Florida is privatizing state-run Covid testing sites
The article, “Florida is privatizing state-run Covid testing sites, starting with Broward County” authored by Ben Conarck and Daniel Chang and published in the Miami Herald (2020), discusses the issues of privatization of the government Covid centers. The reason for privatization is to try and reduce the costs of operations involved in the running of the sites. The sites had been busy during the mass testing peak, but since testing has subdued, the state finds it wise to get a vendor to conduct the testing. The sites are expected to be resized across the country, but the government has picked Florida and especially Broward County to be the starting point. In the future, the government will see to run other privately run sites across the country, depending on whether the infections have gone down. The government will ensure that there is the provision of equipment and space for such work.
One of the companies contracted to undertake the testing is Quest Laboratories, which has been deemed unable to offer services to the government because of the waning tests across the county. Although the company has had issues of delaying results to the government in a more efficient manner, it will get the contract. The other vendor to get the contract is CDR Maguire, who has already received nearly $86million since mass testing started in March. The company had majorly being involved in the supply of protective equipment and body bags for the government. The whole issue of privatization is to ensure that the minimum numbers of people are tested per day. By so doing, the Division of Emergency Management is taking care of any eventuality that may occur in case the cases start increasing.
Implementing privatizing the sites brings with it resistance from some of the leadership from the area that sees it not viable to reduce costs as the pandemic is still within the people. One of the leaders who were against the business is State Rep. Shevrin Jones of Broward County. The State Rep deduces that the pandemic is still a serious threat to the US populations and as such, cases may start surging when the government makes such a decision. The view of the State Rep contracts that of Moskowitz, where he thinks that the amounts paid to the many contractors of mass testing will not be sustainable.
The issue of privatizing Covid testing sites brings a lot of prudence to my person in such a way that I appreciate the government for caring about the tax burden of paying more money to cater to less testing. The excess will be channeled into a proper care system for the patients who are already affected by the virus in the community. Also, the funds will be channeled to other platforms, such as supporting failing businesses. The article presented by the authors is neutral as it ensures that the needs of the citizens are observed while saving them from high taxes to cater for the treatment of Covid. In the future, there will be a set code of conducting mass testing that will be supported by a framework of rules of engagement in that the government will have to know when to exit the scene of mass testing and give way to private firms. There will be a laid out framework on how to share the responsibilities of testing for the viruses.
Work cited
Cork and Chang. Florida is privatizing state-run COVID testing sites, starting with Broward County (2020). Retrieved from https://www.miamiherald.com/article245498980.html