New COVID-19 Testing Site Opening In Downtown Bradenton

BRADENTON, FL — Starting Wednesday, Manatee County residents and visitors will have another option for getting tested for COVID-19.

The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County and Manatee County government are partnering to open a new testing site in response to the recent surge in coronavirus cases throughout the state.

From Jan. 7 to 13, 5,423 new cases and 27.2 percent new case positivity rate were reported in Manatee County, according to data from the FDOH.

The county will offer testing in downtown Bradenton at the SUNZ Insurance building at 1301 Eighth Ave.

Testing at the walk-up operation will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to a news release from the DOH. No appointments are necessary, though clients can pre-register online here.

Visitors should bring proof of Florida residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill with a Florida address.

The downtown testing site is in addition to the ongoing COVID-19 testing at the Bradenton Area Convention Center at 1 Haben Blvd. in Palmetto. Site is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Another new COVID-19 testing site only for Manatee County Schools students and employees and Manatee County workers opened at Marble Park in Bradenton on Jan. 4.

The site, located at 3675 53rd Ave. E., is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A school district ID is required to get tested at the park.

Testing at all three sites is free.

This article originally appeared on the Bradenton Patch