County Commissioners today authorized spending an additional $100,000 from the County’s Disaster Recovery Reserve to purchase additional COVID-19 testing kits to help the County reach its new goal of testing 2 percent of Manatee County residents.

Commissioners previously approved $100,000 of funding for additional kits and personal protective equipment (PPE). The County has spent $93,000 so far to purchase 1,800 tests. The additional funding helped the County surpass its initial goal of having 1 percent of residents tested. To date, there have been 5,004 COVID-19 tests given in Manatee County.

Some 2,000 of those tests were done through MCR Health with kits provided through the previously approved funding. MCR Health currently offers testing at three of its locations in Manatee County. Two drive-through testing sites offer additional opportunities for residents to get tested.

A new regional testing site is now open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mall at University Town Center. No prescriptions or appointments are required.

The Health Department is holding its third round of drive-through testing at the Bradenton Area Convention Center this Wednesday through Friday, May 6-8, and added new drive-through testing dates for May 11, May 15 and May 29. Appointments are required and can be made by calling (941) 748-0747.

Public Safety Director Jacob Saur noted the importance of additional testing as effects continue to rise locally.

“Florida is declining but Manatee County is plateauing and on a slight decline,” said Public Safety Director Jacob Saur. "But with testing capabilities locally and regionally, Manatee County could see 5,000 tests performed over the next two weeks.”

Click to see Manatee County's COVID-19 Testing info.