DOH offers free COVID-testing at Horizon West Middle

As Horizon West Middle pivots to the LaunchED@Home platform due to a coronavirus outbreak, the Florida Department of Health is offering free COVID-19 testing at the school for two days.

HWMS Principal Michelle Thomas told parents the DOH testing will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, and Friday, Nov. 20, at the school. Testing is only for those members of the community associated with HWMS or Windermere High. 

Priority will be given to anyone who has received quarantine letters from the DOH, and photo ID is required.

"We encourage concerned families to take advantage of this precautionary screening opportunity," Thomas said.

Orange County Public Schools previously announced that all students will move to the LaunchED@Home learning modality through Monday, Nov. 30. This was because at the time, a total of eight face-to-face positive COVID-19 cases at the school resulted in nearly 200 quarantines out of 673 face-to-face students.

For the rest of the week, students will follow their regular schedule during the day, and will be off the week of Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving break. During this time, there will be no staff or student participation in any school-related activities.