Coronavirus: Florida testing varies widely, often by income

Coronavirus: Florida testing varies widely, often by income

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200407/coronavirus-florida-testing-varies-widely-often-by-income?fbclid=IwAR3IQb3mAPNjbp6hwFxTDYdWBwc8nf1IdpUcLtSzA8VPLufpeRcpqU7dsOU

It’s unclear how much of the disparities are driven by the unequal distribution of test kits versus decisions at the local level. Individual doctors and health systems apply their own judgments about whom to test, and the state chooses how to allocate requests for supplies county by county.

Counties differ in how much their residents travel outside the state, a factor that can increase the likelihood the virus is carried home.

Emergency managers said they see one systemic reason for shortages in some communities: When ordering test supplies from the state for health care providers, counties with the highest case counts are the ones most likely to get additional test kits.