Free walk-up COVID-19 testing is back in Key West. You need an appointment

Community Health of South Florida Inc. will again offer free walk-up testing in Key West, by appointment only, for the novel coranavirus.

The testing is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 and June 6 outside the Frederick Douglass Gym, 111 Olivia St.

Those who want to be tested must be residents of Monroe County and have identification. CHI requires people call first, 305-252-4820, or email them at KeysCovid19@chisouthfl.org to set an appointment.

They must also meet some of the following criteria:

• Recently traveled to any of the high-risk countries
• Been in contact with someone who has COVID-19
• Experiencing the following symptoms: fever, cough or shortness of breath

CHI offered free walk-up testing on May 11 at the same site in Key West’s Bahama Village neighborhood, where it is planning to create a health clinic nearby the testing site.

Unlike May 11, the upcoming testing is by appointment only.

“With our first COVID-19 testing a couple weeks ago we saw a demand for more,” said Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. president and CEO of CHI. “We are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to healthcare when and where they need it.”

In addition to Key West, CHI offers drive-through testing by appointment only in Marathon every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 2805 Overseas Highway for Monroe County residents with ID only.

Anyone wanting to be tested should contact CHI ahead of time at the same number and email address above.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Keys have 107 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and four deaths.

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 1:31 PM.

Gwen Filosa

Miami Herald

Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from Indiana University.