Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 5-1-20

Local
EPG Makes Testing Available To Everyone
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
“No insurance, no prob- lem; no doctor’s prescrip- tion, no problem, but you do need an appointment.” Those are the words of Hills- borough County Commission Chair, Les Miller, who is also Chair of the Emergency Protection Group (EPG). The group meets each Monday and Thursday at 1:30 p. m.
Miller is urging every- one to get tested. “The virus is impacting every neighbor- hood across the county, but I fear the effects may be even harder on our minority com- munities. The outbreak has been devastating. You owe it to yourself and those you love to get tested now, get the care you need and protect your family. Please get tested! We have added Lee Davis here in the heart of East Tampa.”
The EPG gets an update on the Coronavirus (or COVID-19) each time it meets from Dr. Douglas Holt, Hillsborough County Florida Dept. of Health, and Dr. Charles Lockwood, Dean, College of Medicine, Univer- sity of South Florida.
Monday’s discussion in- cluded reopening the City to normalcy.
“Dr. Holt, and Dr. Lockwood, said we need to open the city slowly. But, more testing needed to be done in the county if we’re planning to do that. We then made the decision to have anyone tested who wanted to be,” Miller said. As of Mon- day, the County was not see- ing the numbers that it wants
MAYOR JANE CASTOR
getting tested.
Whether you have symp-
toms or not you can be tested at any of the sites set up by Hillsborough County – Ray- mond James Stadium, Lee Davis Resource Community Center, Plant City Resource Center, and SouthShore Cen- ter in Ruskin.
Additionally, persons wishing to be tested do not need insurance or a prescrip- tion from a doctor. However, you will need to make an ap- pointment and go to the test- ing site with picture identification. For the free testing, call (813) 272-5900, weekdays 8 a. m.-5 p.m.
“If you do not have transportation or are home- bound, please let them know when you make your ap- pointment. We do have someone who can come to
COMMISSION CHAIR, LES MILLER
you for the testing,” Comm. Miller said.
“Also please be patient with us. Since we opened up the free testing, our lines have been bombarded – just keep trying, and don’t get angry. Try several times throughout the day,” he said.
City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who is also a member of the EPG, stated, “Our community here in Tampa has done an incredi- ble job of flattening the curve. But now, we need more folks to get tested. One of the greatest challenges with CVOVID-19 is that you can be asysmptomatic and pass along the virus to a vul- nerable neighbor, family member, co-worker or friend. The more tests per- formed, the better we will be able to understand the extent
MR. AND MRS. JEFFERY (YOLANDA) AMOS
of COVID-19 in our commu- nity as we slowly reopen.”
Couple Without Symp- toms Get Tested
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey (Yolanda) Amos had no symptoms of the virus, but wanted to be tested.
“I wanted to go through the process myself so that I
could share with our staff and the residents what it’s like and encourage them to get tested,” Mrs. Amos, Manager of Tampa Park Apartments said.
Mr. and Mrs. Amos went to the Lee Davis Center testing site on Friday, April 24th, after previously mak- ing an appointment (8 a. m.). The wait in line was longer than it took to get tested, Mrs. Amos shared. The first set of testers get your identification, date of birth, email address and phone number.
“The staff there was very professional, well suited and never touched us. The only people in your car should be those getting tested. With us, one tester came on each side of the car, swabbed our noses anditwasover.Itisabitun- comfortable, but is not painful,” she said.
Mr. and Mrs. Amos re- ceived their results via email a couple of days after testing, and both were negative.
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