Sarasota County to offer similar testing starting Friday.
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A slow, orderly stream of cars navigated their way through the Bradenton Area Convention Center property from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.
Patients were stopped at several checkpoints along the way to verify their symptoms, identity and residency while also checking to make sure they had a valid prescription for the thing they were all there for: a coronavirus test.
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This was the scene for the first day of drive-thru testing for COVID-19 in Manatee County. The four-day specimen collection site, which has the capacity to test up to 200 people between Thursday and Sunday when it ends, got off to a good start, according to Manatee County spokesperson Nicholas Azzara, who said day one was a success.
“From my perspective, day one of the operation was going extremely well,” said Azzara in an email to the Herald-Tribune about his visit to the testing site Thursday morning.
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol and Public Safety Department were all on site to direct drivers where they needed to go and during his time there they proceeded orderly, according to Azzara.
Manatee County Health Department officials interacted with patients at each stop to make sure they had valid documentation in order to be tested.
Those looking to get tested need three things: a valid form of photo ID, proof of Manatee County residency and a prescription from a health care provider for COVID-19 testing. They also must book an appointment with the Manatee County Department of Health ahead of time.
There are a maximum of 50 possible appointments each day. Thursday’s appointments were filled before Wednesday afternoon, according to the Manatee County Health Department.
Anyone in Manatee County who believes they may have COVID-19 should call the Manatee Health Line at 941-242-6649 before calling 911 or visiting a hospital emergency room. The Health Line will ask you a number of questions related to your symptoms, travel history and exposure.
The Health Line will advise whether you should contact your health care provider about potentially securing a prescription for a COVID-19 test. If you successfully secure a prescription, you can book an appointment by calling 941-748-0747.
Visitors to the testing site are asked to remain in their vehicles at all times and have the proper documentation on hand. The name on your ID must match the name on the prescription. A utility bill can be used as proof of residency if your ID does not have a Manatee address.
Sarasota County
Sarasota County will start drive-thru specimen collection Friday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The collection site will be set up at Twin Lakes Park, located at 6700 Clark Road.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital has partnered to establish the coronavirus appointment-only specimen collection site for symptomatic people who meet current Centers for Disease Control testing guidance. The hospital is providing nurses to collect specimens.
Specimens obtained will be sent to state or contracted labs for testing.
Like in Manatee County, visitors to the COVID-19 testing area must be referred by a physician to be tested. The physician’s office will contact DOH personnel in Sarasota, who will then contact the individual with an appointment day and time.
To make an appointment in Sarasota County, physicians should call 941-861-2883.
“We’re planning on scheduling 50 tests a day,” said G. Steve Huard, the public information officer for the state deaprtment of health in Sarasota County. “We’ll see what we actually land.”
Those arriving to the Twin Lakes Park are reminded to remain in their vehicles — no walk ups — and must present photo identification and prescription for specimen collection written by their health care provider (name on identification and prescription must match).
Sarasota County residents who believe they may have COVID-19 are asked to call the Sarasota County COVID-19 call center at 941-861-2883 before visiting a hospital emergency room or health care provider.
For general information, call the DOH COVID-19 Hotline at 866-779-6121 or visit floridahealth.gov/covid-19.
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Coronavirus Florida: Smooth 1st day of drive-thru testing in Manatee County - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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