Manatee County’s dropping COVID-19 safety measures as the percentage of vaccinated residents rises.
County commissioners voted 6-1 May 11 to repeal restrictions — including mask requirements and temperature checks — inside county-run buildings.
Commissioner Reggie Bellamy cast the only dissenting vote. The decision came as about 52% of the county’s population was vaccinated, according to county health officer Dr. Jennifer Bencie.
The vote came on the heels of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ May 3 order that eliminated local coronavirus-based restrictions and preceded the May 13 announcement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that “fully” vaccinated people do not need to wear masks indoors or outdoors in most situations.
Commissioner George Kruse opened the discussion by moving to repeal mask requirements within county buildings.
“Anybody who is at any risk whatsoever who wants to get the vaccine can get it,” Kruse said. “I don’t think we should be requiring all of the citizens of
Manatee County to put themselves out protecting people who voluntarily chose not to protect themselves.”
Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh supported dropping the mask requirements and seconded Kruse’s motion, calling the matter an issue of personal rights. “It’s pretty simple: You know, we’re at the point where people need to be able to make their own decisions,” Baugh said. “We cannot continue to try to rule what people do. …I will not vote to continue with masks.”
Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge supported the motion, but asked Kruse to include a repeal of COVID-19-related requirements in county buildings.
Kruse agreed with Van Ostenbridge’s request.
Commissioner Misty Servia also supported dropping mask requirements, but said the county should provide free N95 surgical masks for employees and members of the public who want them.
“I have no problem with saying they’re not mandated in our county buildings,” she said. “If you don’t want to wear a mask, don’t wear one. …Can we please protect those that do?”
Servia asked Kruse to consider revising his motion to add that the county will provide N95 masks and voluntary temperature checks for those who want them.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore supported Servia’s request.
Kruse agreed to the revision.
Van Ostenbridge called the vote to question and Commissioner Reggie Bellamy seconded the call.
The county’s action will have limited impact on Anna Maria Island, where the county maintains the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach; Bayfront Park in Anna Maria; Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach; Coquina Beach and the Marine Rescue Building, both in Bradenton Beach.
Library manager Liz Williams told The Islander May 14 that since the county’s vote, the library no longer requires people to wear masks inside and employees had begun working without masks.
“It’s completely up to you,” Williams said of the library’s patrons. “If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, great, wear a mask. If you want me to wear a mask when I’m standing close to you, just let me know and I’ll be happy to put one on.”
Williams said she and other library employees are fully vaccinated and open to the change, but are adjusting to working without masks.
“Honestly, it’s hard,” she said. “We’ve been wearing them at work since last June, so for us, it’s kind of surprising. …It’s both refreshing and different.”
A federal order requiring people to wear masks on public transportation remains in effect, including for Manatee County Area Transit. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration extended the order through Sept. 13.
AM commissioners decline to draft mask measure
In a 3-2 consensus vote May 13, Anna Maria City Commissioners decided not to draft an ordinance requiring face mask use for public health emergencies.
Commissioners Jonathan Crane and Joe Muscatello were the dissenting votes.
The commission agreed to wait and, if necessary, later draft an ordinance that could be tailored to a specific public health crisis.
Meanwhile, commissioners plan to continue to monitor the current health crisis.
Also, in Anna Maria, any business that requires people to wear masks can request assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s office for noncompliance.
— Amy V.T. Moriarty
Coronavirus stats
The state has been documenting coronavirus statistics since March 2020.
In Florida there have been:
- 2,286,203 positive cases as of May 14.
- 36,000 deaths as of May 14.
The latest numbers for Manatee County:
- 39,183 positive cases as of May 14, which is an increase of 472 from the week prior.
- 1,562 hospitalizations as of May 14, an increase of 11 from a week prior.
- 679 deaths as of May 14, an increase of five from a week prior.
On the island, there have been:
- 69 cases in Anna Maria as of May 14 — no increase.
- 109 cases in Bradenton Beach as of May 14, an increase of one from a week prior.
- 215 cases in Holmes Beach as of May 14, an increase of six from the week prior.
State closes test sites
Employees assist people — minus face masks — May 14 at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, after the county repealed mask requirements for county-owned buildings. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice
State-run COVID-19 testing sites are closing across Florida.
The Florida Department of Emergency Management’s testing site at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto, closed after taking its last swabs Saturday, May 15.
All state-run testing sites in Florida will close by May 28, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Without the sites, COVID-19 testing falls to the private sector.
Manatee County Rural Health locations and Ellenton Urgent Care, 4015 US 301 N., Ellenton, will continue to provide testing in addition to some pharmacies in Manatee County.
People with questions about COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites can visit the DOH website, floridahealthcovid19.gov.
— Ryan Paice