Partial Lockdown In Place At Manatee County Jail Because Of COVID

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Manatee County Jail went into a partial lockdown Wednesday afternoon due to an increased number of inmates testing positive for COVID-19, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

On Wednesday, 75 of the 1,173 inmates were COVID-19 positive, the most at one time since coronavirus testing started at the jail in March 2020.

Most of these 75 inmates diagnosed with COVID-19 are currently asymptomatic, the sheriff’s office said. None have required hospitalization because of their illness, though three are staying in the jail’s medical unit because of pre-existing medical conditions.

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Under partial lockdown, inmates will remain in their cells, except for six to eight hours a day when they’re in small groups and on a rotating basis. During this time, they will be allowed to move around the common areas of their assigned dorm, take showers, make phone calls, and access their commissary and the exercise yards, the sheriff’s office said.

The offsite Video Visitation Center will continue to operate on a normal schedule.