Where can I get a COVID-19 test in South Florida without having to make an appointment?
As Florida sees staggering numbers of newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus — the state’s health department reported 9,194 new cases and 132 new deaths on Tuesday, the highest number of fatalities reported in a single day — and as Miami-Dade public hospitals fill, it’s understandable that people feel an urgency to get tested.
Here are several sites where you can get a COVID-19 test without having to make an appointment and you don’t need a doctor’s order. As in most places, expect a long line so bring water for hydration and food if necessary to tide you over.
Miami-Dade
▪ Hard Rock Stadium, East Parking Lot, 347 Don Shula Dr.
The site is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily.
You have to be 18 or older and don’t need to be exhibiting symptoms.
You can live in Miami-Dade, Broward or Monroe counties and be tested here.
The site is drive-up and will provide 750 tests per day at no charge. Up to five people in a car can be tested, but you each need to be seated next to a working window that rolls all the way up and down.
The site also does free antibody testing — 150 per day.
▪ Miami Beach Convention Center, 17th Street and Convention Center Drive.
Enter at 17th Street and Convention Center Drive. Stay in you car with the windows up and put your photo ID on the dashboard. Everyone inside the car has to be wearing a face covering, display a photo ID and be seated next to a working window. There is a maximum of five tests per vehicle.
The site is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
The site also offers antibody tests to anyone 18 and older.
▪ Miami Beach, 21st Street and Collins Avenue parking lot.
The site is open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.
You can walk up and you have to have a face mask. The site will administer 400 tests daily for those 18 and older. You do not have to have COVID-19 symptoms.
▪ West Perrine Health Center, 18255 Homestead Ave.
The site is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
No car is required, but you do have to wear a face mask.
▪ Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd.
The site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for those 18 and older, and you don’t have to have symptoms. Wear a mask. The details: The COVID testing site is located in the first level of the Nordstrom garage. Park in the garage and walk to the testing tent where a nurse will register you. Then return to your car and wait for a text to go back to the tent for testing. The site is currently testing 250 customers per day. Results are available in 48-72 hours.
▪ Loren Roberts Park, 627 NW Sixth Ave., Florida City.
This site is open 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Preference is to those who feel they have had contact with someone who has COVID-19 or if you have symptoms. All ages.
For a list of all Miami-Dade sites and information on homebound testing visit the county website at www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/testing-locations.page
Broward
▪ Vernon E. Hargray Youth Enrichment Center, 7000 Miramar Pkwy.
The site is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Only 200 tests will be administered per day on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone can get tested, and you don’t have to be symptomatic.
▪ Mitchell Moore Park, 901 NW 10th St., Pompano Beach.
This site is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday through Wednesday. No car is required, but wear facial covering.
▪ Mullins Park, 10150 NW 29th St., Coral Springs.
This site is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
▪ Sawgrass Mills Mall, 12801 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise.
This site is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily for those 18 and older with photo ID.
▪ Tamarac Recreational Center, 7531 N. University Dr.
This site is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday but only until July 31.
▪ Sunrise Sportsplex, 9101 NW 50th St., Sunrise.
This site is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, but only through July 18.
This site is operated by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County. No appointment necessary.
For a list of all Broward sites and homebound testing information visit the county’s site at www.broward.org/CoronaVirus/Pages/Collection-Sites.aspx.
Monroe County
For a list of testing sites in the Florida Keys visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/1176/Testing-Hospitals-Private-Care-Physician. Most appear to require appointments.
Palm Beach County
▪ Quest Diagnostics at Home Depot, 9820 Glades Rd., Boca Raton.
This drive-up site is open in a tent in the parking lot from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily or until the tests run out for the day.
For a list of testing sites in Palm Beach County visit http://discover.pbcgov.org/coronavirus/pages/testing-sites.aspx.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
