Coronavirus Updates Public Health

Demand up for COVID-19 testing at Orlando International Airport

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  • Central Florida Division Corporate Communications
| Estimated read time: 2 minutes

— ORLANDO, Fla., June 17, 2021 – AdventHealth Centra Care is now performing about 150 COVID-19 tests each day at its testing site at Orlando International Airport and typically turns up two or three positive cases each week. This month saw increased hours and number of days testing is offered at the airport, the latest sign of more travel to and from one of the globe’s leading destinations.

Dr. Tim Hendrix, senior medical director for AdventHealth Centra Care, advised travelers to do their research on the type of COVID-19 test required by their destination and to make a reservation for the rapid test offered at the Centra Care-run airport site in advance.

“We’re now open seven days a week to accommodate demand,” Hendrix said at today’s AdventHealth Morning Briefing.

Federal and local policies prohibit COVID-positive travelers from boarding their flights, even if they are asymptomatic. AdventHealth works with partners at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and the state health department to help them make arrangements for a new flight or other accommodations.

The low rate of positive cases is a sign the pandemic continues to trend in the right direction, Hendrix said, noting that positives at the airport were as high as one or more a day when testing started.

“The overall trend is downward,” Hendrix said, noting that the vaccines are working.

The CDC has issued separate travel guidelines for fully vaccinated vs. unvaccinated people.

“Because the vaccine is so effective, most countries are confident those vaccinated travelers are not going to be bringing the virus in to their countries,” he said, though many require a negative test.

He advised travelers to research the requirements of their destination and allow plenty of time at the airport and schedule COVID-19 tests for the day before travel. Test reservations can be made at mcocovidtests.com.

We encourage you to refer to the video by downloading it here on Vimeo or on the Life at AdventHealth Central Florida Facebook page to pull direct quotes from Hendrix.