Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on April 2
Here’s the latest on the coronavirus pandemic in Bradenton and Sarasota.
Third death recorded in Manatee County
A third Manatee County resident, a 77-year-old man, has died from COVID-19.
In all, Manatee on Wednesday recorded 17 new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The total number of cases in Manatee stands at 70.
Statewide, there were 7,773 confirmed cases, as of Wednesday evening, according to the Florida Department of Health. In Florida, 101 people have died.
Sarasota County had 13 new cases, bringing its total to 89. The health department has confirmed three deaths in Sarasota County.
Manatee officials support shutdown order
Local officials are in support of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to issue a stay-at-home order for 30 days throughout Florida to limit the spread of COVID-19.
DeSantis announced the executive order Wednesday afternoon. Starting at 12:01 a.m. early Friday morning, “all persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities,” the order says.
According to the order, the list of essential businesses is based on one created by Miami-Dade County officials. That list includes grocery stores, health care providers, gas stations, banks, hardware stores, restaurants, airlines and many more businesses.
“The list of essential businesses is very long and I think the message in the short term is that everyone is essential,” said Jake Saur, Manatee County’s public safety director.
“What I mean by that is that either your actions are essential either because of the work you do or by taking the right action and staying home to limit your exposure,” he explained.
Grim projection predicts more much more COVID-19 in Manatee
The number of COVID-19 cases in Manatee County could almost double by Monday, according to projections calculated by a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services consultant.
The statewide projections, with breakdowns for several counties including Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Broward, were shared with county emergency management officials in Florida on Tuesday with no context or guidelines on how the information should be used. It is also unclear if the models are based on increased testing, spread of the disease or some combination.
Florida is predicted to have 19,870 positive cases of COVID-19 by Monday, according to IEM’s projections. As of Wednesday morning, there were 6.955 cases in the state.
According to the projections, Manatee County is predicted to have 111 positive cases by Monday, and Sarasota County is expected to have 174. As of Wednesday morning. Manatee and Sarasota had 58 and 82 cases, respectively.
Tomato industry takes a big hit
No county in Florida grows more tomatoes than Manatee. But the market has collapsed, turning a dream season into a nightmare.
At least one Palmetto packing house is selling a 25-pound box for $5 to the public.
Tuesday, Pacific Tomato Growers, 503 10th St. W., Palmetto, put out hand-written signs outside their packing house announcing the sale.
Wednesday, a steady stream of cars pulled into the Pacific Tomato Growers parking lot to buy a box or two of Roma or round tomatoes. Andrew Blanck bought six to make tomato sauce and Greek sauce.
“We sell tomatoes all over the country. We sell to restaurants, and retail customers, too,” Paul Hoker, Pacific’s chief financial officer, said. “The restaurant business has gone away.”
The culprit is the coronavirus pandemic which has shuttered many restaurants or forced others to scale back to take-out operations only.
Organizations offering help
Resources are available to help struggling Manatee County residents through the COVID-19 pandemic. Opportunities also exist to support local relief efforts, which are facing a sudden and overwhelming demand.
With all schools closed through April 15, area students might struggle to find their daily lunch, and parents may need child care while they continue working. Other residents are losing work hours or jobs with the restrictions placed on restaurants and bars.
Here is a list of some of the organizations offering help.
Bradenton restaurants offering take-home and delivery services
The Bradenton Herald has published a list of restaurants offering take out and/or delivery services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Also, feel free to leave the names, addresses and phone numbers of other restaurants, either as a comment on our Facebook page or on the page for the Manatee Eats group.
Tips to protect yourself from the 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.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 7:20 AM.