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Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Parents, teachers push for rapid coronavirus testing in Florida schools

Credit: WPTV News | West Palm Beach
Duration: 01:57s 0 shares 2 views

Parents, teachers push for rapid coronavirus testing in Florida schools
Parents, teachers push for rapid coronavirus testing in Florida schools

As more cases of COVID-19 pop up in public schools around the state, a growing chorus of parents, teachers, and physicians are now pushing for more rapid testing.

PHYSICIANS ARE NOW PUSHING FORMORE RAPID TESTING.

CAPITOLREPORTER FORREST SAUNDERSTELLS US WHY THEY THINK ITCOULD HELP.MOTHER OF THREE ALISHA MCCALLIS DOING EVERYTHING SHE CAN TOKEEP HER KIDS FROM CATCHINGCOVID... (ALISHA MCCALL,TALLAHASSEE)“THE BIGGESTTHING FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THATTHEY ARE SAFE.

I CANDO THAT IF WE DONTHE INFORMATION OR TESTINGREADILY AVAILABLE” MCCALLSAYS A STATEWIDE RAPID TESTINGPROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS MIGHTBRING SOME PEACE OF MIND.SHEKNEW WITHIN MINUTES WHO DOESAND DOESN“AS A MOTHER, IT WOULD MAKE MEFEEL LIKE I HAVE ANOTHER WAYTO KEEP MY CHILDREN SAFE”CURRENTLY, INDIVIDUALDISTRICTS DECIDE HOW BEST TOTEST.

AND MOST SCHOOLS RELY ONSTANDARD PCR EXAMS& INFLORIDA, THEY USUALLY TAKE 48TO 72 HOURS FOR RESULTS.

(DR.FREDERICK SOUTHWICK,GAINESVILLE INFECTIOUS DISEASESPECIALIST)“MEANWHILE THATPERSON DIDNINFECTED AND THEYIT TO EVERYONE” (DOC1)FLORIDA DOCTORS WITH THECOMMITTEE TO PROTECT MEDICARESAY A STATEWIDE RAPID TESTINGPROGRAM COULD CUT DOWN WAITTIMES TO JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES.THEYGOVERNOR TO CONSIDER THEOPTION.

(DR. BERNARD ASHBY,MIAMI CARDIOLOGIST)“IF WEKNOW YOU HAVE THE VIRUS WE CANBREAK THE CHAIN OFTRANSMISSION BY QUARANTININGYOU IMMEDIATELY” (DOC2) RAPIDTESTING DOES HAVE DRAWBACKS.ONE OF THE BIGGEST-- THEYOFTEN NOT AS RELIABLE ASSTANDARD PCR TESTS.

BUT THEPHYSICIANS SAY THEYIMPROVEMENTS AS MORE COMPANIESINNOVATE AND CREATE NEWPRODUCTS.“WE HAVE THETECHNOLOGY TO DO RAPIDTESTING, BUT THAT HAS NOT BEENA PRIORITY FOR THEADMINISTRATION.

ITAFTERTHOUGHT.

FOR MCCALL, ITCOULD BE A WAY TO SLEEP ALITTLE EASIER AT NIGHT&KNOWING A CLEARER PICTURE OFTHE VIRUS MIGHT BE THERE INTHE MORNING.“WITH KIDS GOINGBEAK TO SCHOOL, EVERYONE IS ATRISK” FORREST THE GOVERNOROFFICE TELLS US ITNEW FIVE-DOLLAR RAPID TESTSFROM ABBOTT.

THE FEDERALGOVERNMENT HAS BOUGHT THESUPPLY AND IS PLANNING TOPROVIDE SOME TO FLORIDA.

ONCETHAT AMOUNT IS KNOWN,OFFICIALS SAY THEYDETERMINE HOW BEST TO USETHEM.THANKS FOR JOINING US THISHOUR.

THE NEWS CONTINUES ONW-P-T-V NEWSCHANNEL FIVE ATFIVE... RIGHT AFTER THE

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