MANATEE COUNTY – For the tenth consecutive week, the COVID-19 Community Level remains high countywide.
COVID-19 Community Levels help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions to take based on the latest information. When the Community Level is high, health officials recommend that anyone at high risk of getting very sick wear a high-quality mask or respirator when indoors in public. Anyone having household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick is urged to consider self-testing to detect infection before contact and consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people in the United States have some protection, or immunity, against COVID-19 due to vaccination, previous infection, or both. This immunity, combined with the availability of tests and treatments, has greatly reduced the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 for many people.
However, health officials warn that vaccines and previous infections may not provide adequate protection against newer strains of the virus, BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants.
At least 73.1% of Manatee County residents have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 62.9% of county residents vaccinated twice; 46.3% have chosen to get at least one booster shot.
Despite being fully vaccinated, many are still testing positive.
“My wife and I have both had all four shots, but we both tested positive in July,” said Jim Haas, who is visiting Bradenton Beach from Virginia. “We wore masks on the plane, but I wouldn’t need both hands to count how many people besides us had them on.”
Currently, masks are not required for air travel in the United States, and there are no mask mandates in the state of Florida, including schools. Recommendations by the CDC and Florida health officials should be taken seriously, but are not law.
To combat the new subvariants, the U.S. is planning a fall booster campaign with new shots amid concerns about another wave of infection. Public health officials hope the new shots will provide more durable protection against infection and mild illness.
Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, have asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize new booster shots that target the subvariants for people 12 and older. The current vaccines are FDA approved for anyone six months of age or older.
The new shots must be approved by the FDA before they can be released to the public, and currently it is unclear whether the FDA’s independent vaccine advisory committee will meet to review more data on the shots before the agency authorizes them. As of yet, no date has been given for exactly when they will be available, but officials say when they are, they should be at local pharmacies and the process will be the same as it was for the original vaccines.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – While life has returned nearly to normal on the Island more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, people are still catching the virus with cases on the rise.
The current community level in Manatee County is medium after spending more than two months at low.
COVID-19 community levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend taking precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on your community level. The CDC guidelines are:
Low: Stay up to date with vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms.
Medium: If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your doctor about whether you need to wear a mask or take extra precautions. Stay up to date with vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms.
High: Wear a mask indoors in public, stay up to date with vaccines, get tested if you have symptoms and take additional precautions if you’re at high risk for illness.
The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH) continues to give no-cost COVID-19 vaccinations at its clinic on Sixth Avenue East in Bradenton. The DOH offers the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations are by appointment only. Appointments are available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Call 941-242-6646 to book an appointment.
COVID-19 in Manatee County
June 5
Cases 289
% Positivity 22.39%
Deaths < 10
% Eligible population vaccinated 72.4%
New hospital admissions 33
June 13
Cases 298
% Positivity 22.39%
Deaths < 10
% Eligible population vaccinated 72.5%
New hospital admissions 52
Source: CDC
Anyone who books an appointment for a vaccination is asked to download and complete a vaccination consent form. Click on “Events” in the toolbar and the system will take you to the page with the form.
Anyone under age 18 who would like to be vaccinated must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The clinic is located at 410 Sixth Ave. E. in Bradenton.
There were three deaths in Manatee County due to COVID-19 in the past week, a 233% increase from the previous week, so the DOH encourages every eligible person to get vaccinated. According to the DOH, anyone who qualifies for a COVID-19 vaccination who has yet to get vaccinated – whether they’ve already had COVID-19 or not – is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and have proven effective in preventing illness and death due to the virus. If you are seeking a second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, please be sure to bring your vaccination card and the completed consent form to the clinic.
COVID-19 testing continues to be offered outdoors at the Bradenton Area Convention Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day (weather permitting). The site offers both PCR and rapid testing.
Additional vaccination and testing sites in Manatee County can be found here. Vaccines and tests are also available at most pharmacies.
MANATEE COUNTY – If you have a compromised immune system, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you have a booster, or third dose, of a COVID-19 vaccine.
To help keep immune-compromised people safe with the novel coronavirus still a threat in the community, the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County is offering additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to those who qualify for the booster shot.
The Pfizer vaccine was given full approval by the Federal Drug Administration on Aug. 23.
For more information on who qualifies for a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, please visit the CDC online.
To receive a booster shot from the DOH, you must make an appointment at the Palmetto Bus Station COVID-19 vaccination site by calling 941-242-6646. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone receiving a booster shot will need to bring their vaccination card and remain in their vehicle while receiving the shot. The Palmetto Bus Station is at 1802 Eighth Ave. in Palmetto.
Booster shots also are available without an appointment at area Publix pharmacy and Walgreens pharmacy locations.
All vaccines and booster shots are available free of charge.
COVID-19 testing is available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, One Haben Blvd. in Palmetto. The site offers both PCR and rapid testing.
Additional Manatee County vaccination and testing sites can be found online.
Monoclonal antibody therapy treatments also are available for anyone age 12 and older who is at high risk for severe illness due to COVID-19. The treatment is shown to help prevent hospitalization and death in high-risk patients and is available free of charge.
Manatee Memorial Hospital also will serve as a local location where eligible people can receive a free monoclonal antibody therapy treatment. For more information or to make an appointment visit the state health department online.
BRADENTON – Two Blake Medical Center nurses were reinstated today after being suspended for staging a peaceful protest last week over the hospital’s state of preparedness during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
During the protest, the nurses also expressed their concerns and fears about the lack of protective equipment being provided to the hospital’s nursing staff.
Two of three nurses who participated in the protest, Victoria Holland and Kim Brooks, were suspended. But today, Holland and Brooks were allowed to return to duty after going public with their concerns.
Speaking by phone while on a break this afternoon, Holland said, “I went back to work with no punishment. Today was our first day back.”
Holland said Brooks is now allowed to wear her own N95 mask while working, which is why Brooks was suspended.
“Kim has been wearing her own N95 all day,” Holland said.
Holland said she herself had not yet been provided with an N95 mask, but she didn’t currently have a patient that warranted her wearing one.
During Thursday’s protest, Holland expressed concerns about the hospital’s lack of transparency with the nursing staff regarding positive and potentially positive COVID-19 patients being treated at the hospital.
Holland said her chief nursing officer told her Monday morning that Blake Medical Center is now treating two patients who tested positive for COVID-19.
“I was told there are two positives and four rule-outs,” Holland said.
Holland said the rule-out designation is applied to a patient during the preliminary evaluation period while awaiting a positive or negative test result.
Holland was asked if she thought last week’s protest was a success.
“I’m sure we still have some work to do but we were pretty successful getting our points across. I feel there’s a lot more transparency and more understanding between the administration and the nursing staff,” Holland said.
She also said she felt safer working at the hospital on Monday than she did before she was suspended.
Nurses express concerns
Blake Medical Center is owned by the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). Located in Bradenton, Blake Medical Center is the closest hospital to Anna Maria Island.
Last week’s protest outside of Blake Medical Center coincided with similar protests that occurred at 15 HCA-owned hospitals nationwide last Wednesday and Thursday.
Coinciding with the shift change at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Holland, Brooks and nurse Candice Cordero staged their protest between the hospital parking garage on the south side of 21st Avenue West and the hospital on the north side of the street.
As their incoming co-workers made their way from the garage to the hospital, the trio handed out single-page printouts that contained information provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding the steps a hospital or medical facility should provide its employees to help protect them from coronavirus infection.
They also held signs that contained the National Nurses United (NNU) COVID-19 Checklist. The NNU is the nurse’s labor union.
These Blake Medical Center nurses waived signs and shared informational printouts with their co-workers during last week’s protest. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Holland said she’s been a nurse at Blake Medical Center for the past two years. She also serves as a union representative.
“The nurses aren’t having any type of transparency when they have a COVID patient or a possible rule-out patient. We have no idea who’s negative and who’s positive. They don’t tell us anything. They tell us that would be a HIPAA violation (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act),” Holland said when interviewed by The Sun during the protest.
“They’ve also got all our PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) on lockdown and we have to get permission to get masks and other things to take care of our patients. If we’re not safe, our patients aren’t safe and our community’s not safe,” Holland said.
“I’ve been suspended since Sunday for fighting for PPEs in front of patients. My assistant chief nursing officer and my certified nursing officer told me I was causing a disturbance on the floor because I was trying to get PPE for my co-workers to take care of their patients,” Holland said.
“This is a $50 billion dollar for-profit organization who’s had experience with the H1NI virus and should always be prepared for anything like this. Having all our equipment on lockdown makes it hard to get the appropriate equipment to take care of patients and that is totally inappropriate. They provide us with these little paper masks to wear that are totally permeable and don’t protect you from anything,” Holland said.
Holland was asked if nurses were being provided with protective face shields.
“That’s one of the reasons I’m on suspension because I was fighting for a face shield for one of my co-workers whose patient was on droplet precautions. When a nurse had to care for a patient who was on droplet precautions and receiving aerosolized treatments, I felt the nurse needed a N95 mask and a face shield. She was given a surgical mask and I ended up giving her a pair of goggles – and that’s what she worked with throughout the night,” Holland said.
“We feel unsafe and we’re scared,” Holland said.
Holland was asked what she hoped the protest accomplished.
“For HCA to buckle down and keep us safe so we can contain this virus so it’s not out in the community; so we’re not spreading it amongst the patents, and so we’re not spreading it amongst our co-workers,” she said.
As of Monday afternoon, there were two patients who tested positive for COVID-19 being treated at Blake Medical Center, according to nurse Victoria Holland. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
N95 masks
Brooks has been at Blake Medical Center for the past 14 years.
“I was working on Monday and I was using my own N95 mask that I brought from home. I was told I was not allowed to wear that. And if I wanted to continue to wear it, I would have to go home. I’ve been on suspension and under investigation since and I’ve not heard anything from the hospital,” she said during Thursday’s protest.
Brooks said she was not told why she couldn’t wear her own N95 mask.
“I don’t know. I asked them,” she said.
“I wanted to make sure I could protect myself and my family and I felt there was a need to wear an N95. We don’t know who’s negative and who’s positive and I wanted to do that for my safety. I’ve been a nurse for over 25 years and I’ve never been treated this way before. I’m disappointed. They’ve known the need to arrange for the proper supplies and the proper amount of supplies since January and we feel that has fallen by the wayside,” Brooks said.
“Every nurse and staff member going into that hospital should have a N95 to protect themselves. We don’t want to wait until something happens and then end up with nursing staff becoming positive. We don’t want to bring this home to our families,” Brooks said.
“I’m also disappointed with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for rolling back their guidelines. To say that this is not an airborne virus, to say this is a droplet transmitted virus because there are not enough supplies and equipment is shameful. Research has shown that this virus stays airborne for three hours, so a N95 is the safest mask to use,” Brooks said.
Candice Cordero has been a nurse at Blake Medical Center for 19 years. Unlike Holland and Brooks, she was not suspended.
“I’m out here because I want to make sure the nurses have the protection they need so we can keep our community safe and help stop the spread once it gets to our area. We don’t have that many cases right now, but it’s coming. If the nurses start getting sick, who’s going to care for the patients?” Cordero said.
Blake response
On Friday, April 3, The Sun contacted Blake Medical Center spokesperson Lisa Kirkland via email and sought a response from the hospital regarding the concerns expressed during Thursday’s protest.
Kirkland responded later that day via email.
“HCA Healthcare West Florida is doing everything it can to equip our patient care teams to provide safe, effective care to the people we serve, unwavering in our dedication despite the unique challenges presented by COVID-19. The National Nurses Union is trying to use this crisis to advance its own interest—organizing more members,” Kirkland wrote.
“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our goal has been to protect our frontline clinicians and caregivers, so they are able to continue to care for our patients and community. The pandemic has strained the worldwide supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, face shields, and gowns – a challenge that is not unique to us or any other hospital or health system in the United States,” Kirkland wrote.
Administration officials at Blake Medical Center say they are doing all they can to protect nurses and other staff members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“While we are doing everything in our power to secure additional supplies, and we are following CDC protocols for using and conserving PPE, the worldwide shortage is a reality that we are addressing with realistic, workable solutions.
“The steps we have taken include:
Enacting universal masking for all of our employees;
Appointing a PPE Steward to oversee priority deployment of PPE;
Creating strategically located PPE distribution centers across our campus to quickly deliver equipment,” Kirkland wrote.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is unique, and our colleagues’ concerns are real. In this unparalleled crisis, everyone should stand together to support our nurses, and not spread misinformation and fear to advance other agendas,” Kirkland wrote.
On Monday afternoon, Kirkland was contacted via email and asked if the hospital administration wanted to comment on the suspended nurses returning to duty.
“No thank you,” she wrote in her response.
MANATEE COUNTY – On Thursday, April 2, Manatee County issued a press release that said Manatee County commissioners were considering a countywide curfew.
Thursday’s press release said county commissioners would meet at 2 p.m. on Friday to consider a supplemental local emergency resolution that, if adopted, would create a temporary local curfew.
“That would give law enforcement agencies the ability to enforce group gathering restrictions on private property, in conjunction with Governor DeSantis’ Executive Orders 20-91 & 20-92,” Thursday’s press release said.
The press release notes Friday’s meeting will be streamed live at www.mymanatee.org/mga.
It will also air live on the Manatee Government Access channel that can be seen locally on Spectrum channel 644, Verizon channel 30 and Comcast channel 20.
“The county will enforce social distancing guidelines inside the Patricia M. Glass Chambers for the meeting. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to watch the meeting remotely,” the press release notes.
According to Thursday’s press release, county, law enforcement and municipal leaders from each of the county’s municipalities discussed the curfew and private property restrictions during a virtual Emergency Policy Group meeting Thursday morning.
“The group agreed that the additional measures will send a clear message to Manatee County residents that social distancing orders must be taken seriously and are not to be ignored. The proposed curfew would prohibit non-essential travel – travel that is not for food, medicine, essential supplies, employment – from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., seven days a week. An effective date will be decided during tomorrow’s meeting,” the press release says.
The press release notes the Emergency Policy Group reached a consensus on many parts of the proposed emergency actions, but an official resolution was being drafted by the county attorney’s office to be presented to county commissioners on Friday.
“If commissioners approve the supplemental local emergency resolution, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and municipal police department officers will have the ability to issue citations to anyone in non-compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 20-91 & 20-92,” the press release says.
“Law enforcement would also have the ability to cite group gatherings on private property. Under Florida Statute 252.50, those who violate the State Emergency Management Act are guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor and can be served a notice to appear order,” the press release says.
“Currently the county’s COVID-19 restrictions are only enforceable on public property such as public beaches and public boat ramps. County and city officials say the public has largely heeded those restrictions, but group gatherings at private residences – such as vacation rental homes, recreation centers and event halls – continue to pose a public health risk,” the press release says.
According to the press release, County Administrator Cheri Coryea said, “This supplemental emergency resolution would add support to the White House and the Governor’s directive to ‘Slow the Spread’ through April 30, and also helps our local law enforcement, the Department of Health, first responders and the medical community protect our citizens in a more stringent way. If you thought you could save one life by being temporarily inconvenienced during this unprecedented COVID-19 event, wouldn’t you want to?”
MCAT updates
Wednesday’s press release also included updates on other coronavirus-related matters in Manatee County.
The press release said Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) riders are being asked to limit their trips on county transit, trolley and Handy Bus systems to essential travel only.
The press release notes the following changes will take effect Saturday, April 4:
MCAT daily service will continue, but routes will halt at 7 p.m.
The Anna Maria Island Trolley and Route 3 serving the Manatee Avenue/State Road 64 corridor will both be reduced to 60-minute service frequency, Monday through Saturday.
There will be no AMI Trolley service on Sunday until further notice.
The Longboat Key Shuttle will cease operation until further notice.
The Skyway ConneXion service which connects Manatee County and Pinellas County daily will now operate on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only.
Riders with questions or concerns can contact MCAT at 941-749-7116.
County dog parks remain open but park officials are taking the next step to discourage social gathering by removing the seating areas in the dog pavilions.
JEWFISH KEY – Many members of the local boating community refused to let coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns interfere with their weekend fun.
The waters near Jewfish Key were thick with boaters Sunday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At least a hundred boats dropped anchor today near a popular weekend boating destination, the sandbar west of Jewfish Key in the Intracoastal Waterway, east of the northern tip of Longboat Key and south of the Coquina boat ramps in Bradenton Beach.
Some boaters came near the Jewfish Key shoreline and some stood in the water in large groups. At least one boat flew a Confederate flag. Many others flew American flags and quite a few flew Donald Trump flags.
Some boaters near Jewfish Key proudly displayed their presidential preferences. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Several other boats came ashore at nearby Beer Can Island (Greer Island), actually a peninsula on both sides of the Longboat Pass Bridge.
Beer Can Island (Greer Island) was also a popular gathering spot for boaters this afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Near the bridge, five young adults shared space on a small boat while fishing and suntanning with no apparent concerns about social distancing.
It’s hard to practice social distancing on a small boat. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
That was the same story on another nearby boat containing four young adults in swimwear.
These young adults didn’t seem too concerned about social distancing. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Near the North Coquina boat ramp, a larger, more colorful motorboat approached with at least six older adults gathered in close proximity to each other.
These older adults stood in close proximity to one another while enjoying a boat ride. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
According to social media posts and photographs shared by several Anna Maria Island residents, similar-sized boating crowds assembled at Jewfish Key and Beer Can Island on Saturday too.
According to Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, large groups of boaters also assembled at Passage Key and Egmont Key during the weekend.
“In my 35-plus years, I have never seen so many boats around both Passage and Egmont keys. It was wall-to-wall,” Murphy said today.
The impromptu boat armadas occurred during the first weekend that the public beaches were closed in Manatee County, Sarasota County and several other neighboring counties and cities. The beaches were closed as a preventive measure to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
During a Friday, March 20 press conference at the county administration building in Bradenton, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur was asked about the status of the boat ramps. Saur said the county had no plans to close the public boat ramps and did not feel there was any need to.
The parking lots at the Coquina North and Coquina South boat ramps were both full this afternoon, but they were quiet and orderly while the boaters enjoyed their time on the water.
The Coquina North boat ramp was full this afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Manatee Beach Patrol personnel were stationed at the boat ramp parking lot entrances and they turned away those who wished to park there for non-boating or non-personal watercraft-related activities.
The Coquina boat ramps are located across Gulf Drive from Coquina Beach, where the beach parking lots are closed until further notice. At least half of the 10 or so vehicles parked illegally along the Gulf Drive South right of way near the Longboat Pass Bridge this afternoon received $50 parking tickets from the Bradenton Beach Police Department.
Some who parked illegally along Gulf Drive South received $50 parking tickets – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When asked how things were at the Kingfish boat ramp in Holmes Beach, Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “All Good. Busy.”
