ORLANDO, Fla. — Coronavirus cases keep trending up in Florida as the number of cases gets closer to 100,000.
And now many large scale testing sites in Central Floridaare back to hours-long waits, including at the Orange County Convention Center.
More than 33,000 people have been tested at the site over the past three months.
What You Need To Know
- Free state coronavirus testing sites seeing long lines
- Increased interest in testing comes as COVID-19 cases skyrocket
- For testing, must be at least 18 years old, have valid ID with you
- Get more coronavirus coverage here
Workers at the convention center have changed up the layout recently just to keep up. There are now six lanes for the COVID-19 swab test, and two for the antibody test.
The average wait time for the swab test Sunday was 1 hour, 45 minutes. Upwards of 1,000 people are being tested for the virus everyday. The antibody test, is capped at 250 per day.
“The people on-site have worked at all these sites to evaluate and retool the sites to accommodate the most number of tests in the shortest amount of time, but keep in mind, those antibody tests involve a blood draw. It involves waiting for the test results. So we appreciate everyone’s patience,” said Mike Jachles, a FEMA spokesperson.
Organizers at the Orange County Convention Center testing site are encouraging healthy people to get tested, becaue they could be infected but asymptomatic. Sick people can still get tested, but they're urged to get treated at a health care provider.
Site organizers ask that if you plan to come to the site, be prepared to wait, with a full tank of gas, snacks, and working air conditioning in your car. The location opens at 9 a.m.
The test is free and no appointment is needed, but you do need to be at least 18 years old and present a valid ID before being tested.
More testing sites will open up this week in west Orange County.
On Monday, COVID-19 testing wil be held at Farmworker Association in Apopka. On Tuesday, testing will be offered at John Bridges Community Center, also in Apopka. And on Wednesday and Thursday, there will be testing at the Neighborhood Center for Families in Zellwood.
Registration is required for all three sites; just head to http://www.ocfl.net.
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