Florida will close all of its state coronavirus testing sites Friday through Monday due to the Isaias storm system, which is expected to become a tropical storm on Wednesday.
The storm system is projected to hit the state in rain and wind over the weekend, according to WCTV, a local CBS affiliate.
“ALL sites will be closed by morning closing,” the Florida Department of Emergency Management wrote in an email to test site administrators, according to the channel, adding that sites can begin the setup process on Tuesday, by which time most of the storm should clear.
“We hope that most of the sites will be able to reopen on Wednesday, pending any damage and deadlines from providers,” the email said, according to WCTV.
Here are the key messages Wednesday at 11:00 am AST for potential tropical cyclone nine. The full forecast can be found at: https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/iQqos5Ow0b
– National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 29, 2020
Florida has become one of the virus’ biggest hot spots in recent weeks, recording a record 186 deaths on Tuesday. The state also added 9,420 cases totaling 441,977, the second-highest number in the country after California, which has reported more than 467,000. During the past two weeks, she has averaged more than 10,000 new cases per day.
The storm system, currently called Tropical Cyclone Potential Nine, is located about 105 miles south-southwest of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to NPR. At least 12 islands have announced storm or surveillance warnings about the system, which is projected to head towards the extreme south of Florida and could begin to affect the state by the end of Friday.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that it is expected to bring tropical storm force winds that extend outward to 275 miles.
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