Center for Covid Control was missing business tax receipts at Edison Mall, Cape Coral locations

Reporter: Michael Hudak Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
FILE: Outside of a Center for Covid Control test site in Southwest Florida (Credit: WINK News)

There is new information stemming from a WINK News investigation into the Center for Covid Control. WINK News confirmed the company never got a business tax receipt to operate its Edison Mall location.

The City of Fort Myers slapped an official notice on its building, warning the company and its employees that it cannot open until it has one.

A missing business tax receipt at the Edison Mall testing location raised the question; did the Center for Covid Control operate in Bonita Springs and Cape Coral without its paperwork in order?

WINK News could not get anyone in the Bonita Springs government to talk about the business tax receipt on the phone or over email. A public records request has been filed.

A business owner in the same plaza where the Center for Covid Control did testing in Cape Coral showed WINK News a zoning compliance sheet, which we then got from the city.

On the third bar down was the question, “Do you currently have a local business tax receipt?” The box that is checked says no.

That same business owner also said the Department of Health sent an investigator to talk with her.

WINK News tried to confirm that visit with the Department of Health but has not heard back.

WINK News also contacted the attorney general’s office to determine if it might be investigating. On Tuesday, the Florida attorney general said she is not investigating the Center for Covid Control but is monitoring the federal investigation.

On Monday, WINK News learned that the FBI raided the company’s Illinois headquarters. An FBI spokesperson would not say why.

Following WINK New’s reporting, the landlord of the Bonita and Cape Coral locations said he sent a notice to the people running the Cape Coral site, warning them they were not complying with city rules.

He sent that notice one day after WINK New’s original report on Jan. 10.

By Saturday, Jan. 15, the Cape Coral site appeared to be closed for good.

The Edison Mall and Bonita Springs locations also appear to be closed for good.

WINK News has reached out to the Center for Covid Control but has not heard back.

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