Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on June 9
The latest on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bradenton and Manatee County.
More cases reported in Manatee County
Another 30 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Manatee County, according to the the Florida Department of Health.
They were among 966 new cases reported statewide on Monday.
Manatee County has now had 1,219 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 105 deaths, since testing for the coronavirus began.
New COVID-19 testing site to open at Home Depot store
A Home Depot store in Bradenton will host one of the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s walk-up COVID-19 testing sites, the Florida Department of Health said Monday.
The site, located in the parking lot of the Home Depot at 2350 Cortez Road, will open at noon Tuesday. Starting Wednesday, it will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, the health department said.
Testing is free for anyone 18 and older, regardless of symptoms. The site can conduct up to 100 tests per day. Tests will be sent to Quest Diagnostics and results will be available within 5–7 days, according to the health department.
Home Depots in Holiday and Boca Raton are also hosting new testing sites.
In all, the state has established more than 15 drive-thru and 17 walk-up testing sites across the state, including a site near the Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota and Lincoln Park in Palmetto.
School board to consider COVID-19 spending
During its meeting on Tuesday evening, the School Board of Manatee County will vote on several high-dollar contracts and actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board agenda includes hundreds of thousands of dollars for face masks and internet hot spots, along with more than a million dollars in federal aid for Manatee Technical College and its students. Residents can watch the meeting, scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, by visiting www.mstv.us or by watching Spectrum Channel 646 and Frontier Channel 39.
Read more here.
Food pantries in Manatee County
As COVID-19 has ravaged Manatee County and employers have shedded jobs, food security has become a bigger issue for many residents.
Manatee County government this week released a list of food pantries in the county where residents can obtain free food and other assistance.
Read it here.
NEED A JOB? LOOK HERE
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.
Meanwhile, these companies say they are hiring.
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.
This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM.