MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) - Paramedics have transported a man who was waiting in line at the coronavirus drive-thru testing site in the parking lot of Hard Rock Stadium.
7SkyForce HD hovered above the scene where a man could be seen getting out of his car shortly after the site in Miami Gardens opened on Tuesday morning. Moments later, medics could be seen placing a mask over his face. He is then seen climbing onto a stretcher, and he is put into an on-site ambulance.
It remains unclear why the man was transported from the scene.
Medical staff at the site continued to conduct tests after the incident.
Cellphone video from a 7News viewer showed the long line for testing at the Hard Rock Stadium parking lot stretching past the highway overpass.
Health officials advised only those who are well enough to endure what could be hours of waiting in a vehicle should get in line. Others should contact their doctor.
Those who do not meet the criteria will be turned away from the testing site.
At around 9 a.m., officials with the testing site said only 250 patients would be swabbed for the day but later said the total amount of tests conducted would actually be 750.
First responders and medical professionals were the only patients able to get swabbed on Sunday, regardless of symptom presence, but now the testing site updated their criteria to include those 65 and older who are showing symptoms.
“The beta test was to let all the healthcare workers and first responders go through,” said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
By Monday, more than 800 patients were swabbed while nearly 230 people were turned away. Between Sunday and Monday, more than 1,500 were tested.
By 1 p.m. Tuesday, 362 people were tested.
Testing shut down for the day at around 3 p.m. after either using all available COVID-19 tests or running low on other supplies.
Another testing site is expected to open in Miami-Dade County at Marlins Park on Wednesday.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said residents can set up an appointment for a test by calling 305-499-8768 beginning at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
“We have some good news, and that is more testing kits are arriving,” said Gimenez. “Miami-Dade County is working with our state and local partners to open more testing sites.”
Gimenez also announced plans for a testing study.
“In the next week or so, we expect to get 10,000 test kits that Miami-Dade County is ordering to conduct a random test study that will give us an idea of how COVID-19 is spreading in our county,” he said.
The test study will be conducted with the help of the University of Miami medical school.
The mayor also confirmed additional testing sites will likely be set up in other parts of the county.
“We’re working as rapidly as we can to get more testing sites as soon as more testing kits arrive,” he said. “We’re also looking at more testing sites in South Dade and in West Kendall.”
Testing at the Hard Rock Stadium site will resume at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The same requirement guidelines will be observed. It’s unclear how many tests will be available.
According to witnesses, the lines at the testing site were shorter in the afternoon.
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