As Clearwater DMV office reopens, Skyway office closes after positive COVID-19 case

CLEARWATER, Fla. — After being closed for about two weeks after two DMV employees working at 1663 Gulf to Bay Blvd. in Clearwater tested positive for COVID-19, the office is back open. 

However, an office in St. Petersburg has now closed its doors after a positive case was found last Monday evening. A spokesperson from the Pinellas County Tax Collector's Office says the Skyway office has been closed since 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 30. 

A reopening date for that office has not been determined yet.

Back on June 19, 10 Tampa Bay reported two DMV customer service representatives who work at 1663 Gulf to Bay Blvd. in Clearwater tested positive for COVID-19. 

The Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office oversees this location.

Amber Bradley, a spokesperson for the collector's office, confirmed the cases and says they learned of the first case on Tuesday evening. She says the office was closed on Wednesday morning and 34 employees were told to quarantine.

Pinellas County Tax Collector Charles Thomas said each person is required to be tested and given a clean bill of health before returning to work. The cost of the test and absence from the job are covered.

The office remains closed and is investigating whether these employees had contact with clients. Since the confirmed cases arose the office has contacted more than 500 people with appointments to reschedule, according to Thomas.

Prior to reopening the office had taken multiple steps to implement new safety measures. According to Thomas they are:

• Anyone coming to the office must have an appointment
• Plexiglass shield keep clients and representatives separated
• Two guards are outside the office to screen those entering about experiencing any symptoms

Bradley says per CDC guidelines they have deep cleaned the DMV location. 

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