Here is a link to many coronavirus resources
Today, Hillsborough County announced that all residents can get a free test for coronavirus antibodies.
Below is the full email from the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center:
Beginning Friday, Aug. 14, Hillsborough County residents will be able to receive free testing for antibodies to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The state-run site at Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway, will offer 200 antibody tests a day, which indicate whether the person has antibodies associated with a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. The site also will offer self-administered COVID-19 coronavirus tests. Those receiving an antibody test will also take the self-administered
COVID-19 coronavirus test at the site.
Tests for COVID-19 coronavirus – but not antibody tests – will continue at the following locations:
Lee Davis Community Resource Center, 3402 N. 22nd St., Tampa
Plant City Community Resource Center, 307 N. Michigan Ave., Plant City
SouthShore Community Resource Center, 201 14th Ave. SE, Ruskin
USF Health Therapy (MDT) building, 3515 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa
Tampa Family Health Centers, 12085 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa
Suncoast Community Health Centers, 313 S. Lakewood Drive, Brandon
Redeemer Lutheran Church, 701 Valley Forge Blvd., Sun City Center
Wimauma Opportunity Center, 5128 S.R. 674, Wimauma
Appointments are required for the tests. To make an appointment online, visit HCFLGov.net/COVIDTesting. To schedule an appointment at any of the sites by phone, call (888) 513-6321.
COVID-19 coronavirus public testing has been a collaboration among Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, the University of South Florida, and medical groups in the region, including BayCare, Tampa General Hospital, AdventHealth, HCA Healthcare – West Florida Division, Tampa Family Health Centers, Inc., the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay/Transcare, and Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc. Locations for some test sites have been offered by Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sun City Center and Enterprising Latinas in Wimauma.
Below is more information on a Thursday Hillsborough County Commission meeting:
Aug. 13 County Commission COVID-19 Special Meeting Summary:
Face Coverings Order Now Includes Children at Least 5 Years of Age
COVID-19 Coronavirus Update No. 207
Hillsborough County, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2020) – The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners today lowered the age at which children are required to wear a face covering to help slow the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.
A majority of Commissioners voted to amend the face coverings mandate to apply to children 5 years of age and older, in alignment with recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The original order exempted children under the age of 8. Also, a majority of Commissioners voted in favor of keeping the face coverings order in effect throughout the COVID-19 state of local emergency unless rescinded or amended, eliminating the necessity of revisiting the order weekly.
In other action today:
Several Commissioners expressed deep concern over this afternoon’s announcement from the Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent that brick and mortar schools will open on Aug. 31. While the 14-day positivity rate in Hillsborough continues to trend downward – today it is 9.38% – Commissioners say the numbers are still too high.
Commissioners extended the state of local emergency enacted in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. A state of local emergency can be in effect for only seven days, unless extended. The declaration gives the County Administrator and emergency managers the ability to quickly take certain actions to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community, and provides a path for federal reimbursement of certain expenses.
Heard an update from Emergency Management Director Tim Dudley that because of a continuing decrease in the demand for COVID-19 testing, the days/hours of operations at three public testing sites are being scaled back. Beginning Monday, Aug. 17, testing sites at the Lee Davis and Plant City Community Service Centers will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The testing site at the SouthShore Community Service Center will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The next special meeting of the County Commission to address emergency management issues related to COVID-19 is scheduled Thursday, Aug. 20, at 1:30 p.m.
