds: 9
Adult ICU: 0
Pediatric ICU: 0
Isolation: 3
WEST FLORIDA HOSPITAL
PENSACOLA, ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Total Available Beds: 167
Adult ICU: 7
Pediatric ICU: 5
Isolation: 0