Sumter County

Drone delivery to be tested by UPS, CVS for prescriptions in The Villages

THE VILLAGES, Fla. — CVC and UPS are planning to start prescription medicine delivers in The Villages, using drones.

Officials said the drone transports, which eventually will bring customers' medication right to their door steps, offer a fast delivery option.

It helps maintain social-distancing efforts and it keeps seniors from having to leave home and go out into stores.

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Drones like this could be showing up to your door step next month.

Prescription meds will be leaving pharmacies and then flown to people's homes all over the villages.

Once word spread about this plan, people had some questions.

"I just wonder about the accuracy and two the quantity,” said resident Jack McKim. “How many they can really deliver and if it’s complicated to order it."

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UPS company officials said the FAA gave them authority to operate through the pandemic and to also explore keeping this going after things get back to normal.

The operation could even expand to include deliveries from additional CVS pharmacies in the area.

"Now more than ever, it's important that our customers have access to their prescriptions," said Jon Roberts with CVS.

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However, some residents said they don't think it's a good idea for The Villages.

"Drone delivery that may be good for Kansas and places like that, where you have to travel long distances, to get something from point A to point B, but we don't need it here," said Dave Dupas.

The first flights will be less than a half mile and be delivered to a location near The Villages.

Initially, a ground vehicle will complete the delivery to the resident’s door. And eventually, the drones will be handling the doorstep deliveries.

“Coronavirus

Myrt Price

Myrt Price, WFTV.com

Myrt Price joined the eyewitness news team as a general assignment reporter in October of 2012.

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