Finally, some good news about COVID-19!

In the words of local reporters with Fox 4, who shared the exciting update with Southwest Floridians late Wednesday night, “Weeks after creating an online petition, workers in Immokalee are finally getting COVID-19 testing”! Here is the local report:

Indeed, this past week has seen more progress in the fight against the coronavirus in Immokalee – and planted the seeds for much more progress to come – than the entire month that preceded it. Today’s post is a chance to share the very latest news from the front in the fight to protect the health of tens of thousands of Florida’s frontline essential workers; to celebrate the initial advances that have been made; and to look at what the future may hold for a community that has lived on the farthest margins of our country’s health care system for far too long. 

Let’s start with Wednesday’s news from the state and local agencies charged with spearheading the public response to the coronavirus crisis. In addition to the announcement during Gov. DeSantis’s Wednesday press conference (embedded at the top of this post), here was the news from a local Collier County press release dated Wednesday, 4/29:

After a month during which fewer than 200 tests were taken in Immokalee, our call for comprehensive testing has been answered! And most importantly, the approach to testing has changed...

Also, tonight from 5-7p ET, we’re teaming up with hip-hop artist and longtime CIW ally Olmeca to host a virtual concert in honor of the essential workers who feed us all featuring, Nancy Sanchez, Son Solidario, the Peace Poets and more. We’ll be live streaming on CIW's Facebook and YouTube page. Join us!