Masks Not Required At County Building After COVID-19 Outbreak

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — When Manatee County shut down the county administration building in downtown Bradenton Friday due to a COVID-19 outbreak that killed two employees, county officials initially announced a face mask requirement would be reinstated at the building when it reopened Monday.

Commissioners repealed COVID-19 safety requirements, including face masks, during the May 11 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Over the weekend, county leaders changed their minds about requiring face masks in the administration building after the recent outbreak. Instead, face masks will be optional for the public and employees inside the facility, the county said.

County Administrator Dr. Scott Hopes, an epidemiologist, said an internal examination of the COVID-19 cases among the county's employees impacted only people who were not vaccinated.

In a message to employees Saturday, he said, "Individual employees in the IT Department who were known to be fully vaccinated and who were in close proximity of those who were infected did not contract COVID-19."

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Visitors and employees who are not fully vaccinated should practice COVID-19 prevention measures, the county said. The county will continue to provide N95 or equivalent masks for unvaccinated visitors and employees who want to use them when in county buildings.

"Visitors and employees who are fully vaccinated may return to work as usual," Hopes said. "Unvaccinated individuals are encouraged but not required, to follow COVID-19 prevention measures, including use of N95 or equivalent masks, which will be available at each entrance, and social distancing."

The county will offer a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for its employees Friday at 10 a.m. at the administration building.