COVID-19 Testing Site For Students, School Staff Opens

BRADENTON, FL — After seeing more than 2,500 COVID-19 cases at Manatee County schools since the start of the school year Aug. 10, the county has opened a new testing site for students, school staff and government employees.

The new testing site, a partnership with the Florida Department of Health, opened Sept. 7 at John H. Marble Park, located at 3675 53rd Ave. E. in Bradenton, according to the school district’s website.

The site operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a school or district ID will be required to be tested.

PCR tests are offered at the site. Rapid tests providing results in 15 to 30 minutes will eventually be offered there, as well. All testing is free.

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The school district, per the Florida Department of Health, now only accepts the following COVID-19 tests for children placed on quarantine who aren’t any exhibiting symptoms:

• Ellume COVID-19 home test
• Any PCR COVID-19 test administered by a healthcare provider or county testing site

If a quarantined student remains symptom free and receives a negative test result, they can return to school on the fifth day or later of their quarantine, the district said.