Staying Safe with Covid-19 Testing
Author: Islara Souto
With over 140 thousand COVID-19 cases reported in Florida in the first ten days of August 2021 and cases surging across the country, testing for the virus continues to be essential to prevent further spread and safeguard our health. For those with chronic conditions (like epilepsy) and their loved ones, testing is especially important. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 can quarantine and protect others from being exposed, and work with their doctor to monitor early symptoms and access necessary treatments.
60 percent of Floridians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and nearly half are fully vaccinated. Despite these trends being above the national average, Florida’s COVID-19 rate of cases is almost three times the national case average, showing that Florida is still highly vulnerable to the faster-spreading COVID Delta variant. Research shows that, although uncommon, cases of fully vaccinated individuals testing positive for Coronavirus and spreading the virus to others are in fact happening.
This context highlights the ongoing importance of testing for Floridians whether you are vaccinated or not, and more so if you or your loved ones have a chronic condition like epilepsy that creates a higher COVID-19 risk. You should get tested for COVID if you have symptoms, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or are asymptomatic and living or working in a high-risk setting that is undergoing an outbreak.
The Alliance for Comprehensive Testing (ACT) is a nationwide coalition focused on expanding access to COVID-19 testing to control the spread of COVID and keep our state’s economy and schools open. Epilepsy Alliance Florida is one of many organizations who are members of the Florida and national ACT Against COVID coalition including Bio Florida, Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, American Senior Alliance, elected officials and public health professionals.
To stay up to date on COVID testing developments or for more information on ACT, visit ActAgainstCOVID.com and follow @act_covid on Twitter.