Airport COVID-19 testing site is shutting down

TAMPA - Tampa International Airport is closing its COVID testing site.

The airport announced the decision Friday, saying it was shutting down “due to a steady decrease of demand.”

At its height, during the holiday season, the site was administering about 260 tests per day, according to a statement from the airport. That’s dropped to about 30 per day “as testing – as well as vaccinations – have become more readily available throughout the Tampa Bay area.”

The site, run by Clearwater-based BayCare Health System, opened in October when demand for COVID tests was near its peaks and lines stretching for blocks were not uncommon.

At the time, government health agencies around the world were requiring travelers to provide a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result to avoid quarantine or other restrictions upon arrival.

Passengers were able to get two FDA-approved tests at the airport: the rapid antigen test and the PCR test. The latter is regarded as the most accurate and broadly accepted test internationally. 

Airport CEO Joe Lopano says starting the site “has been one of TPA’s proudest accomplishments during the COVID-19 crisis and I’m happy to say we kept a lot of travelers safe by offering this service.”

“We still strongly encourage passengers to test at other sites before flying, wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines as we continue to try to reduce COVID-19 case numbers in Florida and around the world,” he says.

The testing site will close after May 7.