Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on July 15
The latest on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bradenton and Manatee County.
Manatee County hospitals near capacity as new cases keep surging
As cases continue to surge, two of Manatee County’s three general hospitals — Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center — were at capacity on Tuesday. Blake Medical Center was reporting 11 available beds, five of which were ICU beds.
Manatee County has 153 new coronavirus cases, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health released Tuesday. There also were a 132 new deaths among Florida residents reported, the highest daily count during the pandemic.
The official death toll now stands at 4,409 Florida residents. Another non-resident has also died in the state, raising that total to 105, from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. In Florida, non-residents who die are counted separately.
In Manatee County, there were no new deaths reported on Tuesday. The death toll stands at 140.
The three general hospitals in Manatee County have 133 beds available total, including nine ICU beds, according to Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration. But the hospitals are only staffed for the 11 beds, including five intensive-care unit beds.
A lack of sufficient number of nurses, not just surging cases, is taking driving hospitals to capacity, a problem not exclusive to Manatee County.
As of Tuesday, there were still 110 patients currently admitted to one of Manatee County’s three general hospital who are positive for the coronavirus, according to data each hospital now provides county officials.
AHCA reported six new hospitalizations for a total of 95 on Tuesday, with the count representing patients whose primary reason for admission and treatment is COVID-19.
School board approves reopening plan
Many parents and others couldn’t watch because of technical difficulties with an onlne feed, but the Manatee County School Board approved a plan to have students return to class on Aug. 17, a week later than originally scheduled.
The board voted 3-2, with board member Dave Miner and Vice-Chair Charlie Kennedy dissenting, to move forward with Superintendent Cynthia Saunders’ proposal to start school Aug. 17.. The plan could change before and after the start of school, as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. Board chair Gina Messenger and members James Golden and Scott Hopes voted in favor.
As of Tuesday night, the school district planned to offer three options for all grade levels:
A return to the normal in-person, five-day schedule.
A full-time continuation of online learning.
A hybrid schedule, in which students would rotate between in-person and online learning each week.
“I do want to make it clear, a teacher is not delivering all three of these items,” Saunders said. “They will be delivering one. They’ll either be the face-to-face teacher, the hybrid teacher or the full-time eLearning teacher.”
The superintendent said schools would reach out to individual families and inquire about their preferred option, and that families had until July 22 to choose one of three plans. Otherwise, the default schedule is a return to five days of in-person learning for elementary students and sixth-graders, and hybrid classes for students in grades seven through 12.
Tuesday’s board meeting was closed to the public as a precaution against COVID-19. Technical issues plagued the digital stream for two hours, frustrating online viewers, but the television broadcast seemed to continue as planned.
To watch the full two-hour meeting, visit www.vimeo.com/manateeschools.
Protesters push for delay in school reopening
A grassroots movement has sprung from the rising concern for teachers and students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tiffany Pepsin, a Manatee County resident and a high school teacher in Sarasota County, joined a Facebook group for mothers, where parents and teachers discussed their expectations for the 2020-21 school year. Fearful of the spiking COVID-19 cases in Florida, the group decided that online learning was the only reasonable option in August.
Pepsin organized event pages on social media, calling for a demonstration outside of the school administration buildings in Manatee and Sarasota counties. The school boards in both counties were expected to make vital decisions about the upcoming school year.
The group drove around the Manatee County school administration building before Tuesday’s school board meeting.
“Without a shadow of doubt, opening schools back up would cause another spike,” Pepsin said.
Manatee Schools Superintendent Cynthia Saunders said the district was not prepared for full-time online learning.
“In March, we had been with our students for three-quarters of the school year,” Saunders said during the board meeting. “We knew them. We knew which ones needed a device. We knew which ones had a device at home. We could easily determine internet access. It will be very challenging for us to get that same information without any of these students showing up on our campus.”
More COVID-19 among law enforcement
The coronavirus continues to spread within law enforcement agencies in Manatee County as cases continue to surge in the community, the region and statewide.
In total, there were 28 officers and civilians positive for the virus as of Tuesday.
Read more here.
COVID-19 forces downtown Bradenton to close temporarily
Management of Tom’s Bad Ass Bar and Grill in downtown Bradenton has decided to temporarily close the restaurant after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, according to a post from the restaurant on Facebook.
“We take your safety and the safety of our employees very seriously,” the post said. “Until all staff have tested negative and we have had our restaurant professionally cleaned and sanitized, we will remain closed. Thank you for your understanding.”
Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation does not require restaurants to close when an employee tests positive for the coronavirus. Nor are restaurants required to disclose the information to the public.
However, many restaurant owners around the state are opting to be transparent about the situation with customers.
FREE COVID-19 TESTING AVAILABLE HERE
A reminder that free COVID-19 testing continues at locations in Manatee and Sarasota counties, including:
A drive-thru site near The Mall at University Town Center, in the parking lot east of Dillard’s, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until the site uses all of its test equipment for the day.
A walk-up site at Home Depot, 2350 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.or until the site uses all of its test equipment for the day.
A walk-up site at Lincoln Park, 501 17th St. E., Palmetto, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.or until the site uses all of its test equipment for the day.
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 has 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.
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.
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.