COVID-19 Testing Sites Open In Sarasota, North Port

SARASOTA, FL — Two COVID-19 testing sites are opening in Sarasota County in response to the surge in new cases throughout the region.

The free walk-up COVID-19 testing site in the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex parking lot at 1845 34th Street will reopen Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the city of Sarasota said in a news release.

After launching Saturday, testing will be available at the site through Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The site will be closed Sundays.

The site will be operated by Sarasota-based Lab Services in partnership with the Department of Health in Sarasota County and the city of Sarasota.

A site will also open at Dallas White Park at 5900 Greenwood Ave. in North Port, the DOH said in a news release. This free walk-up testing site is a partnership between Lab Services, the city of North Port and the DOH in Sarasota County. Starting Monday, it will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A free drive-thru COVID-19 testing site remains open at the former Sarasota Kennel Club at 5400 Old Bradenton Road in Sarasota Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No appointment is necessary at any of these testing sites, and anyone can be tested regardless of symptoms, the DOH said. Photo identification will be required. Spanish speaking technicians will be on site.

PCR and antigen (rapid) testing will be offered, with PCR results provided in 24 hours and rapid testing results in 30 minutes.

The site at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, which was previously run by the state, originally opened early in the coronavirus pandemic. It closed in May, when the number of new cases decreased throughout the state and demand for testing was low, the city said.

Now, new COVID-19 cases are surging throughout Florida. In Sarasota County, 1,412 new coronavirus cases, as well as a new case positivity rate of 13.3 percent, was reported July 23-29, according to the Florida Department of Health's COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report. Four weeks prior to that, just 141 cases and a 3.5 percent positivity rate were reported in the county for the week of June 25 to July 1, according to state data.

Select pharmacies and other health care facilities in Sarasota County also offer testing including:

• America's Pharmacy
• CVS
• Ellenton Urgent Care
• MCR Health
• Quest Diagnostics
• Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Centers
• Walgreens

The test is also available through some private physician's practices.

COVID-19 Vaccines

The DOH urges residents to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

“The COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective way to protect yourself and continue to be vital to ending the pandemic, including combating the recent case increases nationally and globally,” the DOH said.

The vaccine offers several benefits, including reducing the risk of contracting the virus if exposed, teaching your body how to fight the virus, minimizing the spread of the virus, fighting emerging variants of the virus, and reducing the risk of severe symptoms, hospitalizations and death for those who do get sick, the DOH said.

The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are available at the DOH in Sarasota County offices in North Port (6950 Outreach Way) and Sarasota (2200 Ringling Blvd.) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A pop-up vaccine clinic is set for Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m., at Riverview High School (1 Ram Way, Sarasota). The Pfizer vaccine, which has been authorized for everyone 12 and older, will be given at this event.

Select pharmacies and other health care facilities in Sarasota County also offer the vaccine, including:

• CVS
• Publix
• Sam's Club
• Walgreens
• Walmart
• Winn-Dixie

The vaccine is also available through some private physician's practices.