Free COVID drive-thru test site opens at Tropicana Field

Jamal Thalji, Tampa Bay Times
·3 min read

Editor’s note: This site was closed on Feb. 20.

ST. PETERSBURG — A new drive-thru COVID-19 testing site opened Thursday at Tropicana Field for residents and visitors to use.

It is a free, public testing site that will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1 Tropicana Drive, near First Avenue S and 16th Street S. It will be closed on Monday, however, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. The roads to the site will be blocked by the 32nd Annual MLK Dream Big Parade.

The site entrance is located off 16th Street S. Drivers should use Third Avenue S to get there.

The site will offer both kinds of COVID-19 tests: Rapid antigen tests, the results of which are reported within minutes or hours; and PCR or polymerase chain reaction tests, which are more accurate but take days for the results to come in.

No appointments are needed to get tested, but those seeking to get tested should pre-register at www.impacthealth.com/stpetetrop. There is no maximum amount of tests available at the site, but patrons should arrive early enough to get tested before the site closes daily at 5 p.m.

The site is a joint operation from the city, Impact Health and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Trop hosted a drive-thru test site earlier in the pandemic, but it was closed in May.

Here are the other free, public tests sites in Pinellas County:

  • The Center for Health Equity, 2333 34th St. S, St. Petersburg. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, but the line will be cut off at 4:30 p.m.

  • Pinellas County public testing site, 7150 114th Ave., Largo. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, but the line will be cut off at 4:30 p.m.

Click here to find non-public test sites in Pinellas.

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How to get tested

Tampa Bay: The Times can help you find the free, public COVID-19 testing sites in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties.

Florida: The Department of Health has a website that lists testing sites in the state. Some information may be out of date.

The U.S.: The Department of Health and Human Services has a website that can help you find a testing site.

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How to get vaccinated

The COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 and up and booster shots for eligible recipients are being administered at doctors’ offices, clinics, pharmacies, grocery stores and public vaccination sites. Many allow appointments to be booked online. Here’s how to find a site near you:

Find a site: Visit vaccines.gov to find vaccination sites in your ZIP code.

More help: Call the National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline.

Phone: 800-232-0233. Help is available in English, Spanish and other languages.

TTY: 888-720-7489

Disability Information and Access Line: Call 888-677-1199 or email DIAL@n4a.org.

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More coronavirus coverage

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KIDS AND VACCINES: Got questions about vaccinating your kid? Here are some answers.

BOOSTER SHOTS: Confused about which COVID booster to get? This guide will help.

BOOSTER QUESTIONS: Are there side effects? Why do I need it? Here’s the answers to your questions.

PROTECTING SENIORS: Here’s how seniors can stay safe from the virus.

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