A new drive-through COVID19 testing center at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah will become the fifth location Thursday for people 65 and older who have any symptoms of the coronavirus — on top of on-demand home service for those who are homebound. And 
on Friday, all adult day care centers or clinics and medical centers that service the elderly must close.
This despite data from the Florida Department of Health that shows that more than half the positive tests in Miami-Dade have been for people between the ages of 25 and 54. Of the 2,416 cases that tested positive in the county as of Wednesday evening, the total number of positives aged 65 and up was 424. The highest number of positives was for people between 45 and 54, with 439 cases. Among those aged 25 to 34 there were 426 cases and among those aged 35 to 44 there were 399.
And Ladra suspects the majority of the middle-aged positives are first responders and healthcare workers in Miami-Dade — where there have been 11 deaths and 155 hospitalized so far — because people under 65 don’t have as easy access to testing. Yet.
In fact, the city of Miami — which has been leading the county the whole time on mitigation of the coronavirus — on Wednesday expanded it’s testing to residents 18 and over with symptoms at its drive-through at Charles Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50th St. They must call 305-960-5050 first to make an appointment. The county will have to do the same, eventually — late, as usual.
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So far, the state stats show that 18 percent of the people tested — or a whopping 9,878 — got negative results. That’s more than four times the positives. Or more than three out of every four people tested. Maybe it’s because everyone’s been testing mostly the old people, not the ones who, data shows, are more likely to have coronavirus.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez — who closed adult activities center known as comedores on March 16 — issued yet another emergency order late Tuesday that closed all adult day cares that handle the more delicate seniors with health issues and 
things like Alzheimer’s in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Live-in assisted living facilities and nursing homes are not included.
“This executive order will help ensure the health and safety of those most at risk of contracting COVID-19, including seniors and those with pre-existing health conditions, such as heart, lung and respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer,” said a statement from the county mayor’s office, adding that it goes into effect at midnight Friday, April 3.
But are people over 65 really more at risk of getting COVID19? Certainly they have a higher risk of complications from coronavirus once infected. But aren’t the people at the highest risk of being infected around 45 to 54, as the data shows?
“Staff employed at such sites may continue business operations that do not involve the delivery of personal services to the elderly population,” the statement from the mayor’s office reads. “Miami-Dade County staff have been directed to take all appropriate measures to provide services to the elderly during the duration of this order.”
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Wait a minute. What? Instead of the adult day care center staff reinventing themselves like everyone else has to in order to deliver care at home or in another way, county staff will take care of those elderly folks’ needs from now on? Why? Could it be because of the next line in the statement?
“Such measures may include the purchase of goods and services, including, but not limited to, food services, personal protective equipment, delivery services, and refrigerated vehicles, without competitive solicitation as authorize
d by the Governor’s Executive Order Number 20-52 and the existing Miami-Dade County State of Local Emergency.”
Ooohhhhh. Ladra understands now. Ka-ching. Leave it to our local governments to find a way to game the crisis.
“Our seniors will get the meals they need,” Gimenez said in his daily video message. “Any senior not already on this list for free delivery at their door, please call 311 and they’ll start getting free meals.”
He also encouraged people who work in essential businesses, which includes construction workers — remember, Gimenez is still running for Congress and he wants the Latin Builders Association’s support — to wear gloves, masks and other personal protection equipment. Which means there would be less of the scarce PPE gear for actual COVID19 nurses, right?
What is he thinking? Wait. Did any of his friends or family start one of those PPE companies popping up?
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In Hialeah, Larkin Community Hospital CEO Jack Michel is catching a lot of heat for charging $150 per test to people who wanted their results in 24 to 48 hours. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who seems to be following rather than leading, asked the attorney general to investigate after Political Cortadito wrote about the first weekend of the testing in a story in which Hialeah Councilwoman Monica Perez questioned the price and said people were caught off guard. Seems rather hypocritical of a Republican 
politician to say a healthcare provider can’t charge whatever the market will pay, but because Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez is involved it may be fishy anyway for other reasons.
Is the city providing any funding for that operation? Is the city getting any funding or reimbursement for it? Those are questions that need to be answered, particularly as rumors spread (like a virus) that the mayor’s former chief of staff, Arnie Alonso, somehow was involved in making it happen. Why was Hernandez at the press conference to announce it?
The “free” drive-through testing that starts 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Hialeah park is by appointment only and, according to a press release from Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo — who is running for county mayor — was made possible by Testing Matters (test kits), Prime Care, Solis (medical personnel), and Albert Diaz of RingLogix.
Who made these choices? Is this part of the emergency spending? Or are these people volunteering their time and trouble?
Read related: Carlos Gimenez can’t get it right on COVID19 orders, endangers us all
Testing will only be for residents 65 or older who are experiencing certain systems and call 305-COVID19 (305-268-4319) to schedule an appointment. There will be no walk-ins, no bikes, no mopeds. Cars only. Individuals being tested must be accessible vis-a-vís a working car window. Only two people allowed per vehicle: driver and passenger. Those who score an appointment need to enter Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E 65th Street, through the entrance at Palm Avenue and 65th Street. They will be swabbed at the rotunda immediately adjacent to the entrance of the park.
“Miami-Dade County has the largest number of older adult residents in Florida,” Bovo said in a statement. “Based on information 
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and those with serious underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus. As more positive cases arise, residents over 65 or older who are experiencing symptoms must be tested.”
He said he collaborated with former Sen. Rene Garcia, his likely replacement on the county commission, to open the testing site for “those most vulnerable in our community.”
“Commissioner Bovo and I are working collectively and taking proactive steps to address the concerns of our residents in regards to COVID-19” Garcia said in the statement. “We are focused on ensuring that there is access to free testing and that our community remains informed and equipped with the resources they need.”
Is it just a coincidence that the 65 and older universe is also their voter base?
Miami-Dade COVID19 focus stays on seniors as data shows younger at risk added by Ladra on
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Seniors,
With your reasoning wouldn’t DeSantis hate seniors for keeping the beaches open all over Florida and some in areas that seniors live in or he gets a free pass because he has the letter ‘ R ‘ in front of his name ?
Having said that if my call there wouldn’t be a shut down at all , suspect everyone here STRONGLY disagrees with me but I feel my question to you is a fair question .
Ladra: Watching facetime and receiving a phone call per your suggestion is much better than providing free food for seniors? I had to read it twice to make sure that is what you said. FYI, most seniors live day to day, not pay check to paycheck because the majority barely exist on social security. In addition, the age group you listed, the millennials and generation x gang, are helpless, clueless, they are the ones who are contaminated because they can’t listen to authority, i.e. stay off the beach, distance one self, all happening here in Florida during spring break from the end of February until DeSantis closed the beaches. That is why they are infected. Obviously one can’t fix stupid, and if that is their choice, they made it. Why should our government supply free food to American seniors, born here, worked all their life, but it’s ok to provide free health insurance, monthly stipends, and housing for illegals in many parts of our country. Nope, it shouldn’t be that way, that is not what our country was intended to do Long live the seniors, who made this country what it is.
My friend, I don’t hate seniors at all! In fact I love most of them! I live with my parents who are 74 and 79. I am very lucky to still have them and I know that. They are healthy and smart. And I feel for the seniors who are isolated during this time.
I think they would be better served by the meals and also human contact through FaceTime and telephone calls. How many seniors have you called during these few weeks? I’ve called a bunch. Just to see how they’re doing and talk to them a few minutes. They’re lonely.
What they are NOT is infected. Not to the degree that 25-54 year olds are, according to the data, consistently, day in and day out, which makes perfect sense. Many seniors were, fortunately or unfortunately, already isolated in normal life.
While first responders and healthcare workers — who have easier access to tests — have a high degree of contact with others and exposure, and is probably why that age group’s positives are so high.
I’m sorry if you felt insulted! You know I hope you and your husband stay safe!
Love, Ladra
You must despise seniors after reading your blog, how sad, perhaps one day real soon you will be a senior, betcha your tune changes. Anyone with a heart would and should feel for the poor seniors, unfortunately, you enjoy targeting them and use them politically. I suppose Andrew Gillum would have done better? LMAO, he is sitting, presumably, in a rehab for alcohol, we all know that is a joke but it sounds better for the dumbocrats pick. My prays to his wife and kids, they need it like the seniors throughout our country.
Ladra, the last sentence in your article took the words right out of my mouth. These politicos are so unimaginative and think that people are just as dumb as the are that we can’t see right thru their “political advertisement paid for and NOT approved by our tax dollars”. Every move this bunch makes has as an end result a political motivation to garner votes for the low turnout August elections!
The elderly unfortunately are at their mercy. Lots of them go along with what their boletera tells them because that’s their lifeline and they’re very vulnerable. Others, are just uninformed or clueless. So, it’s no wonder all the efforts are being dumped on “los viejitos” whether warranted or not.
How can we change this? Massive turnout in all elections. Until we do that, we’ll continue to be the banana republic we’ve become!
Oh and btw, I proudly sign my name to all my comments. Those commenters that hide behind “anonymous” to spew their tRump/DeSantis/Gimenez talking points dribble should be banned!
La Millie Herrera Demócrata, no la Milly de Hialeah
The Political Exposure at All This Events and Having Their Signs and TV ,Radio Interviews is ONLY for Campaign ? When are they Going to Resign Their Former Positions Or Are they Going to milk it to the End . They have been at events and Not Keeping the 6 feet Apart that they want US to maintain . Bovo been seen in a party in Hialeah true FB . Must be Looking for Support from the Boleteras ?
Every city in Miami Dade Have diffident Curfew Ours ! What a SWAMP ?
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but I can bet posters with his name/ face are all over the place Like every other county funded thing he puts on.
but it’s the follow up tracking that actually mitigates transmission.
Will he be attaching his name to that too? .
imagine getting a phone call that says ”this is Commissioner Bovo’s office informing you that you have been confirmed as in contact with a confirmed carrier. You are required to self Quarantine for 14 days
Yeah… that’s not going to get him votes
You may be correct about Gimenez’s reasons for allowing construction to continue, but construction is considered an essential service according to the Department of Homeland Security.