ORLANDO, Fla. — A COVID-19 testing line is causing headaches for local residents.
Skywitness 9 flew over the Econ Soccer Complex testing site Tuesday and witness traffic backed up along Colonial Drive all morning.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Hundreds of cars were in line to get COVID-19 tests.
The drivers and the homeowners in the area told Channel 9′s Q McCray that enough is enough already. They want law enforcement officers by the testing site to direct traffic.
“I want to see some traffic control,” Joe Booker, a local resident said.
READ: Coronavirus tests: How can you get an at-home COVID-19 test?
Booker said it took 45 minutes to drive one block to his house this morning because he was stuck in gridlock traffic.
“Our garbage service was at 7 in the dark last night and we had no mail service,” Booker said.
Cars were lined up outside the newly reopened Econ Soccer Complex COVID-19 testing site as early as 5:30 a.m. The site doesn’t open until 9 a.m.
READ: Coronavirus symptom checker: Does a cough mean omicron, a cold or the flu?
At its peak, the backup extended some two miles past State Road 417 to Econlockhatchee Trail.
Bill Gompel was in line for more than 90 minutes.
“The wait isn’t really the issue. The problem is they didn’t organize traffic,” Gompel said.
Orange County residents have been complaining on social media too. The county acknowledges the issue, but its day two now and there’s still no traffic enforcement to handle the crowd.
READ: One local county sees 600% increase in average daily COVID-19 cases
Another resident said his bus was delayed 30 minutes due to the traffic.
“The traffic is backing up everything. It’s making it harder for me because I’m trying to get somewhere,” he said.
For Booker, a recovering stroke patient, he worries if paramedics will get to him in time the next time he dials 911.
READ: Coronavirus: study suggests virus lingers in organs for months
“This is bad. It’s going to cause someone totally innocent their life,” Booker said.
Channel 9 reached out to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office about the traffic but has not heard back.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
