Florida sees 507 new coronavirus cases, raising total to near 2,500. Manatee has 25 cases

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Manatee County was adjusted down from 26 cases to 24 cases on Thursday morning, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. An additional case was announced Thursday evening, bringing the current case total up to 25.

Meanwhile, the number of infections across Florida continued to spike as an additional 507 cases were confirmed Thursday.

The state now has a total of 2,484 cases. Six new deaths were announced Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 29. One of the new confirmed deaths was in Sarasota County.

A limited run of drive-thru testing began in Manatee County on Thursday. The county will take samples from 50 a patients a day through Sunday, for a total of 200 tests. Those patients must have a prescription from a doctor and have made an appointment in advance.

How much more testing will be done in Manatee after this week remains uncertain. A county health department official said this week that because of the relatively low number of cases here, the situation in Manatee was not considered to be “critical.”

The total cases in Manatee County on Wednesday evening was 26, counting three non-Florida residents. A Thursday morning report from DOH had removed those three non-resident cases and included one new local case, a 66-year-old man who recently traveled to France and had confirmed contact with another COVID-19 patient.

Those found to be infected in Manatee County continue to primarily be older adults. All of the county’s positive cases were found in adults aged 41 to 83 years old, with the exception of a 14-year-old boy who tested positive on Monday. One patient, a 70-year-old man, died. A total of 11 people have required hospitalization.

Fewer tested in Manatee than in other counties

Compared to other counties that have had confirmed cases of COVID-19, testing continues to lag in Manatee County. Only 199 test results have been confirmed, according to FDOH, out of 206 people that have been tested or are awaiting testing.

Travel has been confirmed in five of Manatee’s cases.

Although Manatee County had the state’s first confirmed case, which was not travel related, the Manatee Department of Health does not consider conditions in Manatee to be as “critical” in as in other counties in the state where there are more positive cases, spokesman Christopher Tittel said during a virtual conference held with reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

As a result, officials are not currently targeting Manatee County for more more testing supplies. When asked by the Bradenton Herald to explain the reasoning for that, since the county had the state’s first case that was community acquired and that the lower case count could be a product of fewer tests, Tittel and one of the department’s epidemiologists could not speak to that.

Manatee Department of Health’s top official, health officer Dr. Jennier Bencie, did not make herself available for the call because she was “extremely busy,” according to Tittel. She has also not responded to inquires from the Bradenton Herald.

The health department only had about 50 specimen collection kits aside from those being used at the drive-thru testing facility. They are being saved for extremely critical cases.

Sarasota County sees more COVID-19

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sarasota County rose to 34 on Thursday, an addition of two cases since Wednesday.

Testing continues to be more thorough there with a total of 506 completed tests; 582 people have been tested or are awaiting testing.

Among Sarasota County cases, two people have died and 14 have required hospitalization, according to FDOH data.

Cases counts around the Tampa Bay area continue to increase as more testing is administered.

In Hillsborough County, an additional 28 cases were announced Thursday; 151 cases have now been confirmed in the county.

A total of 2,372 people have been tested or are awaiting testing there.

There have been no deaths due to the disease confirmed in Hillsborough County, but 17 people have required hospitalization.

In Pinellas County, an additional 11 cases were confirmed; 65 people have now tested positive there. A total of 1,230 people have been tested or are awaiting testing.

Among Pinellas County cases, one person has died and 20 have required hospitalization, according to FDOH data.

This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 11:59 AM.