Manatee’s COVID-19 case count passes 1,000. Two more residents have died

Another two people with COVID-19 have died and 11 more people have tested positive in Manatee County, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health.

There have now been 1,007 people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Manatee County since testing began. The death toll has reached 95.

The first Manatee County COVID-19 case was reported March 1. It was one of the first two cases in all of Florida.

The state health department reports that 60 COVID-19-related deaths in Manatee County have been among residents or staff at long-term care facilities. There are 14 care facilities in the county that have reported cases of COVID-19.

COVID-19 testing availability in Manatee County increased dramatically over the past several weeks. A total of 16,743 tests have now been conducted, according to the state health department, more than 12,000 of which were reported in May alone.

As testing has increased, the county’s percentage of positive cases has steadily dropped. The positivity rate fell from over 14 percent at the start of May to 6 percent as of this week, which is within the state’s “target range.”

A new walk-up testing site operated by the National Guard opened Thursday at Lincoln Park, 501 17th St. E., Palmetto. No prescription or appointment is required. A similar drive-thru testing site at University Town Center Mall, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota, remains in operation seven days a week.

Statewide, another 651 people have tested positive, and 45 more COVID-19 patients have died, according to the state health department. The statewide positivity rate is 5.6 percent.

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 1:13 PM.