St. PETERSBURG, Fla. – People who will undergo the COVID-19 test on Friday faced long queues on both sides of the bay.
The line meandered around Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
The wait lasted more than two hours in both places, and many others waited an hour to an hour and a half, according to county officials.
In St. Pete, cars line up around 7:00 a. m. , an hour before the site opened on Friday.
Demand is due to two factors: the two control sites were closed before the week by Tropical Storm Eta and the percentage of positivity for COVID-19 has been higher in recent weeks.
Still, Tom came from the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County says it’s a smart sign.
“We are encouraged to see so many other people on verification sites. That means they take it seriously,” he said.
Queues are expected to be long on Saturday and next week.
Ashley Johnson, Pinellas County Senior Communications Coordinator, recommends reaching checkpoints mid-day.
“Half the day is usually the most productive time to make a stop at the site around 1 a. m. M. De afternoon, but with the typhoon this week and the increase in positivity, it is imaginable that we can see long waiting times throughout the day. . “
Health officials suggested that if you decide to go on vacation, take one of the loose tests before worrying about your family.
“Every time we see a journey, we see the possibility of spread, so other people perceive the threat they face,” Iovino added.
Raymond James Stadium and Tropicana Field will offer two types of controls: immediate control of antigens with 15-minute effects and PCR lab control.
Because airlines, employers, and some universities require the results of COVID-19 checks, local officials propose to determine the type of check they want before queuing.
“The last thing you need to do is wait in line for an hour, take a check and realize it was the check I needed. You can request a PCR and an antigenic checkup or one or the other,” Johnson explained.
Check Tropicana Field COVID-19 is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a. m. 3 p. m.
Pinellas County citizens can also be tested at Pinellas County Department of Health, Ruth Eckerd Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a. m. 10 a. m at the network’s fitness centres in Pinellas and AFC Urgent Care, Doctor’s Urgent Care and its emergency care centers for children. .
The COVID-19 check at Raymond James Stadium is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a. m. 4 p. m.
Hillsborough County citizens can be evaluated at the Suncoast Community Health Center, the University of South Florida Health Therapy Building and the Lee Davis Community Resource Center.
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