As staffing and resources shift to COVID-19 vaccination, the Florida Department of Health in Citrus County (DOH-Citrus) will no longer provide COVID-19 testing at the Citrus Springs Community Center starting Monday, Jan. 18.

The last day individuals can be tested at the Citrus Springs Community Center will be Friday, Jan. 15, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. or until capacity of 150 individuals is reached.

Case investigations and contact tracing will continue and individuals who test positive will still be contacted by DOH-Citrus and provided instructions. Individuals who receive a test from DOH-Citrus or another facility are encouraged to download the Healthy Together App to receive their results electronically as soon as they become available.

"Getting vaccines out to our community is our priority right now,” said DOH-Citrus Administrator Tito Rubio. “We are taking this time as we wait for more vaccines to become available to us to put all our best resources to the forefront to get Citrus vaccinated as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible,” said Rubio. “To do this, we need to cease our testing and rely on the community partners who have stepped up to provide this service to our residents.”

While DOH-Citrus has been a major provider of COVID-19 testing in the community, there are additional sites in the county and residents are encouraged to contact each agency directly with questions about availability.

• Brashear’s Pharmacy: https://www.brashearspharmacy.com/covid/ Phone: (Inverness only) 352-637-2079
• CVS pharmacy minute clinic: https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator/covid-19-testing/citrushills-covid-7998.html Phone: 352-249-3143
• G & R Pharmacy: https://www.gandrpharmacy.com/ Phone: 352-527-3111
• Langley Health Services: https://www.langleymedicalcenter.com/  
• Quick Care Med: https://www.quickcaremed.com/ Phone: 844-797-8425
• Walgreens: https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?group=b& Phone: 1-800-925-4733

Residents are urged to be patient as vaccines are made available and to help the health department in the fight against COVID-19 by wearing a mask that covers both the mouth and nose when around others, staying at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) away from others and washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

For more information about DOH-Citrus, visit www.CitrusCountyHealth.org or follow us on Twitter at @FLHealthCitrus.