Manatee County extends local state of emergency, announces other COVID-19 closures
MANATEE COUNTY, FL (March 30, 2020) – Manatee County's local state of emergency has been extended another seven days to April 7. An emergency burn ban during the current drought was also extended today until April 7.
Manatee County Commission Chairman Betsy Benac extended the County's two local states of emergency today, as authorized under actions the County Commission took last week, in approving Resolution R-20-045, declaring a State of Local Emergency related to Coronavirus Disease 2019.
The County's tennis and pickle ball courts will be closed temporarily tomorrow since crowds continue to gather without practicing social distancing as recommended by the Governor in Executive Order 20-83, and the Florida Department of Health Office of the Surgeon General. Areas that cannot be locked will be monitored by safety guards and law enforcement agencies. The City of Bradenton will close its Riverwalk Skate Park this afternoon. Manatee County will post Closed signs on the skateparks at G.T. Bray and Blackstone parks this afternoon.
Miscellaneous updates
- The Lena Road Landfill, normally open on Saturdays, temporarily will be closed on Saturdays. It will remain open weekdays.
- Manatee County Animal Services will give out free pet food, kitty litter and pet treats tomorrow, March 31 at 10 a.m. at Manatee County Cat Town, 216 6th Ave E, Bradenton. The freebies, donated by Florida State Animal Response Coalition, Chewy.com and the Greater Good, will be given out while supplies last.
- Manatee Community Foundation announced over the weekend that an anonymous donor gifted $500,000 to the foundation to help with Manatee County's COVID-19 response. Funds will be awarded to public charities that are "adapting and responding to the public health crisis in Manatee County."
- Manatee County strongly encourages those with medical conditions and those over the age of 65 take extra precautions to prevent infection of COVID-19 by staying at home and limiting social gatherings to 10 people or less. Manatee County residents should work remotely as recommended by Governor DeSantis's Executive Order 20-83 and follow the CDC and DOH guidelines for frequent hand washing.
View the latest on Manatee County's community-wide effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by visiting www.mymanatee.org/COVID-19
or text ManateeReady to 888-777. For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.