ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Orange County Convention Center will start issuing 400 coronavirus tests a day, and as of April 13, will become a state-operated site run by the Florida Department of Emergency Management, according to a news release. Prior to this change, the site was run by the Department of Health and Human Services and FEMA.
Orange County officials said this change will increase test capacity and will expand testing criteria in Central Florida.
Additionally, modifications have been made to the criteria for a patient to get a free COVID-19 test.
To get a test on Monday you will have to meet one of the following criteria:
- Respiratory issues
- Anyone with underlying health conditions
- Healthcare workers
- First responders
- Anyone who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
Criterios actualizados a partir de mañana en el centro de pruebas regional #COVID19 del @OCCC. Este es un sitio de pruebas administrado por el estado y es disponible y gratis para TODOS los residentes de la Florida Central. Información adicional en https://t.co/I0fu7UwbD1 pic.twitter.com/j4Jl10WWHo
— Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) April 12, 2020
Organizers said individuals would not need to show proof of contact with an individual who tested positive.
“Similar to how we go with the underlying health conditions, we are operating under the honor system here,” said Lauren Luna, a spokesperson for the site. “And we just encourage people to be honest.”
The tests are free.
The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the site will close if the center hits the maximum amount of tests.
“Recently we haven’t been hitting the 350 we were permitted to do,” Luna said.
The testing site will have a throat swab test and a nasal swab test.
Patients will get results in three to seven days.