BRADENTON – Governor Ron DeSantis says Florida is ready to fully enter Phase 1 of his plan to reopen the sunshine state. With the Florida Department of Health only reporting 405 new positive coronavirus cases as of Friday, the state is seeing a 2.12% positivity rate.
But until now the homeless have not been deemed to have critical needs for testing meaning a portion of the Suncoast most under-resourced residents may be infected with the deadly disease and not know it.
“This was being done for our population which in general doesn’t have access to transportation,” said Adell Erozer. “This population doesn’t have the ability to get tested in a car.”
Erozer, Turning Points Executive Director, refers to the homeless population in Manatee County. She says the counties department of health chose their location on Wednesday to be the first site on the Suncoast to exclusively offer testing for those living on the streets.
Erozer says because they were given a last-minute notice she realized just how much goes into providing safe place for individuals to get tested.
“This testing which is really quite complicated to make sure you have all the safety features and everything in line,” she said. “So we’re really looking at the one that we just had as a pilot program.”
Erozer says due to a low number of volunteers and staff they had to rely on the Manatee County Department of Health to administer these tests. But thanks in part by the support of local elected officials Turning Points could be the first of many testing locations just for the homeless.
“It is very evident to me that the utilization of the services by those with financial challenges had increased,” said Florida Senator Bill Galvano.
Galvano has made Manatee County his home and says every resident of the community should be given the resources they need to stay safe amid the pandemic regardless of their housing status.
“A lot of folks who may need medical attention or may not know that they are infected are part of our community like any other group,” said Florida Senator Bill Galvano.
A 2019 survey shows 541 people identified as being homeless in Manatee County. Erozer says they plan on scheduling another walk-up testing site for those in need.
SNN will update you with more information regarding the next testing date for Turning Points.
