Anna Maria Island is returning to its pre-pandemic normal.
Since the pandemic’s March 2020 onset, more than 5.8 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state, resulting in 71,860 deaths as of March 10, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.
The numbers of new cases being reported are on the decline: 1,378 cases reported in the state for March 11 pales compared to the state’s single-day record of 125,996 cases set Jan. 10, during the height of the Omicron variant’s spread.
There were 94,819 reported cases and 1,383 deaths in Manatee County through March 10.
Through March 1, 70% of Manatee County’s 405,480 residents had been vaccinated — slightly above the 65.7% national rate and 66.2% state rate.
The DOH no longer provides municipal statistics.
The island’s three governments have taken various actions in response to the pandemic, such as implementing mask mandates, allowing remote access to public meetings, canceling events, closing beaches and limiting rental reservations.
However, after two full years, only a few of these pandemic-inspired changes remain in place and island officials’ hopes are high to put the pandemic to rest.
In Anna Maria, the only remaining changes are the addition of sanitization stations and free face masks at city hall, as well as the use of Zoom to provide remote access to public meetings.
In a March 11 email to The Islander, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy wrote that “all remaining items are worthwhile and will remain.”
“I think the Zoom thing was good,” Anna Maria City Commissioner Jonathan Crane told The Islander March 11. “I think expanding public access is always a good thing. … I don’t mind keeping the expanded Zoom access in place forever.”
Crane added that the city’s atmosphere had improved and that it was rare to see signs of concern for the pandemic from both residents and visitors.
He also voiced pride for the way residents behaved throughout the pandemic.
“I was pretty proud of our residents for helping each other avoid the ravages of the disease,” Crane said.
In Bradenton Beach, no changes remain at city hall but one policy has stuck around: an ordinance allowing for expanded outdoor business operations.
The ordinance was proposed to help local businesses recover from financial losses suffered during the pandemic.
Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh told The Islander March 11 that her city eluded the brunt of the pandemic and was back into its normal groove.
“I think we lucked out,” Vosburgh said. “It’s not over but I’m glad it’s on the back-burner now. … I would say pretty much everything is back to normal.”
Holmes Beach is in much the same position as Anna Maria. Its only remaining pandemic-inspired changes are sanitary stations at city hall and Zoom access to public meetings.
However, due to early technical issues, the city only allows Zoom attendees to listen to meetings — unlike in Anna Maria, where Zoom participants can contribute public comment.
Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer told The Islander March 11 that he supports keeping Zoom access to city meetings. Still, he encouraged people to attend in-person so they could actively participate.
“It’s always best, in my opinion, if people come into the chambers,” Schaefer said. “Zoom is good but it doesn’t come close to having the effect and responsiveness of a live dialogue in chambers.”
He also stressed that people who haven’t been vaccinated should seek the shot.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said March 11 that she wanted to thank her city’s residents for pulling together as a team through the pandemic.
“To Holmes Beach residents: I am so extremely proud,” Titsworth said. “I can’t even imagine that we went through that and we came out safe on the other side.”
“Although it was a horrible experience, I think it brought a lot of people together, understanding
that we can get through anything together,” Titsworth added.