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Manatee County officials are grappling with a deadly COVID-19 outbreak among officials who have not been vaccinated.
Two workers died from the virus last week and a group of workers tested positive in Port Manatee on Monday, county spokesman Nick Azarra said.
The county closed administrative offices early Friday and announced masks would be mandatory once buildings reopened. One day later, Director Scott Hopes turned the tide, saying masks would remain rather optional despite the outbreak.
“Visitors and employees who are fully vaccinated can return to work as usual,” Hopes said in a statement on Saturday. “Unvaccinated people are encouraged, but not required, to follow COVID-19 prevention measures, including the use of N95 masks or equivalent, which will be available at every entrance, and social distancing.”
In case you missed it:Manatee workers die amid COVID-19 outbreak among county staff
And:What is Sarasota-Manatee doing to vaccinate adolescents before school starts in August?
Background:Manatee County decides to remove COVID-19 restrictions from government buildings
Notice:Newly vaccinated county commissioner to intervene in Manatee County
Hopes said an internal review of COVID cases among the county’s workforce over the past week showed the virus only affected people who were not vaccinated.
County commissioner Misty Servia highlighted the May 11 decision to lift mask warrants as a possible explanation for the county’s rapid turnaround over the mask requirement after recent coronavirus deaths.
“Hopes immediately went into health protection mode,” Servia said. “He has taken all the steps that are reasonably necessary to keep people safe, but the board is setting policy and the board has decided that it will no longer need masks. “
“COVID is still there”
Stephen Kimmel, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Florida, agrees with Manatee County’s decision to keep masks optional.
But he says the deaths of the two employees should be a call for those who have not been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.
“I think the guidelines should stay the same,” Kimmel said. “If you have not been vaccinated, it is recommended that you wear a mask when you are with other people, and… if you can, get vaccinated as soon as possible. “
For those who cannot get the vaccine for health reasons, Kimmel suggests working from home.
“The real result is that COVID is still here,” Kimmel said. “It’s still very dangerous, and the fact that the country is opening up is not a signal that you are not vulnerable if you have not been vaccinated. Vaccines are the best thing to have right now, and if you can’t get the vaccine then I would definitely recommend wearing a mask. “
County Commissioner George Kruse said the county’s mask policies follow federal and state guidelines and at some point people are responsible for their own safety.
“We have vaccines falling out of our pockets,” he said. “Anyone who wants to be vaccinated can do so at no cost. We distribute N95 masks. We have placed all the responsibility for protection on individuals. I can’t hold someone down and stab them in the arm with a Johnson and Johnson vaccine. I can’t put a mask on someone’s face when they walk through the door. All we can do is ask people to use their best judgment. “
“It’s devastating”
The challenge for county officials is to persuade their employees to get vaccinated.
The county cannot require anyone to get vaccinated, and it is a violation of HIPPA laws to inquire about an employee’s vaccination status.
Serbia and Commissioner Carol Whitmore both said they spoke to several county employees last week who were not vaccinated.
Whitmore said the concerns tended to be largely cultural. Others have told him they are waiting for it to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and some just don’t like needles.
“It’s devastating,” Whitmore said. “I hope this convinced some who were about to get vaccinated. We still have work to do. Education is power, and then they can make an informed decision.
Manatee County will offer another COVID-19 vaccination clinic to employees at 10 a.m. Friday in the county administration building.
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