A warmer Thursday start with stray showers this afternoonFTC issues refunds of over $5M to Ring customers; are you eligible?
Credit: WINK News. On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health in Lee County announced that its COVID-19 testing sites will now operate appointment-only. FDOH-Lee, Lee County and Nomi Health have decided to update procedures at the county’s two COVID-19 testing locations. To meet the soaring demand for COVID-19 tests, both of Lee County’s testing sites will now only accept appointments and no walk-ins. Some Lee County residents say they’ve witnessed firsthand the demand increase for testing. Giancarlo Padilla says he’s tired of the long lines. “I think it’s ridiculous how we have to wait this long just to get tested, it makes you wonder what progress have you really made the past two years,” Padilla said. The health department hopes its change will cut down on those long wait times. Tracey and Rocko Pirozzi live in Fort Myers. “I think that’s great you know hopefully then we don’t have to wait so long, it’s not fun with the cars wizzing around, but it’s all good,” they said. Beginning on Thursday, December 30, the COVID-19 testing site located at CenturyLink Sports complex will be operating appointment only. Hours for this testing site are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On New Years Day, the site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Monday, January 3, 2022, the testing site located at FDOH-Lee along Michigan Ave will begin its appointment-only operations. Testing site hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but the site will be closed on December 30 and 31 and on January 1. Marli Miller is from Oregon and thinks the appointment system should help. “I think if people can get appointments, that would probably help a lot,” said Miller. Padilla isn’t convinced. “I don’t think it’s going to change. They’re still going to have the same amount of people needing a test, regardless if it’s an appointment or not. It’ll just make it more manageable but you’re going to have a lot less people getting tested every day,” he said. Everyone can agree that more COVID-19 testing is better for everyone. “The more people that get tested, the better we feel,” said the Pirozzis. To book an appointment at either COVID-19 testing site, you can go to Nomi Health’s website.