Coronavirus may bring a ‘direct risk’ to Bradenton. Here’s how officials are planning
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Local officials in charge of public safety are still monitoring which precautions they’ll need to take in case an outbreak of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 hits Manatee County.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday night expanded his previous state of emergency declaration, which allows for the state to respond more effectively with field hospitals, medical supplies and the possible activation of the Florida National Guard. However, he noted that more specific responses will be left up to local leaders.
“It’s going to be a bottom-up effort,” DeSantis told reporters. “We’re going to be working with local communities but certainly not going to be dictating the decisions.”
Manatee Public Safety Director Jacob Saur told the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday morning that his staff is still monitoring the situation locally in Manatee County, where two residents have tested positive for the disease. One of them has since been released from the hospital.
Saur stressed the importance of hygiene and preparedness, but said that Manatee County is still a low-risk area because officials believe the virus, so far, has been successfully contained. He also highlighted the county’s partnership with the local Department of Health and the heightened 911 protocol meant to protect first responders from contact with COVID-19 patients.
“We’ve been working for the last two weeks, diligently, to make sure all our plans are in place and appropriate for COVID-19 going forward,” said Saur, who noted that 80 percent of people infected with the disease will experience flu-like symptoms.
“Just take precautions like a bad flu is going around,” Commissioner Carol Whitmore added.
As of Tuesday afternoon, only two patients in Florida have died after contracting COVID-19.
Bradenton officials are also still monitoring the situation every day. Even if City Hall has to shut down, services like trash pick up will still operate normally, according to Mayor Wayne Poston.
“As coronavirus threatens the health and safety of vulnerable populations in our state and country, city of Bradenton officials are talking daily to assess and discuss direct risks to our city,” Poston said in a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald. “The city of Bradenton will continue to provide all essential services during this public health crisis, even if events dictate that a public building be closed.”
Most of the public’s information, however, is distributed by the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At a press conference on Monday, Congressman Vern Buchanan reiterated that these agencies have to be more transparent in the information they share.
“People want answers and they want them right now,” said Buchanan, R-Longboat Key. “They have most of the answers. They give me some pretty good information, but they need to be giving that to you.”
For more information, residents are asked to visit MyManatee.org/coronavirus or call the state coronavirus hotline at (866) 779-6121 24 hours a day.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 5:40 PM.
