Escambia County Leading MANY other Large Counties in Wage Growth! Leading Mobile in Job Growth!

Dr. Rick Harper addresses the NAIOP luncheon at the Pensacola Yacht Club 5-24-2023 and provided some significant, positive data on our economic development achievements locally.

At a NAIOP Luncheon I had the opportunity to attend yesterday afternoon at the Pensacola Yacht Club, two speakers gave presentations on the state of the economy and the banking system locally and nationally with an emphasis on where we are now and where we are headed in this uncertain economy.

The first speaker was Heath Jordan, the Chief Investment Officer with Trustmark Bank.  His presentation was on the state of the banking system nationwide and in our region post the Covid pandemic.  He went into great detail about how the Federal Reserve handled the Covid shutdown, and he related that he feels the actions taken prevented a depression.  The actions taken led to "lots of cash sloshing around in the nations's economy" he stated.  This led to large individual (uninsured) deposits at some banks that combined with those same banks' investments in long horizon financial instruments  led to a perfect storm of rapid withdrawals that outpaced the investment returns thus necessitating action be taken by federal regulators in order to prop up these banks.  In particular he was speaking of the recent collapses of Silicone Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank.  While he feels there may be more banks going under in the 6-9 months ahead, he doesn't believe it will be a widespread phenomenon. "When it happens it will be quick, and it will be quiet" he stated.  According to Jordan-SVB and Signature both were heavily invested in Mortgage Backed Securites--insturments that pay higher dividents but take longer to mature.  With the inflation pressures building and interest rates rising--large deposit holders (uninsured) taking out all of their money outpaced the banks' ability to recapitalize quickly enough to remain solvent. How does that happen?  Jordan held up his phone as he stated, dryly, "This is the reason why....customer ability to withdraw money outpaces the Fed's ability to respond/act." Jordan concluded his remarks stating that he feels a credit slump is coming as the interest rates rise-- but overall he seemed optimistic on our area long term.

Next up was Dr. Rick Harper, Economic advisor with Triumph Gulf Coast.  His presentation had the room listening intently as he started the talk with a bit of humor "The economic situation continues to be ...... interesting" as he threw up a graph on the screen.  But then he continued with some very, very good news.  According to Harper (quoting directly from a news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics) "Of the 356 largest counties in the United States--Escambia County ranked #22 among all of them for wage growth year over year."  (I subsequently emailed Dr. Harper for the source document and his power point--because that information as well as the balance of his presentation-- was amazingly profound---and a huge justification for the work we do in economic development locally).  

Some other Key Takeaways from Dr. Harper's presentation:

--Escambia County and Pensacola are outpacing Mobile Alabama in terms of job growth--with our area adding 44,200 non-farm jobs to Mobile's 10,500 from January of 1990 to April of 2023 (29.2% growth here, 5.8% in Mobile)

--Construction costs and other factors are damaging to home affordability (costs up 50% compared to  7-8 years ago) 

--Property Insurance prices (state specific to Florida) showing no sign of a "let up."

--Florida leads the nation in year over year population growth (1.9% 2021 to 2022)

--Homeowner equity is very high and debt service is historically low--a good thing

--The Pensacola area ranks #15 out of ALL metropolitan areas in the country in rental price increases from 2020 to 2022 at a 23% increase (affecting housing affordability) 

--Housing prices have grown 6.9% from 2022-2023--exacerbating affordability.

--We have a housing shortage and need to build more.  Absent that, governments should consider allowing greater density, accessory dwelling units, and looking at easing parking regulations/requirements to ease the supply issues.

Dr. Harper also suggested he sees signs of a recession coming--however he was quick to also say he feels confident Florida will weather it far better than other parts of the country because of our low unemployment, tax structure, and growth.

During the Q&A toward the end of the session I had the opportunity to ask Dr. Harper what would happen to the economy and the banking system locally in Pensacola if the Federal Government defaults due to a failure by congress and the white house to come to an agreement on the debt ceiling?  

"They have to solve it, otherwise it will be rising interest rates and chaos" he stated.

Check out Dr. Harper's Power Point here.

When 28 - 6 = 28???......(and costs Escambia Taxpayers $37,179.00*)

Basic arithmetic should not be this difficult for the state's department of corrections.....

There was a costly, frustrating, and exasperating event that was brought to my attention the other evening:  It had my blood boiling.

The caller was angry, and frustrated.  "Jeff, this is going to piss you off, I know it is, but you need to find out if this is true.  It is absolutely killing morale among some of the corrections officers"

The caller went on to describe the horrible outcome of our jail attempting to transfer 28 prisoners, already convicted and sentenced to state prison,  to the state's custody the day before.  Apparently, according this individual's account (and since confirmed by multiple sources), our jail had COVID tested all 28 of these convicts, got their paperwork in order, staffed three transport vans (with officers on OT to drive) along with a chase car with a supervisor on OT---and sent these prisoners 4 hours away at "zero dark thirty."  This was the plan, to transfer them to the state.  But like the best laid plans, sometimes they fall apart.  Upon arrival at the state facility---all of the convicts were tested again for COVID.  And what do you know, six of them tested positive.....

Okay--but now what?  I mean, it's not like we, at the county jail can turn away a prisoner that has COVID--we have to take them in and quarantine them.  Surely the state corrections department has to do this as well, right?

Wrong.

So here's where the story becomes incredibly infuriating.  Because, as we know, we are already housing MANY state prisoners at our county jail for zero compensation (although the costs to us for this service adds up to $90.00 per day per prisoner)----so the thought of handing off a group of 28 state prisoners to the state department of corrections was one that many in the jail were very relieved to be doing.  Not to mention that these convicted prisoners are among the most difficult for officers to deal with day in and day out....

But the state blew up the plan.  Apparently they have a policy against accepting any prisoner who has COVID or has been exposed to anyone who has COVID.  So they rejected NOT just the 6 positives---they sent ALL 28 State Prisoners back to Escambia County to be quarantined for a two week period before we can "attempt" to send them back again.  Can you believe that??

"The rub is, they would have quarantined them there anyway had they not tested positive--for 14 days!" said one exasperated, knowledgable source within the jail with whom I spoke.

"How much did this evolution cost the taxpayers of Escambia County!"  was my question to this individual.

"A lot---and after this COVID pandemic is over there will be dissertations written on just how costly

Ivermectin in Pensacola Hospitals for COVID-19 Patients? Not Happening Anymore

As I discussed in this post, I have received information that patients in at least one of our "big 3" local hosptials were, in fact, receiving Ivermectin as a part of their treatment plan (s) for COVID-19.  The information I received was from May of 2021.

Yesterday, that information was confirmed by a member of that hospital's staff.  

I found the cognitive dissonance of this to be astonishing.  

Remember--EVERYONE in the mainstream wants you to believe Ivermectin is an unsafe "Horse De-Wormer" as they simultaneously warn you with a serious looking face about all the reports to poison control hotlines about people overdosing on horse dewormer!  --But they neglect to mention that the pill form of Ivermectin for humans is among the safest, most widely prescribed medication in the world--and that the lion's share of the overdosing is due to folks inappropriately measuring the animal paste Ivermectin and taking this veterinary formulation of this product.  (Some doctors are actually being investigated in some parts of the country for dispensing Ivermectin for thousands of COVID-19 patients--even when such patients improve and none die!)

I've also heard anecdotally that another member of the same local hospital's staff has quietly prescribed Ivermectin for COVID-19 patients' use on an outpatient basis, with such prescriptions subsequently filled at local pharmacies.

And lots of other local doctors are apparently  prescribing Ivermectin for Covid-19 patients, too.  Really smart, intelligent, rational medical doctors.

So if doctors want to prescribe Ivermectin for COVID-19 patients "off-label" ----- why are they being stigmatized and silenced/cancelled/precluded from doing so?  

I'm told by some really, really smart doctors that LOTS of drugs approved by the FDA for some conditions are actually used and prescribed frequently for other, differing conditions.  This common practice is called "off-label" use.  And, I'm of the understanding that once a drug is approved by the FDA for a specific condition/disease---this in and of itself DOES NOT preclude doctors from prescribing it for OTHER conditions/diseases---It only precludes the manufacturers of such medications from advertising/marketing these medications for conditions other than the original maladies for which the medications initially received FDA authorization.  Sounds complex, but it is not.  As an example--one pediatrician with whom I spoke prescribes some blood pressure medications to her patients for conditions not associated with blood pressure regulation.  Another doctor described prescribing an anti-seizure medication for purposes other than preventing seizures.  I'm of the understanding this is common practice.

But now, I'm told, this one particular hospital is no longer using Ivermectin "off -label" for COVID-19 patients.  I wonder--are they precluding all their physicians from any "off-label" prescribing for any other conditions for patients----------or does this only apply to Ivermectin and COVID-19?  Shouldn't doctors be able to individually make this call for their patients?   Maybe that will be my next question to him next time I see him or speak with him.  Meanwhile, this is the official position, at least for now, on Ivermectin for COVID at this one particular, large local hospital:

"we had one physician prescribing ivermectin back in the [May 2021] timeframe..his physician extender also did so.  Since then that has ceased from happening in accordance to our formulary as adopted by our medical staff.....during the late summer/fall wave, the recommendations from medical societies came out against its use unless part of a clinical trial, which we did not do..."

Case closed.

A Rough July in Escambia County....

Escambia County has seen an all-time record number of deaths in the month of July, 2021.  The number of death investigation cases in the D1 Medical Examiner's office is up nearly 70% over July, 2020.

The members of the board of county commissioners recieved an email report of conditions at our District 1 Medical Examiner's Office in Pensacola at Sacred Heart Hospital.  The Medical Examiner's office has seen a dramatic increase in deaths throughout the four county district, with a notable spike in Escambia county in particular.  July has been particularly rough in Escambia County.....From her email:

Gentlemen, 

 July has been quite a month at the District 1 Medical Examiner's Office. We hit an unfortunate record with 130 postmortem examinations, the doctors signed over 160 death certificates, and the office investigated about 300 deaths. It's not even the end of the month yet. We've never, ever had a month like this and the staff are working the equivalent of 2 people. 

 Escambia county is almost entirely responsible for this July crush we are feeling. Compared to July 2020 -- Escambia had 70% more cases in July 2021. (Walton county has also had a substantial increase in percentage but their relative number is still low.) 

 Escambia's increase in non-natural deaths is a substantial outlier. Of the 6 homicides I had this month, 5 were from Escambia county (there is likely a true total of 7 homicides, 2 cases are currently pending more information). In 2020 Escambia had 2 homicides. (of note: I personally had the unlucky week with 6 homicides)

 Most of our July autopsies for Escambia are pending toxicology testing  -- this means that the increase in cases is most likely from drugs (but also homicides, pedestrian fatalities, and child deaths). Which is the same trend of a 60-65% increase in drug deaths that I cited a couple of months ago. I also signed a couple of death certificates this month that were sequelae of long term intravenous drug abuse -- bacterial endocarditis / sepsis. 

 The workload from Escambia county is so rapidly increasing in case load -- that it alone needs 3 doctors and 25 staff to adequately and effectively investigate these deaths. 

 Our current situation with regards to the facilities has significantly degraded since the Chair and Vice Chair last visited. These details are best shared in a conversation rather than in an email. 

 On a positive note -- Sacred did agree to the $1k a month rent adjustment for the remaining space that we need to operate the morgue ($14.55 SF vs. $23 SF). They are also waiving the first 2 months of rent in our new lease. 

 We really need that building. I sincerely hope that the Chair and Vice Chair can help me get the other counties on board. Whatever you need me to do. But at this point, I need your help getting some action and financial commitment from the other counties to go forward. 

 Thank you for passing the budget amendment and the help you all have given us thus far. 

 We are looking forward to working with Mr. Gilmore as our new DOMES board member. 

 As always, I am available any time to discuss. I am the doctor on service again next week, so afternoons are always best. 

 Thank you, 

DAO

 

What About the Judges?

 

I asked rhetorically at our last Commission Meeting:  When will our state's Judges under age 65 be offered COVID-19 Vaccination?

As the efforts to vaccinate the maximum number of citizens nationwide accelerates, some very essential workers are apparently being overlooked.  Of course, everybody knows the most vulnerable citizens, in care homes, immunocompromised, and over 65 years of age needed the shot yesterday.  And locally we are hitting that target, with greater than 50% of the citizens over 65 being inoculated against COVID-19.

But now as I read about the next group of citizens eligiblefor shots—including teachers and some other professions with members over age 50—I still don’t see the state’s Judges listed.

They really have nobody pulling for them. Apparently, nobody is advocating for them.  I certainly don’t speak for them---but I am writing this because I believe there may be a HUGE glaring blind-spot that’s shifting focus away from this essential, yet miniscule, cohort of essential state workers.

Judges.

They get overlooked all the time; folks really don’t think about them.  It is esoteric, what they do and how they do it.  When important ceremonies occur, they don’t get the invite.  When they happen to attend important functions—I have witnessed hosts of such events trip over themselves to recognize every other elected official in attendance in such venues—and NOT recognize judges.  They are oftentimes an afterthought--unless one is summoned to appear before a judge. They’re severely restricted in what they can do socially, what they can say politically, and how they must comport themselves publicly.  Most folks do not realize what a person gives up in terms of privacy and privileges when he/she becomes a Judge.  But that’s a whole different topic.  I would certainly have not known much about judges and what they do had my only brother not become one.  But I do have a unique vantage point though- in that my brother has been a circuit court judge here locally for nearly the last decade and a half.  And we talk frequently.  Multiple times weekly.

So far as I have been told—the 16 judges seated in Escambia County under age 65 have not been offered the shot.  “Well why should they get one?”, folks might question sternly.

Here is an example of why:  Just one, and it is personal.   I am hyper-attenuated to this pandemic as one of my closest, best friends, Brad Crager, died of COVID-19 in January.  He was healthy, yet it took him out after an agonizing 2-week hospitalization out in Southern California.  We worked together when I was in college, we were friends for over 30 years. He was like a brother to me.

Then, last week, my only real brother, Gary,  fell ill.  My only brother.  He got really sick.  Fever, chills, and a high temperature.  He was out of it.  He had not/has not been inoculated for COVID-19.  I was worried.

But looking beyond my own concern for a loved one—this illness and related several days quarantine for the COVID-19 test’s results to come back meant 60 jury trials on his docket had to be cancelled.  Sixty of them.  Attorneys, defendants, witnesses, victims, jurors, and public officials were all delayed.  Attorneys from around the country had to reshuffle their schedules, support staff, security-everyone’s schedule was upended.  What about folks scheduled to appear who took personal leave from their jobs to attend?  Now, they will have to take even more precious, valuable leave for these rescheduled trials.

Prisoners in our jail that may have been released—had to stay in Jail.

How much did this one, minor, three-day delay cost?  Who knows, but it costs a lot.

Thankfully, my brother is fine, he tested negative and he is back on the bench.  Had he been given the

48th Coffee with the Commissioner Event Tomorrow Morning!

Tomorrow morning we will have our 48th Coffee with the Commissioner event live on Facebook.

We will be having County Administrator Janice Gilley, Escambia Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore, and Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford on the live-stream.

We will get an update on the Coronavirus from both Janice Gilley and Eric Gilmore--and then we will discuss the upcoming primary and general elections slated for August 18th and November 3rd respectively.  Specifically, I'll be asking Mr. Stafford how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the elections this year and what is being done to ensure safe and accessible elections this year.

Should be a very interesting conversation.

To join the event live Wednesday morning, simply go to https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

"See You" online this Wednesday!

Will This Memo Break the Test-Result Reporting Logjam? How Will it Be Enforced?

This Document, above,  was sent to commissioners yesterday afternoon.  It had been forwarded to labs earlier in the week.  Is this law being enforced right now?  Why are we not getting test report results back when state law dictates this happen?  Why this gentle reminder?  Who is enforcing this law, and are there any penalties for the non-compliers?  What are the penalties and will they be applied?

As the country and our county struggle with big decisions in the midst of the worldwide Chinese Coronavirus Pandemic---more and more folks are putting their collective fingers right on the jugular vein of the biggest problem:  Lack of good, timely test results data/information.

In Florida the issue is especially acute.

In Escambia County, for instance, we know that we have collected more than 2,400 COVID-19 test specimens over the last month.  Yet the state Department of Health has only reported results on the official dashboard for 581 tests. 

So where are the results for the nearly 1,800 additional tests?

Late yesterday afternoon, Dr. Lanza from the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County sent an interesting update, and in the update a document was included urging.---no, DEMANDING--- that ALL labs, public and private, must share COVID -19 results with the Department of Health.  This sharing must be done immediately with no delay, and the memo cites the Florida Statutes that mandate this.

There have been delays, and when I have asked very direct questions like "If a screened patient in Escambia County is notified of a positive COVID -19 test by his physician or by a laboratory---is the notifying Hospital or laboratory also simultaneously notifying the Florida Department of Health?  How do we know this?  If this is not happening, what can be done to compel this to happen?

To which I have received shoulder shrug answers back.  This is not good enough, and obviously we are not the only ones experiencing this problem.

Others in Florida besides county commissioners in Escambia County like me have seen this delayed response/reporting phenomenon as a CRITICAL problem.

Folks are blaming the labs, but is this really where the problem lies?

The labs, and the HOSPITALs themselves need to be much more forthcoming with what exactly is causing the hold up on results reporting to the state.

Without timely, accurate results---we as policy makers CANNOT make good, solid, rational (not emotional) decisions.

Until I get good answers, I am going to continue to ask about this until I see results.  This Wednesday when I host my 33rd Coffee with the Commissioner event--I will ask this specifically of my guests--County Administrator Janice Gilley, Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore, and Baptist Healthcare President Mark Faulkner.

You can tune in this Wednesday, April 1st, at 6:30 AM and send in your questions in real time at my Commissioner's Facebook site:  https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

How Many COVID-19 Tests Have Been Conducted in Escambia County to Date?

According to our latest figures provided by staff as of Close of Business (COB) yesterday, the daily breakdown of tests (above) indicates that as a community there has been a total of 2,404 tests for COVID 19 conducted since March 5th.

But here we go with the opaque data........Early last week, the Florida COVID-19 dashboard listed a data point "total tests" in their Escambia County testing information column.

That is now gone, no longer listed.

As of this morning, the state Department of health Dashboard for Escambia County only lists "results" for a total of 446 tests.  (and the positive and negative results now have to be added manually to get the total number of tests administered.)  Nevertheless--this data is wrong.  There is an outstanding delta between the tests we know we have conducted and what is being reported.  And it's a big number, 1,958 tests with no results yet reported.

Where are the results for these other 1,958 tests that have been conducted over the last month in Escambia County?

Why are these results not being shared on the dashboard?

Are the individual patients that have been tested being given their results separately from the DOH?

Are the hospitals sharing results with patients and the DOH in real time, or is there a lag?  Are the hospitals NOT sharing the test results they get back and disclose to patients?  If not, why?

And why are the tests still taking so long to get back from the lab?---------especially since we were told 8 days ago that Sacred Heart Hospital has a 4-hour test capability on site now that can push  a minimum of 50 test results daily out?

Too many questions are going unanswered, and the lack of transparency is feeding insecurity among a lot of people here.

Panic Buying Continues in Escambia County......

This morning as the doors opened for business at the Wal Mart on 9-Mile Road and Pine Forest Road--there was not one roll of toilet paper on the racks.  None.  

Here's what's crazy.  I posted these pictures from the Wal Mart paper-goods section that I took at 0700 today.  I was there at opening time to get my weekly shopping done early.  And yes, I was compliant and waited in the line like all the others this morning---(a number of folks in line were wearing masks and gloves.)

When I got to the paper products area---it was barren.

Bare bones, empty shelves.  Nothing on the rack.

A friend had shopped at the same store just last night and commented on my Facebook post.

FACEBOOK FRIEND: "Is that the Walmart at pine forest & 9mile?" "I ask, because we were there at 7:30 last night and they were completely restocked."

ME:  Yes

FACEBOOK FRIEND: wow! That’s insane. I thought we had entered ‘the calm after the storm ‘ last night as I truly saw no empty spaces. The shelves were beautiful, like a rainbow. Colors everywhere! As if nothing was wrong in the world. I sit here still in shock and a bit confused. Waiting for a bit of normalcy to return.

But with this store closing early--at 8:00PM daily--how could all that toilet paper be gone in 30 minutes?!?  Who is hoarding the TP and paper towels?

UPDATE 2:00 PM

I've also looked at multiple other 9-mile road stores, to include Target, Winn Dixie, Family Dollar, and Publix.  No toilet paper at any of these stores.

What the heck is going on with the toilet paper hoarding?!?

Publix--totally out

Target--no TP

No TP at Target

Winn Dixie--zero TP on the racks.......

I'll be on 1370 WCOA This Morning Discussing the County and COVID-19

I'll be on Good Morning Pensacola on 1370 WCOA this morning discussing the County's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

I'm fairly certain the topic of Pensacola Beach will come up as well, in the wake of this article in today's PNJ.

Looking forward to the discussion.  When I get the audio recording, I will link it here.

How Many COVID-19 Tests Have Been Administered in Escambia County?

According to county staff that have been working this issue nonstop for weeks now, there has been a total of 1,968 COVID-19 Tests administered locally since the outbreak.  But the state's official tally lists only 237----so what is causing such a huge disconnect?

The testing protocols in the midst of this COVID-19 outbreak are leaving many residents and policymakers frustrated.

Hundreds of tests have been administered in Escambia County since the outbreak.  The number is nearly in the thousands!

Yet the results reported on the state's dashboard indicate that only 237 tests have been performed in the county??  What is going on, and why is there such a delta between the number of tests we know have been conducted and the number that have been reported?

This needs to be figured out, and sorted out quickly.  We need better information and quicker turnaround on data dissemination.

The public deserves it, and policymakers from cities and counties all the way up the ladder to congress need good, solid data.  Without it--it is impossible to implement balanced solutions--not too light and not too draconian.

Right now, we are not getting the data we need.

More sobering:  Can we trust anything on that dashboard if we know the data for just our county (1 of 67) is so inaccurate?

Tomorrow: Dr. John Lanza will Join Me for a Facebook Live "Virtual" Coffee with the Commissioner Discussing COVID-19

Tomorrow morning from 6:30-7:30 AM we will have our 32nd Coffee with a Commissioner event.

 Unlike our typical events, however, we will be totally online and remote--we will not be out at a location interacting with people due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.  We will be socially distancing and taking questions from constituents and others LIVE on facebook.  You can join in and participate, just tune in at https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

County administrator Janice Gilley will give an update on the status of County Services in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic locally.  I will give a brief update on some significant D1 projects.

But the lion's share of the morning will be devoted to questions about the Chinese Coronavirus.

We will have special guest Dr. John Lanza, the director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, on our virtual coffee session. He has received authorization from Tallahassee to participate, and he has graciously offered his time to be at the event.  He will be answering questions in real time from constituents who send the questions in on facebook.  You can send your questions via this blog post as well, and I will ask the doctor your questions for you.

I will replay the entire video on facebook for those who cannot make the session live on my facebook site at  https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

COVID-19 Statewide SITREP as of 2:00PM 3-23-2019

4 Positive COVID 19 Cases in Escambia County

Escambia County now has 4 positive cases of COVID 19 according to the Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health is reporting a total of 4 cases of COVID 19 in Escambia County now, according to the Florida COVID 19 Dashboard.

Data is starting to trickle in, and earlier today we had been notified that we had one (1) new case, however late this afternoon we are told we now have four (4) cases of COVID 19 in Escambia County.

Lots more information will be forthcoming, but as of now we know that all four individuals are at home, none are hospitalized.

These cases, locally,  include 3 men, 1 woman, ages 25-53

Test Results Starting to Trickle in: At Least 1 (one) More Positive Case in Escambia County Will Be Announced Today

At least one new COVID 19 case has been confirmed via testing conducted last week in Escambia County for which results have been recently returned--- according to verbal information passed along to county staff earlier today.  Additional information will be posted on the Florida COVID 19 site later this afternoon 

According to information provided verbally to county staff, some of the test results that have been conducted in the County over the last week utilizing the drive up locations are trickling in to officials.

While information is very, very preliminary at this point and not a lot of additional information is available (e.g. how many test results of the 800 plus conducted last week are back, what day's tests have been received back, etc.)--we are being told to expect the Department of Health to report at least one additional positive COVID 19 case in Escambia County as having been confirmed by testing that has thus far been received back from the lab.

This information will be added to the Florida Covid 19 Dashboard this afternoon/early evening according to staff.

Currently, personnel from DOH are in the process of doing contact tracing of this new individual who has tested positive.

More information will be coming later today and in the days to come as more and more of these results start to come in.