Brandon Coronavirus Testing Site Increases Appointments

BRANDON, FL — The Brandon coronavirus testing site increased its number of tests this week, said a Hillsborough County Emergency Management news release.

Hillsborough County Emergency Management director Tim Dudley reported to the Emergency Policy Group at a meeting on July 13 that 10,448 people were tested for coronavirus through Hillsborough’s public testing initiative during the week of July 6.

The Brandon testing site, located at Suncoast Community Health Center, 313 S. Lakewood Drive, is increasing the number of available appointments to 800 per week, a 500 appointment increase from 300 per week.

Testing is offered at this site by appointment only, and it is drive-thru testing. If you would like to make an appointment, click here. Or you can call the Hillsborough County call center at (888) 513-6321, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Brandon testing site's website said it also offers testing during the evenings and on weekends.

Here are a few things to keep in mind for testing:

• People who do not have a designated primary care physician or are uninsured are eligible for pre-screening and preregistration through the call center.
• There is no charge for the test administered at Hillsborough County locations.
• Have a photo ID with name and date of birth for all persons being tested (can be Florida driver's license, state-issued ID or passport).
• Bring the correct confirmation code provided by the call center; this can be a printed copy of the testing confirmation email received from the call center, a screen-shot of the confirmation number or the code may be provided verbally. A printed code or screenshot on the phone helps the process, but is not required.

In other news from the meeting, a majority of the EPG members voted to extend, for at least another seven days, an executive order that requires people to wear face masks inside businesses that are open to the public and where employees and customers aren’t able to maintain social distancing.