TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Raymond James Stadium will become Hillsborough County’s first mobile COVID-19 testing site, followed by the Florida State Fairgrounds.
Various healthcare and public safety leaders met at the the stadium Thursday afternoon to begin planning. The county hopes to have the stadium mobile testing site up and running by Saturday, but that could change.
BayCare opened up various drive-through facilities across Tampa Bay for its patients earlier this week.
County administrator Mike Merrill says the delay is purely due to shortage in tests and protective supplies, not leaders’ lethargy. “We can’t open drive through facilities without having the ability to take the sample,” he said during a press conference Thursday afternoon when he announced the facilities.
A county spokesman tells 8 On Your Side’s Victoria Price there will be requirements for testing to protect supply. Organizers are still working to clarify what those will be.
As more kits/protective equipment becomes available the county says it is prepared to open more mobile testing sites.
Stay with WFLA.com for more information as this story develops…
WHAT TO KNOW:
- Florida is reporting 85,926 cases and 3,061 deaths
- Florida in Phase Two of reopening
- Cases have spiked in past week, Gov. DeSantis says due to increased testing
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