1st walk-up testing site in Miami-Dade opens Monday

North Miami location will have capability to test 150 people for COVID-19 per day

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – A new coronavirus testing site that opened Monday in North Miami is the first in Miami-Dade County that won’t be drive-through, but don’t walk up if you don’t have an appointment.

The site also isn’t open to everyone. You must have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

“My co-worker that I ride with said that she was in the hospital with the COVID virus, and I need to get checked,” said Nancy Gamble, who was at the site Monday. “I called yesterday for an appointment and I got it right away.”

Gable said the process was easy, and that it took “like ten minutes.”

The walk-up testing site, at Holy Family Catholic Church on 14500 NE 11th Avenue, can test 150 people per day and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We expect to have over 30 or 40 soldiers at any given time providing support to the county, including swabbers and other logistical support, to make this facility run efficiently and smoothly,” Maj. Jesse Manzano, of the Florida Army National Guard, said.

The call center opens daily at 9 a.m. and remains open until all appointment slots for the next day are filled. Appointments can be made up to three days in advance.

The number to call is (305) 499-8767.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez talked about the new site during his COVID-19 update on Sunday.

The Florida National Guard and the Florida Department of Health are partnering with the county for the site. Miami-Dade County wants to add more walk-up testing sites in the near future for residents who do not have cars or a way to get to many of the other locations.

ALSO SEE: Find other testing locations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.