No crowds were visible.  Instead, sensible numbers of people stood in short lines, six feet apart, and were promptly moved out of the line and into a station.

Those being tested were organized into four locations/stations, identified by the colors green, blue, and red, and the park. Once at their stations, individuals were led through four stations.  The first is the informed consent, a very deliberate conversation with a UF doctor, assuring them and the person to be tested that they know and consent to this specific testing regimen.  Second is the nasal swab which tests for the disease, COVID-10.  The third is the blood draw which looks for antibodies.  The last is a questionnaire.  A UF person asks the questions and logs the verbal answers into a computer.  The process is then complete.

Dr. Bev Ringenberg an Vice Mayor Sue Colson coordinated the registration and the flow of people in Cedar Key.

Coordinating the UF testing is Andrew S. Kane, MS, PhD, UF Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, and the Director of Aquatic Pathology Laboratory at the Emerging Pathogens Institute.  Dr. Kane is a decade-long friend of Cedar Key, working with aquaculture leaders on seafood safety in the Gulf of Mexico after the Deep Water Horizon event, “behavioral toxicology of fish, effects of legacy pesticides on farm workers, endocrine disruption, sustainable resource restoration and community-based science to support Apalachicola Bay, and the health and safety of Gulf seafood workers.” 

While working on the University of Florida’s COVID-19 pandemic study, Dr. Kane, so familiar with Cedar Key, saw the opportunity to add Cedar Key to the larger study.  Hence, Cedar Key’s testing today.  Perfectly positioned with Cedar Key for ten years, Dr. Kane coordinated the testing.

Working with Dr. Kane and leading the team of some 80 UF professionals, are Dr. Glenn Morris and Dr. Mike Lauzardo. 

Dr. Morris is the Director of the Emerging Pathogens Institute, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), College of Medicine. 

Dr. Mike Lauzardo is  Chief and Assistant Professor,  College of Medicine, Department, in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine.

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