Long lines at CenturyLink COVID-19 test site regardless of appointment

People have been experiencing long lines at Nomi Health’s drive-thru COVID-19 test site at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Lee County. Some people say they have waited hours for testing.

The drive-thru site at CenturyLink is supposed to handle both drivers with appointments and those who just decide to show up.

So far, people say there’s no real advantage to making an appointment, and that’s not OK for people in the appointment line.

“It’s moving not so fast, but it is moving,” Anne Fleury said, as she waited in line for a COVID-19 test.

Mardyesseus Dickey made an appointment and said it was easy.

“I would just go online and fill out information, name, address, insurance information, and we’ll just go from there,” Dickey said.

But when he got here, he had to wait like everyone else.

“I’m kind of disappointed,” Dickey said. “They’re just taking too long.”

In 45 minutes, Dickey moved maybe 10 car lengths, so he gave up and left, but said he’d try to return.

Manuel Popoca also showed up without an appointment and told us he’s glad he stuck it out because he needed it.

“It’s a really long line, just need it, so can’t complain,” Popoca said.

When people with appointments started to call the newsroom, we called Nomi Health. It says it’s working on plan to make things better.

We will explain some of the measures Nomi Health plans to implement to make lines run smoother at its test site on WINK News at 5 p.m. with updates online.