What to Know
- One site opened at the Miami-Dade Fairgrounds to anyone who is 18 years of age and older who is showing symptoms
- A second site is opening at the Central Broward Park and Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill by appointment only
- Governor Ron DeSantis said he expects about a million doses of the drug called hydroxychloroquine to come to the state
Two new drive-thru testing sites opened Wednesday in South Florida in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
One site opened at the Miami-Dade Fairgrounds to anyone who is 18 years of age and older and is showing symptoms of COVID-19.
“This new site will test 300 people a day and go a long way to help people get the medical care they need," Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Wednesday.
The testing site is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. To be able to get tested, you must call ahead to make an appointment. The number to call to make an appointment is 305-499-8767.
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The center is a collaboration between Miami-Dade County and the FIU College of Medicine.
“Many people still believe, unfortunately, that this is a fallacy," said State Rep. Daniel Perez, whose district includes the testing site. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a fallacy."
A second site is opening in Broward County in Lauderhill for those experiencing symptoms. The testing is held at the Central Broward Park and Broward County Stadium by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 954-320-5730.
The locations join other sites throughout both counties, including a location in Hialeah as well as ones at Marlins Park in Little Havana, Charles Hadley Park in Liberty City and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. In Broward County, locations have been opened in Weston and at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines.
The new sites open as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he expects about a million doses of the drug called hydroxychloroquine to come to the state and be distributed to hospitals.
The drug has been promoted by the Trump administration and the White House Coronavirus Task Force as a possible treatment. The drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating patients suffering from malaria and lupus, but not COVID-19 at this time.
Some locations, including Broward Health, say they are already giving the drug to their patients.
