Health & Fitness
COVID-19 Testing In Sarasota County: Find Locations
Demand for COVID-19 testing has increased in Sarasota County ahead of the holidays and as new cases are on the rise in Florida.
SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — As residents get ready for holiday travel and family gatherings this season, the demand for COVID-19 testing in Sarasota County has increased in recent days, G. Steve Huard, the public information officer for the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County, said.
The jump in testing also comes as the number of new cases starts to surge in Florida. On Wednesday, more than 20,000 new cases were reported in the state, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All DOH-supported public testing sites throughout the county “have seen increases in people wanting to be tested,” Huard said.
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About 10 days ago, the testing site at the former Sarasota Kennel Club was handling about 150 tests a day.
“Now, they’re seeing 600-plus per day,” he said. “I would guess the other sites are seeing similar increases.”
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As Huard drove by the testing site at Ed Smith Stadium before it opened Wednesday at 9 a.m., “they already had a line of cars waiting,” he said. “So, lines may build in the next few days.”
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COVID-19 tests are available at the following DOH-run sites:
- Former Sarasota Kennel Club, 5400 Bradenton Road, Sarasota. This drive-thru site offers both PCR and rapid tests Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th Street, Sarasota. This drive-thru site offers PCR tests daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Robert L. Taylor Community Complex parking lot, 1845 34th Street, Sarasota. This walk-up site offers PCR and rapid tests Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Dallas White Park, 5900 Greenwood Ave., North Port. This walk-up site offers PCR and rapid tests Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All four testing sites are closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
No appointments are needed. Rapid tests at the Taylor Community Complex and Dallas White Park are for first responders and school-aged children only.
Select pharmacies and other health care facilities in Sarasota County also offer testing including:
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