The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Bragg Memorial Stadium COVID-19 Testing Site will be shuttered temporarily beginning at the close of business Thursday due to the passage of Tropical Storm Isaias.
All COVID-19 testing sites across the state have been ordered closed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Sites will be open Thursday and can begin being secured Thursday evening and all day on Friday, DEM officials said
“Due to the approaching inclement weather, we’ve been notified of the decision to temporarily close all state supported COVID-19 sites. These sites are open air locations and we understand that precautions need to be taken in the event of inclement weather,” said Cynthia Harris, Ph.D., director of the FAMU Institute of Public Health, one of the organizers of the site. “We look forward to reopening next week and continuing the important work we have been tasked to do in addressing this pandemic and serving the state of Florida and our community.”
The storm should be cleared from Florida on Monday evening, so sites can do a damage assessment and begin setting back up on Tuesday, DEM said in an email statement.
“We expect most sites can reopen Wednesday, pending any damage and vendor timelines,” DEM statement said.
The FAMU site, which has a capacity of 500 tests per day, is being operated with logistical and material support from DEM, the Florida Department of Health and the Leon County Health Department. Local companies, groups and individuals have also donated money and supplies to assist the operation.
Since it opened on April 25, the site has seen more than 27,000 people. At the walk-up site, testing is free and no physician referral is required.
