Over 1,700 COVID-19 tests damaged in transit in Florida, according to Florida Division of Emergency Management

FLORIDA — UPDATE, 5/25/2020: The Florida Department of Health released the following information about damaged COVID-19 tests from the Jacksonville area:

"The TIAA Bank Field testing site was not a site with damaged tests, however Kooker Park walk-up testing had 3 damaged tests.

"Tests can be damaged in transit multiple ways. For example, tests that have a loose lid may have some of the sample leak when transported, or a sample that is mishandled when being moved from location to lab could crack or break. These are two examples of how tests can be damaged and are risks that come with moving tests from testing site to the lab for processing.

"Individuals do not need to be a resident of the county the state-supported testing site is located in, so more county information may available as epidemiological investigations are conducted.

"The state was notified of the damaged tests Wednesday, and immediately began contacting individuals to be retested. The state has called every single individual that needs to be retested. Individuals can be retested immediately. "

Original story from 5/20/2020 below:

The Florida Division of Emergency Management sent out an announcement claiming that 1,702 COVID-19 tests were damaged during transit through the month of May.

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Those whose tests were damaged will have to retake the test according to the state.

Action News Jax is working to find out if any of these damaged tests were from the Jacksonville area.

Statement from the Florida State Emergency Operations Center:

"Multiple sites were impacted statewide by damaged tests, and these tests were damaged in transit.

The state was notified of the damaged tests today, and immediately began contacting individuals to be retested. ​The state will continue reaching out to every individual who needs to be retested and anyone who needs to be retested will be informed by the end of the day tomorrow, Thursday, May 21. Once an individual is contacted, they will be able to be retested immediately."

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