ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. --- Long lines, high wait times, and overall a recent “overwhelming” demand for COVID-19 tests in Orange County, means a third testing site launches Thursday.
County leaders still expect to host a crowd at the South Orange Youth Sports Complex, anticipating long lines at the location.
What You Need To Know
- Orange County’s third COVID-19 test site opens at South Orange Youth Sports Complex
- The drive-thru test location will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., or until capacity
- The site will be closed on Friday and Saturday, for the New Year’s holiday
- MORE CORONAVIRUS HEADLINES
Their advice, is for people to arrive early in order to avoid long wait times; Mayor Jerry Demings said Tuesday, the wait time at Barnett Park Monday reached five hours for some folks. The location has been closing hours early, after reaching capacity, for more than a week.
“We’re being overwhelmed because of the visitation, the tourist numbers being up,” Demings said in a Tuesday briefing.
“We have a lot of people in the area who are visiting the theme parks, visiting their families, and before they travel back to where they came from they’re required to be tested -want to be tested- so they’re affecting the numbers,” he continued.
Barnett Park and Econ Soccer Complex test sites did a combined number of tests greater than 3,000 on Monday, according to Demings. That more than triples the daily rate in November.
According to Orange County, the 14-day rolling COVID-19 positivity rate is now at 14.6%; considered high transmission in Orange County by CDC standards.