Coronavirus drive-through testing centers will open in Miami and the Keys
A new drive-thru COVID-19 testing center has opened in South Florida.
Community Health of South Florida began testing patients Wednesday at its Doris Ison Health Center, 10300 SW 216th St.
Doris Ison is the nonprofit’s largest health center and has served South Florida for more than 45 years, including urgent care and primary care, according to its website. The federally qualified health center has 11 health centers and 35 school-based health centers.
By the week of March 23, the nonprofit says it expects to have another drive-through testing site at its Marathon Health Center, 2805 Overseas Hwy, in the Florida Keys.
Community Health says testing will occur Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. On Wednesday, the Cutler Bay health center ran out of testing kits about 45 minutes before closing but will have more available Thursday, according to Miami New Times.
To be eligible for the test, patients must have recently traveled to any of the affected countries or have been in contact with someone who has the novel coronavirus. They must also be experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath. The nonprofit is asking those with severe symptoms to visit a hospital ER instead.
Those who meet the testing criteria are asked to call the nonprofit first at 305-252-4820 to schedule an appointment.
Other drive-thru sites in South Florida
Foundcare, a federally qualified healthcare center, has a drive-thru site in West Palm Beach. But the nonprofit had to stop accepting new visitors two days after opening because of high demand and a shortage of supplies.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state is also working to open its first mobile test station in Miramar to help bring more testing to Broward County, which has the most confirmed positive cases of the novel coronavirus in the state.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 8:07 AM.
