CLEARWATER -- Millions of rapid COVID-19 tests are on the way to Florida, at a rate of 400,000 per week.
Governor Ron DeSantis told a news conference at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater Tuesday that they'll be distributed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management to senior centers, long-term care facilities, and schools.
DeSantis says he's giving senior facilities first crack at the test kits because that group is the most vulnerable to COVID, The governor says they could allow people who are more vulnerable to "enjoy life to the fullest," as well as identifying infection in congregate living facilities.
The quick tests take about 15 minutes and require that the testers be nurses. But Governor DeSantis says he'll seek a waiver on that rule.
In all, DeSantis said Florida would receive 6.4 million rapid test kits under the federal government’s plan to provide more than 150 million kits across the nation.
Information from the News Service of Florida was used in this report.
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