New testing facilities are opening up across Central Florida to help diagnose cases of COVID-19 in the community.
The criteria to be tested differs at each facility, so be sure to read the information thoroughly before showing up at one of the sites.
Here are the testing sites that are currently available county by county. This list will be updated as new information becomes available:
LIVE UPDATES: Florida health officials report 1,682 confirmed coronavirus cases, 22 deaths
ORANGE COUNTY
A federal drive-thru testing site is now open at the Orange County Convention Center. The Florida Department of Health said this location is only available to test health care workers, first responders, and those 65 and older exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. The site can test up to 250 people a day.
“Please make sure that you do qualify. So, if you’re 65 or older, you would need to have an onsite temperature of 99.6 or higher and respiratory symptoms,” said state-deployed Public Information Officer Lauren Luna.
At the site, individuals will have their swab sample collected. The sample will be sent to nearby approved testing lab. Click here for traffic map for the convention center testing site.
The Florida Department of Health in Orange County opened a coronavirus testing site on Monday. The site, which provides testing by appointment only, is geared for those high-risk individuals who meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 testing criteria. In order to get screened, Orange County residents can contact the DOH-Orange’s Call Center Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 407-723-5004.
READ: Coronavirus testing site in Orange County officially opens
SUMTER COUNTY
Testing for COVID-19 has begun at a mobile testing site in The Villages.
Seniors are able to be tested from their vehicles, including golf carts, at The Villages Polo Club.
Testing is not limited to residents of The Villages. Officials said they recommend first making an appointment through UF Health’s website. Click here to do so.
Officials said they expect to collect 2,000 samples this week, about 400 daily. Test results are completed within 24 hours.
MARION COUNTY
Right now, COVID-19 testing is going on in Marion County at two sites, one in Ocala and the other in The Villages.
You must have an appointment to come through the drive-thru testing at Premiere Medical Associates. Those with appointments can drive up, and medical professionals come out and swab you.
Officials at the medical office said the first step if you think you have the virus is to schedule a telemedicine visit with a doctor.
Premiere Medical Associates takes all insurance, and it said you don’t have to be an existing patient to take part. But supplies of the COVID-19 tests are limited.
Premiere Medical Associates said it plans to open up two additional testing sites, one in Orange County and one in Osceola County. Click here for more information.
READ: Drive-thru COVID-19 testing available in Ocala, The Villages
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