As U.S. issues renewed warnings, Manatee County keeps an eye on the new coronavirus

National health experts said it was only a matter of time before the new coronavirus spreads in the United States. In Manatee County, officials said they were monitoring the virus, but they were still hesitant to start a detailed plan as of Tuesday.

Manatee County’s Division of Emergency Management was monitoring the virus through government agencies and media reports, said Steve Litschauer, the division chief.

When asked if Manatee had a specific plan to address coronavirus and a possible outbreak, he said the county would devise a strategy if the need arose.

“Not necessarily, because at this point we’re not sure what the actual event would be, how far reaching it would be, how many people it would involve,” he said.

The spread of coronavirus, recently dubbed COVID-19, is inevitable in the United States, though it was unclear whether the impact would be mild or severe, according to a New York Times report.

Citing the U.S. secretary of health and human resources, Alex Azar II, the report said federal and local departments would need up to 300 million masks for health care workers, and more ventilators for hospitals.

The Bradenton Herald found that local stores were selling out of masks earlier this month.

“We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, in her interview with the New York Times.

If an outbreak were to unfold in Manatee, the emergency division would coordinate with government offices, private partners and non-governmental agencies, such as the Red Cross.

“Whether it’s the health department, law enforcement, hospitals, we coordinate with them to bring the final product to the citizens,” Litschauer said.

There were 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of Monday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. None were in Florida, the state health department said in Tuesday’s update.

In the event of a local outbreak, Litschauer said local hospitals and state agencies, such as the Manatee Department of Health, would be responsible for gathering supplies and managing the treatment of affected residents.

“That’s something we would not do,” he continued. “We’re the coordinator.”

Kevin DiLallo, the chief executive officer of Manatee Healthcare System, said that Manatee Memorial Hospital developed screening criteria based on information from the CDC and local agencies.

His staff reviews all patients who enter the emergency department, according to a prepared statement.

“We are working very closely with our local and state health departments,” he said. “They have been very helpful with setting up guidelines for our community.”

Christopher Tittel, spokesman for Manatee’s health department, directed a reporter to the Florida DOH’s website, and he referred questions to the state office.

According to its website, the state health department is monitoring updates from the CDC, while also forwarding the agency’s recommendations to county health departments.

“Though no cases have been reported in Florida to date, the Department is coordinating closely with our local partners to investigate, confirm, contain and report any suspected cases, should they occur,” the Florida DOH reported.

On its own website, the CDC said it was “preparing for the potential of community spread in the United States.” As part of its monitoring and outreach, the agency opened its Emergency Operations Center.

The national organization said it was contacting state and local agencies to analyze their preparedness and offer suggestions. The CDC is also documented the local availability of protective gear.

While the potential health risks are considered high, both globally and in the United States, the risk of exposure to Americans was minimal as of Tuesday, the CDC reported.

“For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low,” its website states.

Still, when it comes to a virus with no approved treatments, there was a need to be proactive. An outbreak could impact law enforcement, medical services and transportation, along with other local infrastructure, the CDC reported.

“Schools, childcare centers, workplaces, and other places for mass gatherings may experience more absenteeism,” it said. “Public health and healthcare systems may become overloaded, with elevated rates of hospitalizations and deaths.”

This story was originally published February 25, 2020 at 4:50 PM.