Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on July 21
The latest on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bradenton and Manatee County.
One more death, 169 more coronavirus infections reported in Manatee
Another 169 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Manatee County, the Florida Department of Health said Monday.
Across the state, another 10,347 people tested positive, as Florida continues to confirm thousands of new cases per day. Health officials say 360,394 people have tested positive throughout the state.
Monday’s update brought Manatee’s total number of cases to 6,738. The local death toll also rose from 143 to 144, according to state officials. Throughout the state, the number of Florida residents who have died from COVID-19 surpassed 5,000.
According to the Florida Department of Health, 5,072 residents and 111 non-residents died after contracting the virus.
In Manatee, 66,409 people have been tested for the novel coronavirus, putting the county’s percentage of positive tests at 10.1%, which is just above the state’s “target range” of 10%.
Statewide, however, the positivity rate rose from 11.6 percent on Sunday to 11.8 percent on Monday.
Manatee School District offers more reopening details
Read them here.
In the meantime, the Florida Education Association is suing Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran for ordering school districts to reopen their brick-and-mortar campuses for the 2020-21 school year.
Stores flip their mask policies
Winn-Dixie will require its customers to wear masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.. The decision reverses the company’s earlier position to not require customers to wear masks in its grocery stores, the way Publix and other companies now do.
Meanwhile, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, which are owned by the same company, are no longer requiring customers to wear masks — unless the local governments require them, which is not an issue in Manatee County since the company does not have stores in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach or Longboat Key.
COVID-19 forces another restaurant to close
There is one fewer place in Bradenton to get barbecue.
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.
Free masks are available in Manatee County
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.
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 7:30 AM.