Free COVID-19 testing available at Phillips Park Aug. 18
Additional free COVID-19 testing will be available to Lee County residents throughout the month of August.
The Florida Department on Health on Monday announced it will provide free walk-up COVID-19 testing throughout the county in partnership with Lee County Government.
According to FDOH, testing will be scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 9 a.m. and will continue, weather-permitting, until 1 p.m. Staff will have 300 tests available at each site for anyone 18 years of age or older. Children will be referred for testing to the Florida Department of Health in Lee County. There is no fee for the test, and no appointment or doctor’s order is necessary.
Week 1 testing was held Tuesday at Schandler Hall Park, 419 Royal Palm Park Road, Fort Myers.
For Aug. 6, there was no site scheduled
Additional free testing sites include:
Week 2: Aug. 11 at Three Oaks Park, 18251 Three Oaks Parkway, Fort Myers; Aug. 13 at Buckingham Community Park, 9800 Buckingham Road, Fort Myers
Week 3: Aug. 18 at Phillips Park, 5675 Sesame Drive, Bokeelia; Aug. 20 at Old Bonita Springs Library, 2687 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs
Week 4: Aug. 25 at North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 N. Recreation Center, North Fort Myers; Aug. 27 at Veterans Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road, S., Lehigh Acres
Locations on the schedule are at Lee County-owned sites, with Lee County EMS and Florida DOH-Lee staff conducting the tests and accompanying paperwork.
State to prioritize testing
for those with symptoms
The Florida Department of Emergency Management on Tuesday announced that beginning Aug. 5, that state-supported drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites will prioritize testing for symptomatic individuals, individuals age 65 and older and children under the age of 18. This includes the testing site at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers.
“This adjustment is consistent with CDC guidance that was issued on July 17, which no longer recommends a test-based strategy to determine when an asymptomatic individual is no longer infectious,” the release states. “While asymptomatic lanes will still be available, testing sites are working to expedite results and make testing more accessible to populations that need it most.”
All state-supported drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites will expand lanes for symptomatic individuals as well as individuals 65 and older. The priority lanes will offer self-swab tests, under the supervision of health care personnel, with results available within 72 hours.
Two in Miami-Dade County will provide results in 15 minutes through rapid testing machines on site, according to FDEM.
In addition to expanding priority lanes at all state-supported testing sites, all state-supported drive-thru testing sites will begin offering COVID-19 antibody testing to assist with asymptomatic testing. Antibody testing will also be available at four walk-up COVID-19 testing sites: West Perrine Health Center in Miami-Dade County, Miramar Youth Enrichment Center in Broward County, Lincoln Park in Manatee County and FAMU Bragg Memorial Stadium in Leon County.
“This testing initiative will provide expedited results for symptomatic and vulnerable populations, enable faster data reporting, make contact tracing more effective, and enable a greater understanding of the transmission of the virus in the general population,” stated the release.
“This testing initiative is in accordance with Governor DeSantis’ initiative, One Goal One Florida, which emphasizes the following simple, yet effective steps to mitigate and slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Those steps include: protecting the vulnerable, including the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions; practicing proper hygiene, including washing your hands; practicing social distancing, avoiding closed spaces and crowded places; and wearing a mask, if you are in close contact with others.
A list of all state-supported testing sites can be found at www.floridadisaster.org/covid19/testing-sites/.
CenturyLink Stadium is at 14100 Ben C Pratt/6 Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers.