Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on April 10
The latest on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bradenton and Manatee County.
Three more die in Manatee County
Three more deaths have occurred in Manatee County due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, the Florida Department of Health confirmed Thursday evening. A total of 11 people have now died in Manatee from the disease.
The DOH also is reporting seven new cases in Manatee County, bringing the total to 179. There were 17 new cases reported in Sarasota County, bringing the total to 201. A total of 10 deaths have been confirmed in Sarasota County.
County commission to meet
The Manatee County Commission will meet in emergency session to consider extending a nighttime curfew it adopted on April 3.
Commissioners also will consider a resolution asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to extend until April 30 a ban on vacation rentals.
Commissioners will meet virtually via the Zoom video conferencing app.
The meeting will be livestreamed here.
Anyone wanting to offer public comments can have access to the meeting by going to the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers on the first floor of the County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
Bradenton VA clinic closed
The Bradenton VA Clinic temporarily closed its doors to in-person visits this week because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bradenton-area veterans, who would normally go the Bradenton VA Clinic, 5520 State Road 64 E., are now being referred to the Sarasota Community Based Outpatient Clinic on Bee Ridge Road or Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in Pinellas County.
“We modified operations at the St. Petersburg, Bradenton, and Port Charlotte Community Based Outpatient Clinics to maximize our virtual care program offerings while keeping with our goals of protecting patients and preserving our health care workforce. We picked these CBOCs to transition face-to-face appointments to virtual care options due to their proximity to our other facilities,” Selina Meiners, public affairs officer for Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, said in an email.
Patients who had face-to-face appointments scheduled were contacted to determine if they wanted to keep their appointments as virtual appointments (phone or video), or reschedule their face-to-face appointments for a later date, Meiners said.
Stay off the beaches, officials say
The city of Holmes Beach is adopting stricter measures to discourage people from trying to hit the sand on Anna Maria Island during the coronavirus pandemic.
The health emergency prompted the closure of all Manatee County beaches on March 20, and as of last week, all of Florida is under a stay-at-home order from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Starting at 6 a.m. Friday, public parking within Holmes Beach city limits will be severely reduced. The city will ban all beach access parking, all parking on city streets and all right-of-way parking, according to a release issued by Holmes Beach Police Chief William L. Tokajer.
Illegally parked vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.
Manatee Public Beach, one of Anna Maria Island’s most centrally located and popular spots, is within the city’s limits. The public parking lot with access to that beach has been closed since the countywide order went into effect on March 20.
Anna Maria Island’s southernmost city, Bradenton Beach, never allows right-of-way parking, and the public parking lots for beach access are all closed.
The city of Anna Maria at the northern tip of the island announced in a March 20 website post that its beaches are closed to the general public but remain open to residents and their guests who practice social distancing. The city has also expanded no parking zones in some areas.
“The intent is to reduce the churn of people coming into the city over and over again,” Mayor Dan Murphy said. “Because that increases the probability of the spread of the virus.”
Murphy said that residents have continued to follow social distancing guidelines in Anna Maria, and he does not yet see a need to implement stricter parking rules that might overburden those who live in the city.
“If things happen, I can react. We’ve expanded the no parking zones to what we think
Musicians find a new stage
Local musicians have been locked out of local bars and restaurants because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But they have found new ways to share their music — and get paid for it.
Need a job? Look here
Business organizations in Manatee and Sarasota counties reported they have joined forces to connect displaced workers with employers.
Employers can post jobs while workers displaced by the coronavirus pandemic can search for them at jobfocus.com, a service hosted by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.
Also, here is a link to more information about applying for unemployment benefits in Florida.
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 May 1, 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.
Need help paying rent or utility bills? Check out the groups listed here.
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.
Restaurants offering Easter meal deals
Don’t want to cook for Easter? These restaurants and grocery stores have a deal for you.
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 advise that people wear face masks to avoid either contracting the virus or passing it on.
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 10, 2020 at 5:31 AM.
