Florida to close state-run coronavirus testing sites starting Friday due to potential tropical storm

Florida will shutter all its state-run coronavirus testing sites from Friday to Monday due to the storm system Isaias, which is expected to become a tropical storm Wednesday.

The storm system is projected to hammer the state with rain and wind over the weekend, according to WCTV, a local CBS affiliate.

“ALL sites will be closed at close of business tomorrow,” the Florida Department of Emergency Management wrote in an email to testing site managers, according to the channel, adding that sites can begin the process of setting back up Tuesday, by which point most of the storm should be cleared.

“We expect most sites can reopen Wednesday, pending any damage and vendor timelines,” the email said, according to WCTV.

Here are the 11 AM AST Wednesday Key Messages for Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine. The full forecast can be found at: https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/iQqos5Ow0b

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 29, 2020

Florida has become one of the biggest hot spots for the virus in recent weeks, recording a record 186 deaths Tuesday. The state also added 9,420 cases for a total of 441,977, the second-highest number in the country after California, which has reported more than 467,000. For the past two weeks it has averaged more than 10,000 new cases a day.

The storm system, currently named Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, is currently about 105 miles south-southwest of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to NPR. At least 12 islands have announced storm warnings or watches over the system, which is projected to be headed toward Florida’s southern tip and could begin to affect the state by the end of the day Friday.

The National Hurricane Center warned it is projected to bring tropical storm force winds extending outward as far as 275 miles.