Epidemiologists are on site and investigating after an outbreak of COVID-19 cases Manatee County’s administration in downtown Bradenton.

The county said two employees died this week

What You Need To Know

  • Manatee County administration building was closed Friday after a COVID outbreak

  • The county administrator says the cluster included six people

  • Two employees died

  • The building is being disinfected

“We had a number of cases. A group or a cluster of six individuals. Five came down with COVID. The only one that was vaccinated did not contract COVID," County Administrator Dr. Scott Hopes said. "There were four hospitalizations, and one of the deaths was not one of the hospitalizations."

He says all of the cases seemed to impact younger people, ages 30-50. 

In a Friday afternoon announcement on Twitter, the county said it was closing the building at 2:30 p.m. for disinfection.

Hopes believes the outbreak was limited to the IT Department, however all nine floors are being deep cleaned and the Health Department has started constant tracing. 

The building is scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, June 21.

Masks will remain mandatory, along with the county’s other COVID-19 safety protocols — social distancing and temperature checks.