Hundreds waited in line for COVID-19 testing on Thursday in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — So far, there have been about 2,300 total positive cases in Duval County since testing began. 12% of that total number of cases were reported in just the last three days.

Nearly 800 people on Thursday alone were tested for the virus at Lot J. Just before 7 a.m. Thursday morning, about 180 people lined up to get tested at Avecina’s Southside location.

They had to turn away over 50 people right when they opened, which is why Avecina is now rolling out online scheduling starting Friday, June 19.

To schedule same-day COVID testing at Avecina go to avecina.com.

Dr. Saman Soleymani, CEO of Avecina Medical says, “Our limits were reached before we even opened.” He says this week is the busiest they’ve been since they started doing COVID-19 testing back in March.

It started on Friday after staff and patrons first learned they had tested positive for the virus in the beaches area.

It’s why they’re starting online appointments Friday, to hopefully get rid of the four to five hour wait times.”We have it set up so there’s a slot available every five minutes so that is 12 patients an hour and testing starts at 8 a.m.”

Another testing site, Lot J has also experienced long lines since Sunday.

On Thursday, Lot J tested 783 people and on Wednesday, 764. That totals just over 3,000 for the week so far.

For reference, Lot J tested just over 2,000 last week, excluding Monday due to weather.

”I do have to say a large number of the positive patients are my younger crowd that I had not seen before.”

He says Thursday, the percentage of people who tested positive was around 10%.

On Monday, it was closer to 30%.

Many with little to no symptoms which is why Dr. Soleymani says testing is so important.”Just to do for your neighbor the kindness and the people that you come in contact with isolate yourselves so you’re not passing it on.”

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