Long lines at Regency Square Mall COVID-19 testing site ahead of Christmas

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — State and city-run testing sites are closed on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to the City of Jacksonville. The Legends Center and the Regency location will reopen Saturday, Dec. 26 at 9 a.m.

Despite coronavirus concerns, families across Jacksonville are trying to get on the road, hoping to spend the holidays with family.

On Wednesday, people flocked to the Regency Square Mall in Arlington, one of the more centrally located free testing sites.

Several people, including the Slama/Lovins family, said they were getting tested after being exposed to the virus.

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“Honestly, my wife is very safe right now because she might be alone for Christmas,” Justin Lovins said. His wife tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

Now, the entire family needs to get at test and they may be apart for the holiday, depending on the results.

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“My son passed away earlier in the year, and it’s hard.” Dorothy Slama said. “We needed each other. We need to be together this year and that’s not how it’s going to be.”

The four are hoping for a negative result, much like the hundreds of people that were in line Wednesday.

New numbers show 2,831 people were tested on Tuesday. That’s following a record of 3,075 people who got a test on Monday.

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Cox Media Group