FDACS Announces Hendry County Farmworker COVID-19 Testing

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

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(FDACS) — Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are announcing additional COVID-19 testing sites in Hendry County for farmworkers as the fall harvest season begins. The product of a partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), and local county governments, today’s announcement follows COVID-19 testing for farmworkers that was made available earlier this month in Miami Dade, Hillsborough, and St. Lucie County.

“Ensuring farmworkers have access to COVID-19 testing is essential to their health and safety, the well-being of their families, and the security of our food supply,” stated Commissioner Nikki Fried. “FDACS is proud to work with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, UF/IFAS and local governments, like Hendry County, to provide COVID-19 testing and resources as the next harvest season takes off. We will continue working together, engaging with local governments, to provide additional COVID-19 resources based on demand and availability.” 

Background: Farmworkers will have access to numerous no-cost COVID-19 testing events in some of Florida’s top agricultural counties. Support for these tests is provided in part by FDACS, FDEM, and county governments. Testing services will continue as funding, demand, and availability allow. Commissioner Fried announced the testing partnership’s launch on October 1. Earlier this year, Fried recommended to the Governor that farmworkers be provided with COVID-19 testing to help reduce the virus’ spread among workers and in the community.

Additional Testing Sites:

Hendry County — LaBelle

  • Dates: October 24
  • Times: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Location: Barron Park, 1559 De Soto Ave., LaBelle FL 33935
  • Questions: (863) 302-6021
  • Flyer: Available for download here

Hendry County — Clewiston

  • Dates: October 28
  • Times: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Hendry County Health Department, 1100 South Olympia Ave., Clewiston, FL 33440
  • Questions: (863) 302-6021
  • Flyer: Available for download here

What to Know: Testing will be free for employers, farmworkers, and their families. Testing sites will be open for walk-up services and appointments, and mobile testing for groups may be available in certain counties. Individuals will be required to wear face masks and provide a name, date of birth, and phone number. Results will generally be available in 36 hours, and will be shared with the individual tested or someone they designate. Additional testing dates for Hendry County are forthcoming, schedules for services will be announced weekly, based on demand and availability.

Outreach Materials: A printable flyer for the testing program may be downloaded here in English, here in Spanish, and here in Creole. Additional county-specific flyers are available below. A Spanish-language radio PSA will air in the participating counties, and a Spanish-language video is available for social media.

Initial Testing Sites:

St. Lucie County

Miami-Dade County

Hillsborough County

  • Dates: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
  • Times: 5:00 to 8:00 PM
  • Location: San Jose Mission, 13524 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Dover, FL 33527
  • Questions: 727-309-8682 or 813-300-3777
  • Flyer: Available for download here

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services