JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Duval County is looking into expanding its COVID-19 testing hours as the demand for testing continues to rise in the city amid the latest spike in cases.
Right now, the health department is offering free testing at its Springfield center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Representatives with the health department spoke to Jacksonville City Council on Monday and said it is hoping to change testing hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and possibly adding testing availability on Saturdays.
The Duval County Health Department’s Central Health Plaza at 515 West 6th St. is one of a few sites in the city where people can get tested for free.
A spokesperson for Mayor Lenny Curry’s said it is worried about expanding testing sites because of a shortage in health care workers.
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According to the health department, more than 2,100 people were tested for coronavirus there last week.
The proposed change, which hasn’t been made yet, comes after Jacksonville residents lined up for hours outside the Springfield office Friday despite scorching temperatures.
There were long lines again on Monday.
Ollivan Bell was at the end of the line and waiting to be tested. It was a wait that was expected to last two hours.
“I have been sick but I’ve had the vaccine but I’ve been exposed to it,” Bell said.
The mayor’s office said it is working on reducing the wait times.
“We are looking at locations and talking to providers but we are prepared to work with the department of health and other public providers for locations, but what we can’t do right now is restart administering a program that requires us to siphon healthcare providers out of a system that already desperately needs them,” said Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes.
No word yet on when the hours may expand.
The city council president said Monday he has been talking with Agape Family Health about opening more sites at community centers possibly this week.