Orlando's black neighborhoods need a coronavirus testing site

Even though data overwhelmingly shows black people are being disproportionally infected and killed by coronavirus, there are no testing sites in west Orlando, near Orlando’s historically African American communities.

As of Wednesday morning, there were 2 testing sites in Orlando. One is at the Orange County Convention Center on International Drive, and another is in east Orange County. The University of Central Florida is preparing to open a testing center at its main campus in east Orange County.

Convention center testing site

Asked how people without cars who live in Parramore, Holden Heights and other black neighborhoods near downtown Orlando are supposed to get to those testing sites, Kent Donohue, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Health told 32805OrlNews.com: “They can take public transportation or have a friend drive them.”

Additionally, Walgreens drug store representatives said that they would soon be offering coronavirus tests on their locations. There are no Walgreens in Parramore, West Lakes, Washington Shores, Ivey Lane, Richmond Heights and many other black neighborhoods in Orlando.

The lack of testing in the black community will be discussed Friday at 1:30 p.m. during a virtual town hall meeting. Please plan to attend by clicking here.

Ironically, the main office for the state Health Department in Orlando is on West Church Street in Parramore. Coronavirus tests are not being conducted at that location.

Among the reasons why the coronavirus is ravaging black communities throughout the nation is because those neighborhoods are underserved by local health systems and are financially segregated. 

There are few stores offering fresh fruit and vegetables in those communities and that contributes to high rates for diabetes, asthma, hypertension and other chronic illnesses. The Parramore community has two extremely polluted Super Fund sites and the area is deeply infected with pollution in the ground and the air.

The health department spokesman said he didn’t know if there were any plans to bring testing to the Parramore area.

Earlier this week on MSNBC, Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, president of Howard University and a medical doctor, said testing for coronavirus in black communities needs to be a priority to end the pandemic in this country.

If you want coronavirus testing in Orlando’s black communities, please click here.