Florence coronavirus test site busy as Thanksgiving approaches

Serving 150 to 250 people a day

County jail.

Local clincs report a surge in demand for covid tests... right now - one coronavirus testing facility in the shoals is processing more than 200 rapid tests!

Med-plus in florence stopped testing 2 hours ago so they can get everyone their results by the end of the day.

The clinic says demand for rapid testing is extremely high this week.

Waay 31's breken terry learned how they're keeping up with demand.

The line at this med plus in florence went down the street at some points in the day.

Employees here tell me it's picked up even more over the past few weeks.

Now they say it's like they're in overdrive - testing 150 to 250 people a day.

Ray- it's sky rocketed here locally but we have people coming from all around we test a lot in the surrounding states even we have a lot from tennessee and mississippi that come here as well.

Med plus' nurse practicioner brandi ray said hundreds of people are getting in line for their coronavirus testing site.

Ray- they're actually wrapped around what is jc penny and regency square mall.

There are probably a good 70 people from start to finish right now.

I will tell you we tested 205 people within six hours yesterday.

And ray said in the last week more people tested here - are testing positive.

She said as of tuesday - their test positivity rate is at 30 to 40%.

Ray- the symptoms of course there are so many and they range from people thinking that they've just got allergies to a loss of smell and taste and some who say oh its not that bad to shortness of breath and even four or five people that's had stroke like symptoms. it's just really odd.

Ray believes many want to get tested before thanksgiving - but if you do that, she still wants you to be cautious before you spend time around others.

Ray- if you know absolutely that you've been in close contact and that means closer than 6 feet for 15 minutes you should be cautious.

Even though you might have gotten a negative test be aware there is shedding prior to an actual positive test.

Look live tag: ray said if you have symptoms - the rapid test is pretty accurate.

But she siad they can do double testing too - which includes the pcr test.

That test takes longer to process but it can detect an infection earlier.

In flo bt waay31.

Med plus will be open tomorrow in flo bt waay31.

Med plus will be open tomorrow from 7 to 11.

It's unclear how long they will test tomorrow