Nearly 40 coronavirus-related deaths occurred among six nursing homes in Manatee, Sarasota counties
Death certificate reveals COVID-19 diagnosis
More families of people who lived in long-term care before they died from COVID-19 want to know why the spread of the disease was kept a secret until it was too late.
Nursing homes in Florida -- deemed as "ground zero" by the governor -- continue to face a growing number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, including facilities within Manatee and Sarasota counties.
On Saturday, the medical examiner's office confirmed the total COVID-19 specific deaths within the following long-term care facilities:
Braden River Rehabilitation Center: 12
Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center: 8*
Brookdale Deer Creek Sarasota: 7
Sarasota Point Rehabilitation Center: 5
The Springs at Lake Pointe Woods: 2
Tarpon Point Nursing and Rehabilitation: 1
*The management company that oversees Braden River and Riviera Palms told FOX 13 there were a total of 12 deaths at Riviera Palms.
Last week, the Manatee County Department of Health said one or more traveling employees of a nursing home may have spread COVID-19 to patients.