Department of Health (DOH) announces COVID-19 drive-through specimen collection site, dates
This is an archived news article. Please view the COVID-19 and Latest News pages for the most current information.
MANATEE COUNTY, FL (March 24, 2020) – Manatee County Health Department will host a drive through specimen collection site for patients with a prescription at the Bradenton Area Convention Center from Thursday, March 26 through Sunday, March 29.
There are 200 specimen collection kits for the four-day event. The Department of Health will schedule 50 appointments for each of the four days.
Specimens collected at the site will be sent to labs for testing.
Visitors to the collection site must have a prescription to be tested for COVID-19 and have made an appointment in advance with Manatee County Health Department. To make an appointment, call (941) 748-0747.
The site will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
In addition, everyone who arrives at the drive-thru must:
- Be in a vehicle. No walk-up patients will be seen.
- Drivers must remain in their vehicle at all times.
- Drivers must present a photo ID and a prescription for specimen collection, written by their health care provider. (Name on ID and prescription must match.)
Anyone in Manatee County who believes they may have COVID-19 should call the Manatee Health Line at (941) 242-6649 BEFORE calling 9-1-1 or visiting a hospital emergency room.
For general information, call the DOH COVID-19 Hotline at (866) 779-6121 or visit floridahealthcovid19.gov.
For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.