JACKSONVILLE, FLa. — There’s a new COVID-19 testing site here in Jacksonville, and it’s on four wheels.
An Action News Jax investigation reveals it might not be reaching as many people as it could.
QUICK LINKS: How to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in the Jacksonville area
Curative, a Los Angeles-based company with a mobile van, just started administering COVID-19 tests in the parking lot of Havana Jax.
It’s a self-administered, self-collected oral fluid swab test, where patients are first expected to cough three times then swab the inside of their cheeks and roof of their mouths.
Once that is completed, patients seal their tests in a container and return them to the van.
The van can do around 400 COVID-19 tests per day.
Today, Action News Jax saw only five people take advantage of the free testing.
One possible reason – it’s just 5.3 miles away from Regency Square Mall, which is Jacksonville’s largest and busiest COVID-19 testing site.
Regency is doing around 2,000 COVID-19 tests per day.
Curative wasn’t able to speak on Zoom or by phone call but answered questions from Action News Jax via email.
In response to why it was placed so close to Regency Square Mall, they said, “This van stationed at Havana Jax is a testing partnership.”
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As underserved communities are still in need of more testing and vaccines,
Action News Jax asked if the van would be able to move to those communities.
According to Curative, “Yes, the idea is to move the van around to underserved communities, but we still need organizations to partner with us.”
Action News Jax pressed for answers as to who pays for the mobile unit and was told the company works with the state.
Test results are available 24-48 hours after the test gets to the company labs. The van will be available until April 30.
Cox Media Group
