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Hillsborough County coronavirus hotline pre-screens, pre-registers residents for testing

Posted at 8:07 AM, Mar 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-25 05:46:08-04

TAMPA, Fla. -- Hillsborough County created a main information number for residents experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to call beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to get pre-screened and, in some cases, pre-registered for testing.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS

The county is working with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, BayCare, Tampa General Hospital, Advent Health, HCA Healthcare and the City of Tampa to augment its normal operations with members of the healthcare community to pre-screen and pre-register residents for COVID-19 testing.

Number to call: (813) 272-5900

Call center representatives will ask the caller a series of questions to determine if a COVID-19 test is needed. If it's determined the caller does need a test, they will be sent a confirmation email with a scheduled date and time.

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The caller must print the confirmation and bring it to the drive-thru testing site at Raymond James when it's operational, the testing site is expected to open Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.

If you are unable to print the confirmation, you might have to wait longer.

You must also bring your driver's license, a state-issued ID or passport with you to the testing site.

The county says staffing for the call center is expected to be provided weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. If you don't have a designated primary care doctor or are uninsured and believe you qualify for testing, you are also eligible to call the number.

Testing is by appointment only.