Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Bradenton and Manatee County on Sept. 8
The latest on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bradenton and Manatee County.
New coronavirus infections reported in Manatee County
Another 17 Manatee County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health on Monday. Statewide, 1,838 new cases were reported, the fewest since mid-June.
The deaths of an additional 22 Florida residents from COVID-19 were also confirmed. The state’s death toll is now at 11,871 Florida residents and 152 non-residents, for a total of 12,023.
No new deaths were reported in Manatee County on Monday, where the death toll remained at 266 residents. The death rate among confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Manatee County residents is currently 2.5%, according to health department data.
There have now been 648,269 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida. Florida ranks second in the U.S. for confirmed cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and fifth for deaths.
In Manatee, 10,673 infections have been recorded.
District releases more information about COVID-19 in Manatee schools
The Manatee County School District has begun posting more specific information about how prevalent COVID-19 is on its campuses.
As of Friday, there had been 43 cases on at least 25 campuses.
But the numbers are not broken down by students vs. staff, and the district has not yet released how many people have been sent home to isolate because they were exposed to someone with COVID-19 while at school.
Read more here.
More than 1,200 Manatee County children have tested positive for the coronavirus, state says
More than 1,200 children in Manatee County have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Florida Department of Health.
In a report updated Friday, the health department said 1,260 of the 9,668 Manatee residents between the ages of 0 and 17 who had been tested were founded to be infected with the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease. Manatee ranks 11th out of 67 Florida counties in the number of coronvirus infections among children.
The positivity rate of 13% for Manatee children is lower than the state rate, 14.6%, but higher than the county’s overall rate, 10.8%.
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 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. Antibody testing, which requires the drawing of blood, also is available at this location.
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.
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 September 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM.