Patients must be referred by a doctor.

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A new COVID-19 testing drive-thru is coming to Sarasota County, the Florida Department of Health said Thursday. It will be set up at Twin Lakes Park, located at 6700 Clark Road, beginning Thursday.

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.

The DOH will be the lead agency at the site.

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Specimens obtained will be sent to state or contracted labs for testing.

Visitors to the COVID-19 testing area must be referred by a physician to be tested. The physician’s office will contact DOH in Sarasota who will then contact the individual with an appointment day and time.

To make an appointment, 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.”

The site will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Manatee County launched a four-day drive-thru specimen collection site to test for novel coronavirus Thursday morning and appointments filled fast.

The first day of collections was fully booked, according to Christopher Tittel, a spokesperson with Manatee County Health Department, who said during a media call Wednesday afternoon that 200 test kits will be available for the four-day collection, with a limit of 50 appointment slots per day.

Appointments

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.

If you are sick or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow these steps to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and the community.

Stay home except to get medical care: You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

For general information, call the DOH COVID-19 Hotline at 866-779-6121 or visit www.floridahealth.gov/covid-19.

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