Officials: Florida Has No Plan To Open Testing Sites

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

Orange County officials said Wednesday the state has balked at opening testing sites amid a tidal wave of demand and denied a request this week for flashing signs to help provide information to people in miles-long lines.

A state testing site, like one that was operated at the Orange County Convention Center in 2020, would alleviate stress on locally run sites, said Danny Banks, the county’s public safety director.

“We have been asking the state for weeks now if the state would, or intended to, open testing sites,” Banks said Wednesday evening. “The state clarified again today they have no intention … That’s the absolute biggest thing we need help with right now.”

Read the full article. According to the Sentinel, county-run testing sites are overwhelmed and have been forced to turned away thousands.

Florida doesn’t plan to open COVID testing sites amid surge, Orange County emergency manager says https://t.co/yVulK9cBa9 pic.twitter.com/KRwgimz73a

— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) December 30, 2021