Manatee County teaming up MCR Health to expand COVID-19 testing. Drive-thru to reopen
Manatee County is partnering with MCR Health to expand local COVID-19 testing efforts, including making tests available for anyone unable to pay and reopening its drive-thru site.
The county has purchased 500 additional specimen collection kits through MCR Health. As a result, any Manatee County resident will be able to get tested at one their five locations, regardless of their ability to pay.
The drive-thru testing site at the Bradenton Area Convention Center will also be reopened next week. From Wednesday through Friday, there will be up to 80 appointments available for anyone with a doctor’s order for the test.
On Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved up to $100,000 toward the purchase of kits to test more patients for the novel coronavirus. According to previous county estimates, that’s enough money to buy around 2,000 kits.
As of Thursday afternoon, Manatee County trailed neighboring counties in the overall number of patients tested for COVID-19.
“We think this is a greater opportunity because MCR already has a supply chain for collection kits and they have been in this testing business through this entire process,” said county Public Safety Chief Jacob Saur.
Anyone who is indigent, doesn’t have a primary physician or is unable to take advantage of the drive-thru testing site will be able to see a doctor at MCR Health. The clinic will also take other doctor’s orders and test those patients.
“MCR will take insurance. They will take a sliding scale and then with additional kits that the county has provided, if you have no means, they will still test you,” Saur said. “No one will be turned away for not being able to pay.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 3:30 PM.
