New Duval County COVID testing sites stay busy with 3rd opening Wednesday

Jacksonville — Last week, the Jacksonville City Council voted unanimously to approve $4 million in emergency funding to open new COVID-19 testing sites. Two are up and running, with one opening on Wednesday and two more on Thursday.

Telescope Health opened its testing sight in Neptune Beach at the former Kmart parking lot on Monday for drive-thru testing from 7 a.m to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Only the Rapid Antigen test is being used for patients who present symptoms for five days or less. No vaccinations will be administered. Pre-online registration is required.

Due to inclement weather on Monday and the site reaching its capacity by 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Telescope Health closed down its testing doors early each day.

According to Telescope Medical Director and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Matthew Thompson, the community is responding in droves - with families waiting up to several hours in their cars. While he encourages everyone to get tested, he strongly urges that only those patients exhibiting symptoms for five days or less do so as testing too early can yield a false negative result.

Thompson says that although his site is not providing vaccinations, his message remains clear, “we must be careful and vigilant.”

“Go get vaccinated,” he said. “Vaccinations save lives. They reduce the severity of the illnesses and save lives.”

Thompson also warns against believing information found on social media.

“Talk to your doctor about vaccinations,” he said. “Look for truth and not misinformation.”

Thompson said that next week the site will also offer PCR testing, a method he describes as the gold standard for asymptomatic patients or patients who have presented symptoms for an extended period of time.

The Clanzel T. Brown Community Center, run by Agape Family Health, opened on Monday with testing running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vaccinations are also offered seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Appointments are not required.

The Lane Wiley Senior Center, also an Agape Health affiliate, will open on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vaccinations are also offered seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Appointments are not required.

The Emmett Reed Community Center and the Cuba Hunter Community Center will open on Thursday. Vaccinations are also offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.