Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on Aug. 11
The latest on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bradenton and Manatee County.
35 new deaths reported in Manatee County
The deaths of 35 Manatee County residents from COVID-19 were reported by the Florida Department of Health on Monday. That’s more than a third of the 91 new deaths recorded statewide.
The local deaths made up the highest reported tally in Manatee County in one day since the start of the pandemic. The previous record was reported on July 29 with 15 deaths.
The official death toll in Manatee County is now 227. Across the state, there have been 8,277 residents who have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
There were also 52 new cases of people testing positive for the coronavirus in Manatee County on Monday. A total of 9,340 of Manatee County residents have been infected with the coronavirus..
Statewide, there were 4,155 new cases reported, for a total of 536,961 positive cases since March.
Monday’s daily count of new cases was the lowest reported by the state since early June, when cases began to surge. Prior to the Monday, the lowest daily count of cases since then had been on Aug. 3 when 4,752 cases were confirmed, after state-run testing sites were closed for at least three days because of the threat from Hurricane Isaias.
Keeping Manatee schools safe will be a ‘team effort,’ district says
Custodians at the School District of Manatee County know they can’t defeat COVID-19 alone. As students prepare to begin classes next week, it’s going to take a “team effort” to keep everyone safe.
“We’re looking at this as a total team effort here in this organization. There’s no way we can provide enough custodial staff to wipe every door and every desk every minute of the day,” Todd Henson, the district’s director of maintenance and operations, said at a Monday morning press conference. “We’re as prepared as we can be with the resources we have.”
Everyone from teachers to students to parents are asked to participate in the district’s plant to prevent COVID-19 exposure.
By the end of the week, the district plans to stock every classroom with three key supplies to kill the virus — a gallon of hand sanitizer, an EPA-approved disinfectant spray and a bucket of hand wipes. Those supplies will be restocked as needed, according to Henson.
Custodial staff have also been trained over the summer to address the district’s new cleaning methods. One of those tools is a new electrostatic sprayer, which provides an electric charge to the cleaning solution, allowing the spray to evenly cover a surface.
Read more here.
Testing locations in Manatee County
Among the places you can get tested for the novel coronavirus are:
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.