Kelly Hayes
Hillsborough County is closing all of its testing sites beginning Friday due to the threat of Tropical Storm Isaias.
The county decided to close sites following Florida’s announcement that it will close all state-run testing. State sites will be closed temporarily starting Thursday at 5 p.m. through Saturday.
In a news release from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the sites are closing for the safety of both patients and site workers. Most testing sites include free-standing structures including tents and other equipment, which cannot withstand tropical storm force winds, or even strong storm gusts even if the tropical storm misses the area. The state will reopen testing sites on a rolling basis once the storm passes.
Hillsborough County will close its sites until at least next Tuesday, or until the weather clears. The county is communicating directly to residents who’ve appointments have been canceled.
As of Thursday afternoon, Pinellas County will keep at least one county site open through the weekend at Pinellas Community Church in St. Petersburg. This site is located in one of the hardest hit zip codes in Pinellas, and may be the only public site open during the storm. Pinellas County residents can make an appointment by calling 833-697-4352. That site is open in conjunction with New York state officials who are partnering with the city of St. Pete.
The storm could hit South Florida as early as Friday, and residents are being told to expect heavy rains and strong winds.
State supported testing sites in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties include:
— Duke Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theatre (Pinellas)
— Lee Davis Community Resource Center (Hillsborough)
— SouthShore Community Resource Center (Hillsborough)
The following are Hillsborough County testing sites:
— Raymond James Stadium.
— County community resource centers in east Tampa (Lee Davis), Plant City, and SouthShore.
— Sites in Brandon, Wimauma, Sun City Center, and Town ‘N Country.
Pinellas County testing sites:
— Duke Energy for the Arts Mahaffey Theater.
— Department of Health-Pinellas (DOH-P).
— Baycare at Tropicana Field Lot 2.
— Community Health Centers of Pinellas (CHCP) at Clearwater, Pinellas Park, and Johnnie Ruth Clarke Center.
— AFC Urgent Care at Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Seminole, and Tyrone/St. Petersburg.
— Doctor’s Urgent Care in Palm Harbor.
