Coronavirus stats
The state has been documenting coronavirus statistics since March 2020.
In Florida, there have been:
- 1,936,207 positive cases as of March 5.
- 31,522 deaths as of March 5.
The latest numbers for Manatee County:
- 32,443 positive cases as of March 5, which is an increase of 1,411 from the week prior.
- 1,378 hospitalizations as of March 5, an increase of 21 from a week prior.
- 609 deaths as of March 5, an increase of 23 from a week prior.
On the island, there have been:
- 62 cases in Anna Maria as of March 5. This is an increase of four from the week prior.
- 188 cases in Bradenton Beach as of March 5 — an increase of seven from the week prior.
- 88 cases in Holmes Beach as of March 5 — an increase of two from the week prior.
Testing offered
Free testing for the novel coronavirus is available at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. — or until capacity is reached.
Free testing for the coronavirus is available at the state drive-thru site at 5400 Bradenton Road, Sarasota. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. — or until capacity is reached.
Manatee County vaccinations continue for seniors, others
Manatee County was contacting 4,500 people March 4 to schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments March 8-12 at Tom Bennett Park, after press time for The Islander.
The county was set to contact another 5,100 people March 8 to schedule up to 9,600 total appointments for the week.
More than 66,919 county residents have received at least a first dose of the vaccine as of March 5.
Meanwhile, vaccinations also are taking place at select pharmacies and medical facilities.
And other eligible populations — people who work in health care, education and first responders — are lining up for vaccines.
COVID-19 vaccination sites
To register in Manatee County’s vaccination enrollment process, go online to vax.mymanatee.org.
Also, COVID-19 vaccinations are available to eligible populations by appointment-only at select CVS, Publix, Walmart, Walgreens and Winn-Dixie locations in the county.
Coronavirus precautions
Anna Maria and Holmes Beach have mandates that face masks be worn inside public accommodations, with some exceptions for age, health conditions and to consume food and beverages.
Bradenton Beach does not have a mandate for face masks.
Also, Manatee County does not have a mandate.
However, a federal mandate requires face masks be worn on public transportation including the MCAT trolleys and buses operating on Anna Maria Island, as well as the Bradenton Beach tram service and ridership services such as Uber and the Monkey Bus.
— Ryan Paice