TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that special lanes will be added to drive-thru coronavirus testing sites for those with symptoms.
DeSantis made the announcement during a 5 p.m. COVID-19 update meeting in the Cabinet Meeting Room of the Florida State Capital.
He said that symptomatic testing lanes will be implemented at the Regency Square Mall COVID-19 testing site that recently opened up in the Arlington area of Jacksonville. Those that go through the symptomatic testing lanes will receive their results within 72 hours.
Due to an increase in testing, some COVID-19 testing results are taking between 7 and 10 days to come back. DeSantis said they would be shifting away from companies that were taking extended periods of time to return test results.
"Those who can produce are going to get more of the business, and I think that's the best way to go about it," he said.
DeSantis said a 10-day turnaround time "is not going to be very helpful" when community spread of COVID-19 is happening right now and quick results are vital to limiting that spread.
During the Wednesday update, DeSantis also spoke more about the upcoming school year and the importance of each district making the school reopening decision that was best for them.
He said that how the schools decide to handle the upcoming school year will vary from district to district and family to family but he wanted to ensure that parents have that option.