January 14, 2021
The number of daily local COVID-19 hospitalizations reached new record over the last week.
There were 263 people currently hospitalized in Escambia County on Wednesday, down slightly from a record 270 on Saturday, January 9. During a summer surge, local COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a peak of 246 on July 20.
According to Escambia County, there were 17 adult ICU beds available in Escambia County Wednesday night none at Baptist, five at West Florida and 12 at Sacred Heart. Of the 215 total ventilators in the county, 142 were available.
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
TALLAHASSEE A coalition of Black community leaders said Wednesday they will work to ensure that upward of 70 percent of the state’s minority population gets vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19.
“My friends, this is a sense of urgency. We feel that these vaccines are a gift of life. We know unfortunately, and sadly, that people of color are dying disproportionately,” R.B. Holmes, the pastor of Tallahassee’s Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, said during a meeting of the Florida Statewide COVID-19 Vaccine Community Engagement Task Force. “Many of us, all of us, have buried, ministered and comforted thousands of people who have died from the virus. This is one battle that we cannot sit out.”
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DeSantis said the state will start slowly offering 1,000 vaccines per day at Hard Rock Stadium to avoid confusion and long lines.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said that residents over 65 should be soon able to receive a shot at Hard Rock Stadium and other large-scale venues.
Florida began converting one of its major testing sites - Hard Rock Stadium - into a vaccination site and Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that residents over 65 should be soon able to receive a shot at other large-scale venues.
DeSantis held a press conference at the Miami Dolphins stadium in Miami Gardens, which will be converted from a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site to a COVID-19 vaccination site. DeSantis said the state will start slowly offering 1,000 vaccines per day, to avoid confusion and long lines.
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Sandra Averhart reports on the start of COVID-19 vaccinations to seniors, age 65 and older, in Santa Rosa County.
Santa Rosa County began administering COVID-19 vaccines to eligible residents Tuesday morning at the county health department. Additionally, on Wednesday, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital plans to conduct two mass vaccination clinics, including one in Milton.
In Santa Rosa, the COVID-19 vaccine is coming at a crucial time.
“Our positivity rate is 29.2% and that’s significant. The state rate is 12.2%, so you can see we’re trending well above the state,” said Sandra Park-O’Hara, director of the Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa.