Priority testing begins at state supported testing sites on Wednesday

On Wednesday state-supported testing sites will start prioritizing seniors, children 18 or younger, and if you have symptoms.

This kind of testing begins one month since Governor Ron DeSantis first brought up the idea to implement a priority lane at state-run testing sites like the one here at Century Link in Lee County.

That idea is finally being placed into action. Florida Gulf Coast University’s Robert Hawkes, who is the Program Director of Physician Assistant Program says this new process could help slow the spread in our communities.

“In theory, within 72 hours it will help contact tracing because people won’t have been exposed to as many people and it will be a much shorter timeline, so they’re more apt to remember two or three days ago versus 5 to 7 days ago,” Hawkes said.

Hawkes also mentioned that we might see a slight increase in positive cases as priority testing gets implemented. That wouldn’t necessarily mean we have more cases, just that we are getting more results back in a shorter time frame.

Governor DeSantis mentioned yesterday that he’s now pushing for faster results for those who are asymptomatic as well.

“What’s happening with the asymptomatic, if you test someone, I can’t tell you whether you have live virus because you can test positive. CDC says you can test positive for 12 weeks now and if it takes them a week for test results they’re not infectious most likely,” DeSantis said.

In addition to the priority lanes, CenturyLink stadium will also offer antibody testing.