Coronavirus

Our New Normal: Scenes From Sarasota During COVID-19

What does Sarasota look like with social distancing and "safer at home" guidelines in place? We took to the streets to find out.

Photography by Barbara Banks and Gigi Ortwein April 14, 2020

Doughnut Time

Christine Nordstrom, owner of Five-O Donut Co., recently gave away a roll of toilet paper with each order (while supplies lasted).

Photography by Barbara Banks

Take Flight

Andrea Silvergleit and her husband Martin Moore (not pictured) released more than 100 monarch butterflies in early April—but had to take new precautions while doing so.

Photography by Barbara Banks

A Different World

Normally busy Coquina Beach is deserted thanks to the county's decision to close beaches.

Photography by Gigi Ortwein

Happy Birthday

Jacob Menard made a colorful sign to wish his great-grandfather a happy 94th birthday at Alderman Oaks. Social distancing guidelines required the family to stand on the sidewalk; Jacob's great-grandfather waved down at them from the second-floor balcony.

Photography by Barbara Banks

Queue Up

Stores are limiting the number of people allowed inside to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Michael's, pictured here, limits shoppers to 10 people at a time.

Photography by Gigi Ortwein

Friday Night Lights

The "safer at home" order in effect on a Friday night on lower Main Street, normally packed with seasonal activity the week of Passover and Easter.

Photography by Barbara Banks

Church To Go

Janet and Jeff Trefry were part of a local parish team that prepared and distributed more than 200 Holy Week packets. They wore gloves, sanitized all packet contents and bags, and distributed them practicing distancing while wearing gloves.

Photography by Barbara Banks

Together But Apart

Father Charleston stands on the altar preparing to record a Stations of the Cross video, while Christoph Stephenson-Moe, who carried cross, looks on.

Photography by Barbara Banks

I Scream, You Scream

Big Olaf, normally a popular destination spot for a cone or a cup, has had to pivot its operations: walk-ups are still allowed, but the shop is now offering curbside pick-up and delivery.

Photography by Gigi Ortwein

A-B-C, Easy as 1-2-3

Andre Hoefer and his four-year-old daughter Violet practice the alphabet, spelling, shapes and colors outside. Schools are closed through at least May 1.

Photography by Barbara Banks

Photographer Barbara Banks and Sarasota Magazine creative director Gigi Ortwein took the streets—taking care to practice social distancing, —to explore Sarasota-Manatee in the time of COVID-19, with distancing and mask-wearing guidelines, public health emergency declarations and a "safer at home" order all in place. Here's what they saw.

Coronavirus

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