Sarasota County resumes COVID-19 testing

SARASOTA –– After a weekend pause, the Sarasota County Department of Health resumed testing for the COVID-19 coronavirus Tuesday morning at Twin Lakes Park off Clark Road.

The county, which is offering the testing along with Sarasota Memorial Hospital, halted the testing last Friday after being unable to fill the 50 appointment slots per day.

In a press release explaining the closure, county officials said they believed “…that by pausing operations for two days community members who believe they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will have more time to seek medical advice, have a test ordered, and receive an appointment to visit the testing site.”

Additionally, the pause gave exhausted health care workers a chance to rest.

Persons desiring a test must be referred to the site by a doctor. The physician’s office will contact DOH Sarasota who will then contact the individual with an appointment day and time.

The testing site at Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota is open from 8 a.m. to noon, by appointment only.

Individuals being tested must be in a vehicle and remain in that vehicle at all times. Visitors must present a photo ID and a prescription for a specimen collection written by a physician before the test is administered.

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.