Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on July 30
The latest on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bradenton and Manatee County.
The deadliest day so far: 15 new deaths reported in Manatee
The deaths of 15 Manatee County residents from COVID-19 were among the 216 deaths confirmed across the state by the Florida Department of Health on Wednesday. Both figures set new daily records for coronavirus deaths locally and in Florida.
The official death toll in Manatee County now stands at 173. Statewide, the official death toll has reached 6,333.
The record number of deaths comes about three weeks after hospitalizations from the respiratory disease spiked, causing the county’s three general hospitals to reach capacity levels.
The health department also confirmed 9,446 new positive cases of the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. The total number of infections in Florida is now 451,423.
In Manatee County, there were 97 new positive cases of the coronavirus. A total of 8,187 people have now been infected since the pandemic started.
Testing sites to close because of tropical weather
All state-run COVID-19 testing sites in Florida will shut down at end of the day Thursday ahead ahead of potential Tropical Storm Isias.
In preparation for the storm, the Florida Department of Emergency Management will close all state-run COVID-19 testing sites at the end of business day Thursday. Those include the testing sites at the Home Depot in Bradenton, Lincoln Park in Palmetto and near The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota.
“They will schedule to reopen Tuesday providing the areas that they are in are habitable and able to reopen,” Manatee County Director of Public Safety Jacob Saur told the Bradenton Herald. “Some test sites could be flooded or be damaged from wind. Each test site will have to evaluate after the storm.”
More high school graduations
Congratulations to the graduating students at Manatee High School and Lakewood Ranch High School.
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.