SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – The high demand for COVID-19 testing continues across Central Florida, including in Seminole County, where Emergency Manager Alan Harris said it’s been difficult for residents to find testing.
“Our testing is through the roof,” Harris said.
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Harris said the fast-spreading omicron variant is fueling the surge for testing, and the county is seeing an uptick in cases.
“The numbers are through the roof. Our cases per 100,000 (people) are higher than they’ve ever been before,” Harris said. “I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t know someone that’s not sick with COVID.”
Seminole County will open a fifth new testing site at 8 a.m. Monday at the Sanford SunRail station.
All of the county sites require appointments.
Ryan and Jim Welch were able to get an appointment for Monday after they found out the new site was opening.
“For my own peace of mind have a negative test before I venture out of the apartment since you know we live together it’s just better safe than sorry to check the both of us,” Ryan Welch said.
LizMary Armstrong, a nurse, was turned away at the site on Monday because she couldn’t get an appointment on time.
“I called the hotline at work but they don’t answer. That’s another thing so I’m waiting for them to call me and try to find out online and if there’s other centers where I can get tested,” Armstrong said.
Emergency manager, Alan Harris said he expects all five county-run sites will be busy this week as people return to work and school.
“We can do 5 to 6,000 at all of our sites. Each site is a little bit different based on staffing and demand as well,” Harris said. “We have seen incredibly long lines in other counties and our appointments at our sites are booked up almost as soon as we put them out.”
All of the sites are booked for the next couple of days.
Harris said the county is also continuing to offer free at-home COVID tests. After the huge turnout during Wednesday’s free giveaway, Harris said they are no longer opening it up to everyone and instead targeting specific people.
Michelle O’Reilly picked up free tests on Friday during an event for healthcare workers and families with special needs.
“That was so easy, so efficient, pre-registration, not just walkup and the whole world coming. It was great,” O’Reilly said.
Harris said the county will continue to offer testing and free at-home kits for as long as needed.
“We have a feeling if the predictive models are right four to eight weeks (onward), you’ll be able to go to a pharmacy, you’ll be able to purchase an at-home test kit. We won’t be doing these type of events,” Harris said.
Click here to book an appointment at a Seminole County testing site.