Coronavirus Outbreak At Florida Government Building Leaves 2 Dead, 4 Hospitalized. Vaccinated Person Unaffected

A COVID-19 outbreak in a Florida government building has left two people dead and four others hospitalized. 

The outbreak originated in the IT department last week. One person outside of the department also tested positive for COVID-19.

Of the six people infected, five were hospitalized. According to Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes, an epidemiologist, one person who died had been hospitalized before passing away, while the other had not.

The lone IT employee who was not infected had been vaccinated, Hopes told CNN’s Erin Burnett.

The building was closed on Friday but reopened on Monday without a mask requirement in place. Employees can choose to mask up or not, but Hopes encourages unvaccinated workers to wear them. The county is making sure they are available for all employees and visitors. 

“Clearly masks work, but the vaccine is more important at this point,” the county administrator said.

Manatee County will offer a coronavirus vaccine clinic for employees at the administration building. It is scheduled for Friday.