A COVID-19 testing site will open at Hard Rock Stadium, but not everyone will be tested
The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will have a drive-thru Community Based Testing Site for COVID-19 open to the general public starting Monday.
As Miami-Dade County’s number of COVID-19 cases rise to 169, the site will open at 9 a.m. Monday in the east parking lot of the Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Drive. The testing is free and the site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a daily basis, said Juan Diasgranados, a spokesperson for the testing site.
The site officially opens on Sunday, but only first responders, such as police, corrections officers, firefighters and medical staff, will be tested. For first responders, the site will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Testing will only be available to:
▪ First responders who are or are not symptomatic. They must bring ID.
▪ People aged 65 or older with COVID-19 symptoms. They must bring ID.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest or bluish lips or face, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you are eligible, the test sit is drive-thru only and patients will not be able to leave their car. No bikes or mopeds allowed.
When someone arrives at the site, they will be screened at the entrance of the lot. After, they will either be directed to the test tent or they will be directed out of the exit of the lot if they do not meet the criteria. The test involves a swabbing of the nostril for a sample, which will be placed in a bio-hazard bag and sent to an approved testing lab at the end of the day.
Those tested will be instructed to wait 48 to 72 hours for test results, which will be given by a health representative.
The test site will be run and was created by several local, state and national agencies which include FEMA, the CDC, Florida Department of Health, Florida Army National Guard, Miami-Dade Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
On Friday, Florida’s National Guard opened a COVID-19 testing center at C.B. Smith Park, 900 N. Flamingo Road in Pembroke Pines.
Combat medics will be administering the tests, which will run every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free test will only be administered to people who fit the following criteria:
▪ First responders and healthcare staff, including police, fire-rescue, medical staff and essential staff that is supporting the management agencies during the novel coronavirus pandemic. You must show ID.
▪ People who are 65 or older with COVID-19 symptoms and have chronic conditions. You must show ID.
▪ Individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and have recently traveled internationally on a cruise or plane or have a compromised immune system. You must show ID.
This testing site is also drive-thru only.
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