Saira Anwer, Reporter
Amanda Batchelor, Managing Editor
Published: April 7, 2020, 12:48 pm
Tags: coronavirus, Miami-Dade County, Community Health of South Florida
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New free coronavirus testing sites open in Miami-Dade County
No appointment needed, but certain criteria must be met
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – Two new free coronavirus testing sites are opening this week in southern Miami-Dade County.
Community Health of South Florida launched a COVID-19 testing site at Loren Roberts Park in Florida City that will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Starting Monday, CHI will also conduct drive-through tests at its Martin Luther King Jr./Clinica Campesina Health Center at 810 W. Mowry Drive in Homestead. Tests will be available at that location on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"The deep south is normally forgotten about when times of crisis hit," state Rep. Kionne McGhee said Tuesday at the Florida City site. "But throughout this particular crisis this pandemic we've been able to muster our strength and collective effort in bringing about a testing site here in Florida City."
While tests are free and no appointment is necessary at CHI testing locations, patients must meet the following criteria to be tested:
They have recently traveled to any of the high-risk countries or have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Or they are experiencing the following symptoms: fever, cough or shortness of breath.
The CHI Marathon Health Center at 2805 Overseas Highway in Marathon will conduct COVID-19 testing every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. by appointment only.
Patients going to that location must be a resident of Monroe County and meet testing criteria.
To make an appointment call 305-216-2107 or email KeysCovid19@chisouthfl.org.
Tuesday is the last day for COVID-19 testing at the Doris Ison Health Center at 10300 SW 216th St.
According to a CHI news release, testing at the Doris Ison location will stop due to the new testing location down the street at the South Dade Government Center.
"I am so proud of our teams, they are giving their all to make sure that people have access to this critical test," said Brodes H. Hartley Jr., President and CEO of CHI. "We have done so at no cost to those in need and ensured that our testing is for everyone, regardless of age or profession."
According to CHI's news release, they also have integrated behavioral health staff into its COVID-19 testing operations. The team of therapists and mental health technicians are available to help ease patients' anxiety and stress related to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We can't wait for the federal government to come here and save us," McGhee said. "We can't wait for the state government to come in and save us."
Saira Anwer
Saira Anwer joined the Local 10 News team in July 2018. Saira is two-time Emmy-nominated reporter and comes to South Florida from Madison, Wisconsin, where she was working as a reporter and anchor.
Amanda Batchelor
Amanda Batchelor is the managing editor for Local10.com.