NORTH MIAMI, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami-Dade County’s first walk-up COVID-19 testing location has opened in North Miami.
Testing at Holy Family Catholic Church, located at 14500 NE 11th Ave., started at 9 a.m., Monday.
Local and state leaders joined Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez at the site’s opening, which is just the third such testing site in the state.
“This is not solely a Haitian American test site, but it is geared toward focusing on and making sure that we know that the Haitian community is acknowledged and is being addressed,” said Florida State Rep. Dotie Joseph, D-Miami-Dade County.
Gimenez said this will be the first of several other walk-up locations that will open across the county.
“Miami-Dade County will be adding more walk-up sites at other locations for residents who do not have cars,” he said.
Officials said testing will be available to anyone with or without COVID-19 symptoms who believes they may have been in contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.
Authorities said this site will be open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will test 150 people each day.
Appointments are required to be tested at this location. The number to call is 305-499-8767.
Access to locations is important. Officials in Opa-Locka will drive seniors with confirmed appointments to the testing location at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah. People who are 65 or older with symptoms can get tested there.
Meanwhile at the Hard Rock Stadium testing site, one of Miami-Dade’s busiest test sites, they announced Tuesday that they have opened up their testing criteria.
“We’re able to make this test available to anybody who needs the test or wants the test,” spokesperson Mike Jachles said.
City of Miami officials have also announced that any resident over the age of 18, with or without COVID-19 symptoms, can be tested at Charles Hadley Park.
More than 350,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Florida.
“I look forward to more and more testing being available, more and more antibody testing being available,” said Gimenez. “I think it’s going to be the key to really opening up the economy.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed antibody testing opportunities on Monday.
“We’re going to have our first big shipment of antibody tests on May 1st at the state lab down in Miami, based on the Surgeon General’s estimates,” he said. “Those antibody tests will be very helpful because you have healthcare workers, and they have the antibodies, then you know that they’re at lower risk at that point for infection.”
Gimenez said fighting the coronavirus is about local and state leaders working together with residents.
“Personal responsibility is the key as we start moving toward a new normal,” he said. “By remaining vigilant and expanding testing, we’ll be able to create a healthy community where I keep you safe, you keep me safe.”
People looking to be tested at the North Miami site can schedule an appointment up to three days in advance.
For a full list of testing locations in South Florida, click here.
Anyone with questions and concerns about the coronavirus can call the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-866-779-6121.
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