Avecina Medical returns to drive-through COVID-19 testing because of demand

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Dr. Saman Soleymani never thought his practice, Avecina Medical, would have to return to COVID-19 testing by way of drive-through.

“Even with the appointments now, we’re booked out two or three days in advance,” he said.

Soleymani says Avecina had been doing drive-through testing during the peak of the pandemic.

Things are starting to look that way again, he said.

“We are seeing some of the highest numbers that we’ve ever seen, worse than the peak of last year. Our positivity rate still continues to be more than 20% daily.” Action News Jax checked CVS’ website to see how soon one could get a test appointment.

The website showed the first available appointments on Friday.

When Action News Jax checked Avecina’s website Monday afternoon, appointments for rapid PCR tests were available as soon as Tuesday at the Oakeleaf and Tinseltown locations.

Avecina can do 100 COVID tests a day at its four locations, and about 300 at its Southside drive-through.”We’ve been so busy that just making it a walk-in for the purpose of COVID is an impossibility because 40, 50 people would be lining (up) outside the doors at 8 a.m.” Soleymani says if you think you have COVID-19 but can’t get tested for a couple days, you should absolutely quarantine until tested.

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