Lines for testing sites see rise along with surge in COVID-19 cases

As the surge in coronavirus cases continues, the number of people waiting in line to get tested is also seeing a rise. In Southwest Florida, 50,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began

A medical expert we spoke to says she thinks fear and anxiety are reasons why test sites are overloaded. She also says, with rapid testing more available and more free testing sites, it’s easier now.

Lorene Donato who works in a medical office isn’t surprised to see testing on the rise. She says people are scared because of the symptoms.

“I have a cough, or my throat hurts, ‘Oh, my God, I have COVID,’” Donato explained some common fears.

But Donato said she’s seen less COVID-19 patients lately and more with other problems.

“There’s a lot of anxiety and depression,” Donato said.

Some people we spoke to are among the large crowd waiting for testing amid an uptick in cases.

”Someone at my job tested positive, so they shut down my job,” Vanessa Clabero said.

Clabero was patiently waiting outside a urgent care in Fort Myers when we spoke to her. She, of course, was hoping her results came back negative. She and many others testing for COVID-19 have clinics busy.

“Walgreens, CVS. Like, everywhere tests now,” Clabero said. “I think we should have quarantined a little longer in the beginning of the year.”

Even with high numbers across the state, some people feel they can still go about their time in a safe manner.

”I’m out pretty much every night doing something,” Dave Mallisor said. “And as long as I protect myself, I’m not too concerned about it.”

Most we talked to are positive about the future.

“I think that things are going to be decreasing,” Clabero said. “I think the anxiety is going to drop.”

”There’s a vaccine around the corner,” Mallisor said.