Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa to begin local testing for coronavirus

The federal government on Saturday cleared county health departments in Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa to begin coronavirus testing locally, Florida Department of Health Deputy Secretary Shamarial Roberson told POLITICO.

Roberson said she expected the local testing to shave days off the response time. Previously, Florida was shipping tests to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

"We expect to receive results of the tests within 24 to 48 hours," Roberson said Saturday. "Previously, it was three to five days."

Health department staff are testing in these counties using two out of three components of a kit they received from the CDC last week, Roberson said. On Saturday, the CDC gave them permission to use the kits.

Roberson said she didn't know whether anyone has been tested yet in the local facilities. She called attention to how the more convenient process comes amid broadened criteria to qualify for testing.

Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday announced during a press conference with President Donald Trump that travel warnings increased to the highest level for certain parts of South Korea, and Italy due to coronavirus risk. The Trump administration is also expanding travel restrictions to include any foreign national who has visited Iran within the last 14 days.

Anyone traveling from these countries who shows symptoms like a cough, fever or shortness of breath or anyone with these symptoms who has had contact with a person with coronavirus or anyone who has a severe problem with their lungs, who has been hospitalized and who does not have the flu or other diseases, now qualifies for testing, Roberson said.