New rapid COVID-19 testing technology being put to use in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A new rapid COVID-19 test available in Orange County is shrinking the average wait time for results from two days to 20 minutes.

The tests are so rare that Orange County is the first health department in the country to use them.

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Right now, the county only has enough of the tests to test 1,000 people, so staff said they will use them in what they believe to be the most important situations to stop the spread of the virus in the community, such as a nursing home or a homeless camp.

The technology, which requires a few circular swaps in each nostril, comes to the county thanks to an $80,000 donation from NBA Cares.

Click here to learn more about the technology and see a demonstration of how it works in the video above.

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