COVID-19 claims three more lives in Manatee County as Florida death toll tops 1,000
Three more people have died from COVID-19 in Manatee County, as the state death toll topped 1,000 on Friday.
There are now 42 people who have died from the disease caused by the new coronavirus in Manatee County. Statewide, the death toll stands at 1,046.
Outside Manatee County, the most recent deaths occurred in Broward, Charlotte, Dade, Duval, Escambia, Jefferson, Lee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Suwannee and Volusia counties.
In Manatee County, there were 491 cases of people testing positive for the coronavirus, the 10th highest count among Florida’s 67 counties. Officials say 125 people have been locally hospitalized because of the virus. Cases statewide have surpassed 30,500.
According to the DOH data, there were as of Friday morning 163 cases in six skilled nursing homes and two assisted living facilities in Manatee County, the highest amount outside South Florida. Eighteen deaths have been confirmed by DOH in these facilities, although on Thursday two of these nursing homes alone, Braden River Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton and Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center in Palmetto, confirmed they had had 23 deaths combined.
Statewide, the DOH has confirmed 2,576 cases in long-term care facilities, including 281 deaths.
The 11 new local cases are among the 288 additional completed tests reported by the Florida Department of Health on Friday morning.
In Manatee, 15.5 percent of the 3,126 people who have been tested have been found to have the coronavirus.
The county announced a partnership with MCR Health on Thursday in order to expand testing. The county has purchased 500 specimen collection kits through MCR to expand testing locally. Any resident can get tested at one of five MCR facilities, regardless of ability to pay.
Using most of the 300 kits obtained from the state this week, the county will also reopen its drive-thru testing facility at the Bradenton Area Convention Center for a 3-day event beginning Wednesday. Only those with doctor’s orders will be tested and up to 80 appointments will be taken per day.
Appointments can be made by calling 941-748-0747.
In Sarasota County, there were 314 cases of people testing positive for the coronavirus, 7.8 percent of those who have been tested. Thirty-two people have died in Sarasota County.
Hillsborough County had 1,022 cases of people testing positive for the coronavirus. There have been 21 COVID-19 deaths in Hillsborough County.
Pinellas County had 673 people who have tested positive. There have been 24 COVID-19 deaths in Pinellas County.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 10:56 AM.
