Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on April 17
Deaths at Manatee nursing homes
Almost half of the people who have died in Manatee County from COVID-19 were residents or staff at long-term care facilities in Manatee County, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The eight people who have died are among the 126 who have died in such facilities statewide. In all, 20 people have died in Manatee County from COVID-19.
The number of deaths that have occurred among residents and staffers at long-term care facilities was not previously released by the health department. But on Thursday afternoon, that data was first made available.
In Manatee County, there are 46 cases among residents or staff at local facilities.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were 309 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Manatee County.
Help flowing to local agencies
An anonymous $500,000 donation to the Manatee Community Foundation in late March to establish the COVID-19 Community Response Fund is beginning to bear fruit as the agency announced Thursday the first round of beneficiaries.
More than $120,000 was awarded to agencies that provide essential basic needs such as food, housing, virtual therapy for individuals with disabilities, protective equipment and hospice care.
Family mourns man who died of COVID-19
“We have no idea how he got it. ... That’s what makes this so scary.”
Read the heart-breaking story here.
Need a job? Look here
A website projects the unemployment rate in Manatee-Sarasota could hit 28 percent, as businesses shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic shed jobs.
Local business organizations are not standing pat.
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.
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.