Manatee County Sheriff’s Office now has nine cases of coronavirus within its ranks
A total of nine Manatee County Sheriff’s Office employees have now tested positive for the coronavirus.
The sheriff’s office confirmed last week that one deputy, one detective and three civilian employees had tested positive for the coronavirus.
As of late Monday, another three deputies and one civilian employee had also tested positive, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Randy Warren.
A growing number of cases within local law enforcement agencies comes as cases are spiking in Manatee County and across the state. As of Tuesday, there have been 2,856 people in Manatee County infected by the virus.
On Monday afternoon the sheriff’s office also announced it would again be closing its records and process lobby at its operations center at 600 U.S. 301 Blvd W., Bradenton, beginning Tuesday in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The lobby had reopened on June 1 after being closed to the public for more than two months.
Experts, including the Florida Department of Health and its local director in Manatee County, say that wearing masks and social distancing are the most effective ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
No law enforcement officer in Manatee County is required to wear a mask. The agencies have recommended they do so when dealing with public.
Last week, the Bradenton Police Department announced that one detective and one dispatcher testing positive. Manatee County’s other law enforcement agencies have not had anyone test positive.
The Sarasota Police Department announced its first cases last week after three officers tested positive for the virus.
