COVID testing, monoclonal sites closing across Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WPEC) — Citing a lack of federal funding, COVID testing sites and monoclonal antibody treatment sites are closing across the state.

CDR Health, the company that operates several monoclonal therapy sites in Florida, announced Thursday all clinics except for its Tallahassee location will be closing at the end of the day.

"Unfortunately, without renewed funding, providing free mass monoclonal antibody treatment options to the public is not possible," CDR Health CEO Tina Vidal-Duart said in a news release.

These closures come after COVID testing sites closed across the state earlier this month, also due to an end in federal funding.

Palm Beach County Mayor Robert Weinroth said federal funding has been "exhausted" and all county testing facilities had to close last weekend. People seeking tests can find them at retail pharmacy locations.

Earlier this month, the White House warned that without Congress continuing to fund COVID response efforts, the federal government's ability to purchase booster shots, doses of monoclonal antibodies, COVID tests, and variant specific vaccines would be compromised.

CBS12 News asked Congresswoman Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, about the lapse in funding, and if the community will be able to respond should a new wave of infections arise.

“According to Palm Beach County health officials there are currently adequate options for getting tested in Palm Beach County," said Rep. Frankel. "With that said, while we have made great strides to overcome the coronavirus pandemic, additional resources are needed to manage the virus at home and around the world. That is still a priority on Democrat's agenda."