Tropicana Field To Become a COVID-19 Test Site

The governor has announced that The Trop will soon have a drive-thru testing process for coronavirus, just like the one that’s been set up at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Testing at Ray J will also expand to meet the increased demand since the rebound of COVID-19 in the Tampa area. They say the state will take over operations there in the next week.

BayCare will run the operations at Tropicana Field starting June 29, according to a BayCare tweet today. They closed their Carillon testing site this week after too many were in line, affecting local businesses. They say the new testing spot in St. Pete isn’t ready yet. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

COVID-19 Testing In Tampa

If you were curious what these drive up tests look like, our photographers got these pics as USF and Hillsborough County tested drivers at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center this week.

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A Tampa Public Safety Officer signals drivers where to go at a coronavirus testing site at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A University of South Florida (USF) Health administrator signals a driver before they receive a coronavirus test at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A University of South Florida (USF) Health administrator talks to a driver at a coronavirus testing site at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker administers a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: Drivers wait in line to be tested for the coronavirus at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker administers a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker administers a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A University of South Florida (USF) Health administrator talks to a driver before they receive a coronavirus test at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker prepares to administer a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker administers a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  A University of South Florida (USF) Health administrator talks to a driver at a coronavirus testing site at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center.

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker administers a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker administers a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

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  (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker administers a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
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  (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A University of South Florida (USF) Health administrator talks to a driver at a coronavirus testing site at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

  Share

  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A Tampa Public Safety Officer talks with drivers before they receive a coronavirus test at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

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  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: Drivers wait in line to be tested for the coronavirus at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

  Share

  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: Drivers wait in line to be tested for the coronavirus at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
• As State Opens After Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Spike In Florida

  Share

  TAMPA, FL - JUNE 25: A healthcare worker administers a coronavirus test to a patient at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The USF Health system partnered with the Hillsborough County Government to provide coronavirus testing at several location sites throughout the county. Florida is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, as the state reached a new record for single-day infections on Wednesday with 5,511 new cases. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Rays answer fans 5 biggest questions about the coming season…

In other Tampa Bay news today, the Rays are hopeful the start to the season is just a month away. Here are their answers to the 5 big questions they save fans have.

• What about COVID-19?

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  Players and staff alike will be tested every other day. There will be temperature and symptom checks twice per day. Players won't be wearing face masks, but non-players will. "Celebratory contact" like high fives, fist bumps, hugs... even spitting - not allowed. Balls will be thrown out once they've been touched.

• What if there’s an outbreak in a team’s city?

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  They might be relocated to a neutral site.

• How many games will there be?

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  They say it's not finalized, but it'll likely be 60 games. Most games will be against division opponents like the Red Sox and Yankees.
• When does the season begin?

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  The Rays say it should be July 23 or 24. The schedule isn't out yet.

• How will the playoffs work?

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  No changes there.