Manatee County Coronavirus Update: What You Need To Know

BRADENTON, FL — Manatee County officials were holding a free pet supply distribution Wednesday as a number of public parks shut down and first responders issued a public plea asking people to be truthful when answering health questions from 9-1-1 dispatchers in response to the ongoing threat over the new coronavirus.

Manatee County had 58 confirmed cases as of Wednesday morning and two deaths from the virus. Of the total number of cases in the county, 30 were men and 28 were women. They range in age from 14 to 90. Health officials reported 17 hospitalizations in Manatee County.

There were no public testing sites in the county as of Wednesday.

Here's an update of what's happening around Manatee County and what you need to know:

Pet Supply Distribution

• Manatee County Animal Services will distribute free pet food, kitty litter and pet treats from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday while supplies last at Manatee County Cat Town, 216 6th Ave E in Bradenton. The freebies were donated by Florida State Animal Response Coalition, Chewy.com and the Greater Good. Only a limited amount of cat food was available.

9-1-1 Calls

All 9-1-1 callers are being asked to answer a few screening questions related to the new coronavirus to help protect first responders.

Officials ask residents to be truthful when responding to the questions so first responders can be adequately prepared with the right personal protective equipment when they arrive.

"Manatee County’s first responders could face a shortage of health care workers as more and more first responders are exposed to the COVID-19 virus while performing their daily duties," Public Safety Director Jacob Saur said.

He said a number of first responders have been quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19 while performing their duties.

"None of the responders have tested positive to date, but some of these quarantines could have been prevented had the 9-1-1 caller answered the questions to the best of their ability," Saur explained.

Sick patients are asked to walk outside their homes to meet first responders if they are able to do so.

Donations Requested By First Responders

First responders are also asking the public to donate medical grade personal protective equipment ahead of an expected increase in COVID-19 patients during April.

Manatee County has released a new video with the Florida Department of Health to show what kinds of personal protective equipment first responders need. Call 941-744-3939 for more information.

• Surgical Face Masks
• P100 Masks
• N95 Masks
• Face Shields
• Nitrile Exam Gloves, Powder Free
• 5 and 7 mil Nitrile Gloves
• Eye protection - Safety Glasses
• Surgical Tear Away Gowns
• Safety Eye Goggles
• Hand Sanitizer (any size) 60 percent alcohol
• 91 percent Isopropyl Alcohol
• Clorox Wipes
• Lysol Disinfectant Spray
• Sani-Cloth Wipes
• 3 Percent Hydrogen Peroxide

Medical Devices needed

• Ventilators — Hospital, Transport, Home Use
• CPAP — Hospital, Disposable, Home Sleep Apnea
• BiPAP/BiLevel — Hospital, Disposable, Home Sleep Apnea
• High Flow Nasal Cannula Set-ups

Closures Around Manatee County

• Sunny Shores Park is closed.
• Rye Preserve west of Rye Bridge along Upper Manatee River Road is closed to the public. Other public entrances will remain open.
• The Lena Road Landfill, normally open on Saturdays, will be closed on Saturdays beginning April 11. It will remain open on weekdays.
• The county's tennis and pickle ball courts closed. Manatee County also posted signs on the skateparks at G.T. Bray and Blackstone parks.
• County-owned boat ramps and the County's public beaches are closed to the public.
• Beach access is restricted at Beer Can (Greer) Island.
• Rose Park is closed. Vehicles can no longer access the sandy beach area at Emerson Point, but the preserve remains open to the public.
• County still will continue to work and county service will continue to operate. Use online options when possible for county services. Call 3-1-1 for more information.

Free Meals For Kids

The School District of Manatee County will be providing Free Grab 'n Go meals for students 18 years and younger through April 15. Children 18 and under will receive lunch for the day and breakfast for the next morning. Please check back regularly as these sites and times are subject to change. Click here to see the list of locations.

Resources For Businesses

Many businesses and their workers have been hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Recovery resources for Manatee County businesses and employees can be found here.

General Recommendations

• Manatee County strongly encourages people with medical conditions and residents over the age of 65 to take extra precautions to prevent infection of COVID-19 by staying at home and limiting social gatherings to 10 people or less.
• Manatee County residents should work remotely as recommended by Governor DeSantis's Executive Order 20-83 and follow the CDC and DOH guidelines for frequent hand washing.

View the latest on Manatee County's community-wide effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by visiting www.mymanatee.org/COVID-19 or text ManateeReady to 888-777.