ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites could be heading to pharmacies throughout Florida within the next few weeks.
Last week, under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, the U.S. Department of Health Services cleared the way for licensed pharmacies to administer COVID-19 tests.
Since then, mobile testing sites have been popping up in pharmacy parking lots across the U.S.
Walgreen’s told Eyewitness News that Florida is on its list to add drive-thru testing at select locations with positive results in as little as five minutes.
But because state laws differ, the NACDS has to work with each governor to actually make it happen.
Read: ‘I’m just so blessed’: Osceola County nurse describes her recovery from COVID-19
In Florida, that means changing the effective data of certain legislation.
“There's a little bit of a legal nuance that needs to be addressed and we're asking them to take that action,” said Kathleen Jaeger, senior vice president of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
Jaeger said there’s also the issue of supply, which is finally taking a positive turn.
“Supply for COVID-19 tests and test kits has been the rate-limiting barrier, but that is actually coming along. So in the next few weeks, if that ramps up, we'll be able to see testing throughout the state,” Jaeger said.
About 91% of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy.
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