Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on March 21
No new cases in Manatee, two more in Sarasota
A Sarasota man and woman are among the newest 88 cases of COVID-19 in Florida announced on Friday morning.
Manatee County didn’t have any new cases on Friday morning, but the county has tested fewer people than Sarasota has Manatee.
There are now 520 total cases of COVID-19 in Florida, of which 393 are Florida residents.
Manatee County has a total of nine positive cases, while Sarasota County now has six total cases.
Testing lags in Manatee County
As of Friday morning, 57 people had been tested for COVID-19 in Manatee County, far fewer, for example, than the 230 tested in Sarasota. Dr. Jennifer Bencie, health officer with the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County, attributed that to the fact that Sarasota Memorial Hospital is much larger than hospitals in Manatee.
“We’re working with all the providers in the community, and if they meet the criteria, they’re tested,” Bencie said at a Friday afternoon news conference.
No more dining in at restaurants
All restaurants must move to takeout or delivery service and all gyms will be closed across Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday, marking a dramatic escalation in the state’s effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Under a new executive order, the governor said licensed restaurants and food establishments must “suspend on-premises food consumption for customers.” Owners may keep kitchens open for takeout or delivery. The same applies for alcohol, and the order lifts some restrictions on restaurants to allow for the sale of drinks with to-go meals.
Earlier this week, DeSantis had ordered bars and nightclubs to close for 30 days, specifically businesses that make more than half of their revenue from alcohol sales. Places that also sell food were allowed to continue offering dining on site, albeit at half-capacity.
The order from the governor was sent out to reporters at 2:12 p.m. and said it was to “take immediate effect.” Surely some restaurants had customers at that time. It remains unclear when the provisions will end. The order says it will expire whenever DeSantis rolls back a state of emergency he issued as the state began to grapple with the pandemic.
Grocery stores set up special hours for seniors
Two Florida supermarket chains, and one local grocery powerhouse, announced this week they are modifying their hours to serve those most at risk of COVID-19.
Publix and Winn Dixie’s parent company, Southeast Grocers, announced those plans on Thursday.
First out of the gate, however, with special shopping hours for those with special needs was Detwiler’s Farm Market, which announced its changes on Wednesday.
The new Detwiler hours for those 65 and older and those with disabilities are 7-8 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
“We kindly ask that customers respect this measure and plan their shopping trips after 8 a.m. to allow those that are at-risk the ability to purchase the items they need. We continue to pray for peace and everyone’s safety,” the Detwiler family announced in a tweet.
Publix supermarkets have designated special shopping hours for older customers.
Starting March 24, shoppers ages 65 or older will be able to shop at all Publix grocery stores on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7- to 8 a.m. The stores’ pharmacies will also open at 7 a.m. for seniors. The company said it referred to CDC research that indicates seniors are more susceptible to developing COVID-19 from the novel coronavirus.
Winn Dixie announced that it has dedicated special shopping hour to seniors and high-risk customers from 8 – 9 a.m. Monday through Friday in all stores. The company asked all customers to respect this time given to seniors and other high-risk community members to allow them the comfort of purchasing necessary products in a safe environment.
Help for small businesses
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are just beginning to be felt by Manatee County businesses, and financial assistance is on the way for businesses that qualify, Sharon Hillstrom, executive director of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp., wrote in a column.
For short-term assistance, the state activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19 with short-term, interest-free loans. The program is available to small business owners located in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage as a result of COVID-19.
These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.
Applications can be submitted through May 8. Information is available at http://FloridaDisasterLoan.org. Questions may be directed to the Florida Small Business Development Center Network Headquarters, Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org, 866-737-7232.
For longer term low-interest financing, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is accepting applications for disaster loans from small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in economic assistance to help small businesses overcome the temporary loss of revenue resulting from the disaster. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact.
Interest rates offered are as low as 3.75% for businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%. Loan amounts are set by the SBA and based on each applicant’s financial condition. Repayment terms are up to 30 years, and businesses only pay interest on the amount they borrow.
To apply, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. For additional information, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Tips to protect yourself from coronavirus
There’s no vaccine for the COVID-19 virus, and experts say one may be months away from mass production.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, staying home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
The agency also advises washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
The CDC does not advise that healthy people wear face masks, but says they should be worn by coronavirus patients to help avoid spreading the illness.
The latest closings and cancellations
Numerous businesses and organizations in Bradenton have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. For a list of closings, cancellations and postponements, check out our list.
The Tampa Bay Times contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 7:00 AM.