Broward Reopens COVID-19 Testing Sites; Hospitals Ordered To Report Data
BROWARD (CBSMiami) – With COVID cases skyrocketing, the demand for testing has exploded in South Florida.
At Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, the line formed early Tuesday as Broward County began expanding testing locations to keep up with demand.
Terrell Reid was getting tested Tuesday afternoon. She says she was getting a test because over the weekend she attended a memorial service and a friend has tested positive for COVID.
"She was one of them and she got it from her job," she explained.
Reid says after her sister nearly died of COVID and two cousins passed away, she is ready to get vaccinated.
The surge in cases has people flocking to Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale too.
On Monday, more than one thousand tests were done.
Rain on Tuesday slowed testing slightly
"There are options like pharmacies and urgent care but people don't want to wait for
an appointment. They want to get it done now," Fort Lauderdale spokesperson Mike Jachles explained.
More testing sites are coming online in Broward. Markham Park in Sunrise opens Wednesday.
CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines will open on Thursday.
All sites operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meanwhile, vaccinations continue in South Florida and statewide for people 12 years old and up.
Broward's vaccination rate is at 70% and Miami-Dade has a rate of 78%.
On Tuesday, Broward issued an emergency directive requiring hospitals to report data needed to better track resources.
Hospitals will have to report daily statistics, like the number of available Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and ventilators, number of beds that can be converted to ICU beds if necessary and the number of new patients admitted daily.
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