HOLMES BEACH – Amid growing COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, concerns, Mayor Judy Titsworth declared a temporary state of emergency March 17. The state of emergency will last for seven days before it will either expire or another state of emergency will need to be declared.
Under the state of emergency, the city is eligible for federal and state emergency funds, if needed.
As of March 18, eight cases of patients with the coronavirus in Manatee County had been confirmed by the Florida Department of Health.
For residents and visitors to Holmes Beach, the declared state of emergency means that Titsworth may limit or suspend the sale of alcoholic beverages, establish a curfew and stop price gouging, among other things. Currently, no restrictions have been placed on Holmes Beach residents and visitors though everyone is encouraged by city, state and federal leaders to practice social distancing, limit gatherings to 10 people or less and wash hands regularly.
Some business owners have restrictions placed on them but those have come from the state. Gov. Ron DeSantis required all bars and nightclubs in the state of Florida to close for a 30-day period beginning at 5 p.m. on March 17. Restaurants can still operate, however, they are required to operate at 50% seating capacity for the safety of staff and diners.
Local schools also are affected by the coronavirus with schools, including Anna Maria Elementary School, shuttered until April 15. Manatee County School District employees will return to work for the week of March 23-27 to complete instructions for K-12 students to continue learning at home beginning March 30 using a remote learning program called Schoology. Students will be able to work online from home and communicate with their teachers through the program.
State testing and school grades for the year are canceled by DeSantis with students to have the option of moving forward next school year or remaining in their current grade.
ANNA MARIA – After taking into consideration guidance from the National Centers for Disease Control and the concerns of parishioners, leadership at Roser Memorial Community Church made the decision March 17 to close the church’s doors to the public, temporarily moving all worship services online.
The closure of the church building has caused the cancellation of the popular senior aerobics class RoserRobics and the church’s annual Easter cantata, planned for March 29 as well as other programming.
For now, everyone is invited to join the church online with both the 10 a.m. Sunday traditional worship service and the 5:30 p.m. Sunday SoulJourn contemporary worship service being broadcast live online. Previous worship services can be viewed any time on the church’s YouTube channel.
In addition to the Sunday worship services, regular bible studies also will continue online at the church’s website. Terrific Tuesday bible studies will take place live online at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays with previous sessions available to view on YouTube at any time.
All other planned church events and meals are currently canceled.
The Roser Thrift Shop also is temporarily closed due to coronavirus concerns.
The Roser Food Pantry remains open to those in need by appointment only. Please call the church office at 941-778-0414 to schedule an appointment or if you wish to drop off a donation. Recommended items for donation include cereal, soup, canned fruits and vegetables, fruit juices and dried rice, potatoes and pasta. For more information, visit the food pantry online.
Updated March 19, 2020 – Masses are suspended from March 20 until after Easter. The dispensation for Catholics is now unconditional, according to the Diocese of Venice.
Catholics living in or visiting Anna Maria Island may not be obligated to attend Mass due to the coronavirus threat, according to a letter from the Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Venice in Florida:
“The Mass is the source and summit of our Christian life and allows us to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist and strengthens our sense of community. As Catholics, we are all obliged to participate in Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation. Yet in these difficult times, there is also an obligation to protect the vulnerable and those who may care for them.
During the current public health emergency facing all, for guidance we look to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State Health Department to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. As regards the Mass, several precautions have already been put into place within the Diocese of Venice to limit the spread of this virus.
Out of pastoral concern for the health and wellbeing of the Faithful, the following dispensations are indicated: those who are sick and those providing care for them; those with chronic medical conditions or severely compromised immune systems; those whose age or frailty causes them to be at greater risk; those that have been exposed to the coronavirus; and those who, because of anxiety, may decide not to attend Mass, are dispensed from the obligation. Until further notice, this dispensation shall remain valid. If circumstances dictate otherwise in coming days, the Diocese will make a timely announcement.
As Catholics, we trust in the power of prayer. Please join me in praying for all those who have lost their life and their loved ones, may they be consoled. We also pray for the sick, caretakers, medical providers and all impacted by this pandemic. United for a common good, we can overcome fear and together face the challenges in the days ahead.
The Diocese will continue to monitor the situation and update, as appropriate, on the Diocesan website
During this Lenten Season, and this time of trial, I extend to each of you the assurances of my prayers.
– Sincerely yours in Christ, Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida.”
BRADENTON – As a fifth case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was announced in Manatee County today, commissioners declared a state of emergency.
Manatee County Public Safety Department Director Jake Sauer made the announcement during Monday afternoon’s emergency Manatee County Commission meeting.
“We added one today for a total of five residents in Manatee County that have tested positive for COVID-19. We have 25 under public health monitoring within the county,” Sauer said.
“So far in Manatee County, there are zero fatalities related to COVID-19. So far in Florida, there are four deaths. Positive cases, 136. There’s a lot of data coming in and as soon as I say these things they’re already out of date,” Sauer said of those numbers.
Florida has several confirmed COVID-19 cases and exposures related to ports and airports, Sauer said.
He also noted Florida has a large tourist population and a large population of elderly citizens.
“These factors make Florida communities particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19,” Sauer said. “We are nowhere near the peak of this and you should expect to see more cases come online as testing becomes available.”
Sauer stressed the importance of taking precautionary measures that include avoiding large crowds and staying home if you’re sick.
“Moving forward we must all be proactive rather than reactive. It is not a time to panic. It’s a time to plan and prepare. There’s not a supply chain problem and there’s not a supply problem. You do not need to hoard supplies,” Sauer said.
Dr. Bencie speaks
Sauer then deferred to Dr. Jennifer Bencie, director of the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County.
“The new and uncharted territory we’re entering with this disease and the tremendous publicity that it is generating can only deepen concerns. Now is not the time to panic, but a time to unite and a time to practice prevention tips,” Bencie said.
“Although we’re only at the start of this pandemic, with no idea how long it will last, we will surely see this public health event through, just as we have with so many others in the past,” she added.
“As of one o’clock today, Manatee County has seen five cases of the disease. I’m happy at this time there are no deaths in Manatee County due to this illness and that those who have been diagnosed have either recovered or are in the recovery phase,” Bencie said.
“Our team continues to track and monitor anyone who may be at risk for having coronavirus based on symptoms, travel history, contact with those who’ve been diagnosed with the disease and other criteria,” Bencie said.
Bencie said the symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, a dry cough and shortness of breath.
Bencie encourages anyone who believes they might have contracted COVID-19 to first call the Manatee Health Line or the Florida Department of Health before visiting a hospital emergency room or health care provider.
The Manatee Health Line phone number is 941-242-6649 and is in operation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Florida Department of Health COVID-19 call center in Tallahassee can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 866-779-6121.
Bencie encourages anyone who has traveled internationally or domestically to places with higher case counts, or those who have come in contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus, to also call one of the health department phone numbers before going to an emergency room or doctor’s office.
Bencie said this allows health department personnel to interview the caller to help determine if they need to be tested. It also helps prevent a contagious person from walking into a doctor’s waiting room or an emergency room unannounced and unexpected.
Emergency declaration
During Monday’s emergency meeting, county commissioners declared a countywide state of emergency.
Commissioner Steve Jonsson said declaring a state of emergency gives the county a place in line if and when state and federal funds become available regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
“That’s one of the main reasons for a local state of emergency. It really is for tracking and financial purposes,” Sauer added.
No beach or business closings
Commissioner Betsy Benac asked if there were any plans to close the county beaches. Sauer and County Administrator Cheri Coryea said there were currently no plans to do so.
In response to questions from Benac and Commissioner Reggie Bellamy, Sauer said the county does not have the authority to close or dictate hours of operation to privately owned restaurants, bars and businesses. He said that direction would have to come from the state and Governor Ron DeSantis.
White House Task Force member Dr. Deborah Birx, center, asks for cooperation with coronavirus guidelines.
Federal guidelines announced
About an hour after the county meeting ended, the White House Coronavirus Task Force released a new set of federal guidelines that recommend people not gather in groups larger than 10 people for the next 15 days.
Task force member Dr. Deborah Birx stressed the importance of all Americans of all ages to follow these voluntary guidelines in order to help contain the spread of COVID-19.
Three months pass by really quickly. Just think about where you were three months ago mid-December; wrapping Christmas gifts, planning a New Year’s Eve party, getting your heating system checked for the cooler weather ahead and possibly organizing your winter guest calendar.
The one thing for sure you weren’t doing is getting worried about something called the coronavirus, canceling vacations and stocking up on non-perishables as if it were hurricane season. But here we are and you either roll with it or, well there is nothing else to do except roll with it.
The one thing that appears to be consistent, however, is our real estate market, so in a few more paragraphs we’re going to see just what the million-dollar and over marketplace looks like. First let’s consider a few tips on how to make your house stand out from the others, whether they’re $1 million or not.
There’s a whole theory about curb appeal that most real estate professionals learn from experience. Most professionals will tell you to make your home as appealing as possible so that potential buyers will want to get out of the car and step inside. You would be surprised by the number of buyers who refuse to even take this simple step when looking at a home; usually it’s a big mistake that buyers may come to regret.
What you want to do is to never give the buyer a reason not to get out of the car. Start with the front lawn, the most basic of basics is to mow the lawn, trim the bushes, pick up the trash and the kids’ toys and paint peeling trim. Now if you’re able to get a buyer that far, consider painting the front door a special color. We live on an island, so many of our doors are tropical and fruity, but how about a red door, which means welcome in America and protects from evil spirits in China. Also, if there is any way to get your neighbors next door or across the canal to tidy up, you will be doing not only you but them a big favor.
Everyone knows that curb appeal has value, but it wasn’t till recently that we knew how much value. In a recent study in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, researchers have started analyzing that very thing. These researchers compared Google Street View photos to sales data and have determined that homes with good curb appeal sold for 7% more than similar homes. They’re also expanding this research with the hope of providing information to banks and Fannie Mae in determining value for home financing.
Well, back to the $1 million and over analysis for the months of November, December and January in the three cities on Anna Maria Island and in Cortez. The closed sales are from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s office website and the available properties are from realtor.com at the time of this writing.
Cortez did not have any $1 million or over sales, same as last time. The City of Anna Maria had 16 ranging from $2,550,000 to $1,000,000, double from the last reporting period. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach closed 24 $1 million or over properties ranging from $5,850,000 to $1,000,000 – way more than the eight closed during the previous three months.
On the market as of this writing there are four in Cortez ranging from $1,600,000 to $1,200,000; last time there were two. The City of Anna Maria has 63 properties $1 million or over listed. The range is from $6,850,000 to $1,045,000. Out of these 11 were $3 million or more; in the last analysis, there were 59.
Finally, in the combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach there are 93 properties listed over $1 million, 12 between $7,995,000 and $3,100,000 and 60 between $2,995,000 and $1,044,500; last time there were 73.
I hope the next three months don’t have too many surprises and that we all stay healthy enough to prepare for hurricane season. Oh, think about that front door.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – While COVID-19 is causing canceled cruises, the shutdown of Disney World and widespread anxiety about venturing far from home, it may also be causing an unexpected uptick in Island tourism.
Some tourists have canceled their plans to visit the Island, but others – including stranded cruise ship passengers – are coming unexpectedly, said Terri Kinder, president of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
“A lot of these people already planned their vacation, and the rest of the family has already set aside the days, so they have to go now,” she said, adding that vacancies still exist as of this weekend.
Mid-March is the peak of the Island’s tourist season, and crowded beaches, congested roads and an increase in spring breakers caused by the coronavirus-inspired extension of spring break attest that visitation is at normal to above-normal levels.
“We’re not alarmed at this time of the year,” said Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In fact, he said, people in densely-populated cities like New York and Boston are saying, “‘We’re going to get out of here and come to a safe place.’ They believe the beaches are safer than the dense city.”
European visitors are booked for summer and fall, Falcione said, adding that the CVB’s London office is currently monitoring the perception of prospective overseas visitors.
“We’re going to take this one day at a time,” he said.
Some airlines are addressing the health crisis by offering hospital-caliber filtration systems on board the aircraft, Falcione said.
“If I had to fly, I wouldn’t be concerned,” he said. “Just keep your hands from your face and keep your hands clean.”
While some visitation has been lost with canceled airline flights, it has been regained or exceeded by more people driving to Manatee County, he said.
“People within driving distance who had plans to fly are coming here,” agreed Bill Annis, of Island Vacation Properties, adding that the company has had some cancelations from other countries.
Although rental agents are fielding calls and questions all day long, “It hasn’t been horrible for us,” he said, with March booked solidly. “Overall, it’s leveling out for us.”
“It’s a little bit of a hodgepodge,” said Lisa Spehar, of Island Real Estate. People within driving distance from Tampa and Orlando are calling to book rooms because kids on spring break are unexpectedly out of school longer due to coronavirus concerns, she said.
But fears about the virus and its impact on the stock market caused at least one visitor who returns to the Island annually to cancel, she said, while some visitors who normally book a year in advance have said they don’t want to commit to visit next year because of uncertainty about the virus.
“We believe our customers will come back,” Falcione said.
A tourism update is scheduled for the Monday, March 30 Tourist Development Council meeting at 9 a.m. at the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton.
LONGBOAT KEY – The Resort at Longboat Key Club is dealing with an individual’s potential exposure to the coronavirus virus (COVID-19).
On Friday, March 13, Resort at Longboat Key Club Managing Director Rick Konsavage addressed this matter in the resort’s weekly newsletter.
“It goes without saying that we are currently living through an extraordinary time and as many businesses throughout the world are being affected by the threat of COVID-19, we at the Longboat Key Club are also feeling the impact,” according to the March 13 newsletter signed by Konsavage.
“We have just been informed by our local hospital that an individual working in our outdoor golf facility at The Links course where a few of our members have private lessons may have been exposed to COVID-19. While this does not include Longboat Key Club staff currently, we are taking immediate actions including isolation to anyone having physical contact with this person. There may be some minor disruptions through this transition in our golf operations in the next two weeks,” the newsletter said.
“If there is anything that our Longboat Key team can do to assist you through this stressful and challenging time, please let us know. We wish you and your families the best of health,” the March 13 newsletter said in conclusion.
March 14 update
On Saturday, March 14, Konsavage and the Resort at Longboat Key Club distributed a written update referred to as a “communiqué.”
“The club has decided to implement the second stage of preventive measures for the protection of members and employees,” the March 14 communiqué said.
The March 14 communiqué said the club is implementing the following measures on or before March 16 and all activities and suspended activities will be reevaluated on March 30.
According to the March 14 communiqué, the suspended activities include:
Suspension of fitness center operation and wellness activities such as yoga, etc.;
A complete deep cleaning and sanitation process will be implemented in the facility, including all studios, locker rooms and equipment to be fully sanitized and disinfected;
All group activities and meetings are suspended for two weeks;
All group lessons in tennis, golf and wellness are suspended for two weeks;
There will be no buffets at any outlets in our club or resort for two weeks.
The March 14 communiqué went on to say: “For the safety or our club members, we request:
No access to the Club for members and immediate household family and registered caregivers within 14 days of returning from any country that self-isolation or quarantine is required by the U.S. Government;
No access to the Club for any member and/or immediate household family and registered caregiver if exhibiting the following symptoms that could be COVID-19: shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fever, cough, muscle aches and tiredness;
No access to the Club for any member and/or immediate household family and registered caregiver if they have knowledge of being exposed to an individual or individuals diagnosed with COVID-19.”
The March 14 communiqué stated all magazines and newspapers were being removed from the Club due to the difficulty of sanitizing those items.
“The club has suspended any handshakes or physical touch until further notice,” the communiqué said.
“Employees in designated departments are wearing gloves for their personal protection,” it also said.
The communiqué said the Club will continue to monitor the information, recommendations and restrictions through the CDC and the Florida Department of Health.
“By working together, we will do our best in providing a healthy and safe environment for all,” Konsavage’s March 14 communiqué said in conclusion.
The Sun’s efforts to reach resort officials directly by telephone and social media proved unsuccessful. Phone calls transferred to the resort’s executive office resulted only in the ability to leave a voice mail. Efforts to contact the resort via Facebook Messenger produced an automated response unrelated to the potential coronavirus exposure.
BRADENTON – The Manatee Health Department has set up the Manatee Health Line, a phone number that residents are asked to call first if they believe they may have coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the following persons to be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19:
Anyone showing symptoms of the disease, including fever, cough and shortness of breath;
Anyone who has been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19; and
Anyone who has recently traveled from a country or area with widespread or ongoing spread of COVID-19.
Manatee residents who believe they may have COVID-19 are asked to call the Manatee Health Line before visiting health care providers.
Manatee Health continues to encourage the public to exercise prevention tips:
– Wash your hands often with soap and water.
– Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
– Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
– Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow (not your hands) if a tissue is not available.
– Try not to touch your face with unwashed hands.
– Frequently clean and disinfect touched surfaces.
– Don’t touch or shake hands with people who are sick.
– Stay home when you’re sick and keep your children home when they’re sick.
The Manatee Health Line number is 941-242-6649. Experts are on duty 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Department of Health runs a hotline that anyone who believes they may have coronavirus can call as well. The number is 866-779-6121 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Experts will interview callers to determine whether they are at risk for having COVID-19 based on travel history, contact with confirmed cases and other factors.
“Calling the health department ahead of time allows us to coordinate with the health care system to assure appropriate infection control measures in our community,” Manatee Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Bencie said. “It also meets the guidelines laid out in Section 3 of the statewide Declaration of Public Health Emergency issued on March 1.”
The Department of Health (DOH) routinely updates case counts, prevention tips, worldwide developments, reputable links and more at its COVID-19 web page.
Any questions that the web page cannot answer can be phoned into the State Health Office hotline at 866-779-6121 or emailed to covid-19@health.gov.
Manatee Health continues to work with local partners – hospitals, clinics, government, schools, businesses, emergency management, law enforcement, tourist development and more – to shape messaging and address specific concerns.
Last week I wrote about a seller’s market, which we are in at this moment in time. I cautioned about sellers not getting too smug about the value of their property, and how markets can turn on a dime. Since real estate markets lag well behind stock prices, we don’t know yet what effect the coronavirus will have on buyers’ commitment to moving forward, but if the stock market is any indicator, turning on a dime may have been an understatement.
If your home is on the market and you need to sell, you’re in a totally different place than you were a few months ago. No one knows exactly how the coronavirus will impact business, manufacturing, tourism and housing. It doesn’t take much for buyers to get spooked during a crisis and put everything on hold until the immediate danger is over, and things return to normal. Since we haven’t experienced a world-wide epidemic as vast as this one in most of our lifetimes, we have no idea how people will react. But here is some of what the experts are focusing on.
To me, the most interesting fallout of this epidemic and something that affects all homeowners or potential homeowners is the influence on interest rates. If you’ve been watching the stock market, you’re seeing a sell-off of stocks, driving investors to park their money in safer assets like U.S. Treasury bonds. Typically, when bonds are strong, mortgage rates fall. As of this writing, the average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 3.34%, and the Federal Reserve has already cut rates and will consider further action if necessary.
This should be a perfect buying storm for buyers, but it’s not that perfect. As stated continually, there is a shortage of inventory all over the country and particularly in Florida, with the result of increased selling prices. Couple that with a big unknown in everyone’s life and the wheels of business could easily grind to a halt. Non-essential purchases like boats, RVs, renovations and second home purchases will surely feel the pain if this virus isn’t contained soon.
Secondly, we have a lot of foreign buyers in this country, many of them wealthy Chinese who are buying luxury properties in big northeastern cities and in Florida. The National Association of Realtors’ chief economist Lawrence Yun said the outbreak may make it more difficult for Chinese buyers to pick up U.S. properties for now, but it could be a boom for the market long term. The Chinese real estate market has plummeted 90% since the virus’ outbreak, and when the dust settles, Chinese buyers may more than ever be looking for diversification and a secure place to invest their money for the long term.
As I write this, the stock market is down another 800 points and more than 100,000 people around the globe have been infected by the coronavirus. You have to assume that most buyers and sellers are putting everything on hold waiting for this to end; you can’t look at real estate if you’re worried about being quarantined, as remote as that may sound right now.
I’m positive I will, unfortunately, be writing more about the coronavirus’ effect on the real estate market before we’re done with it. In the meantime, stay calm, wash your hands, renew your Netflix account and try not to look at your financial statement.
