Drive-Thru Testing Site For Coronavirus Opens In Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, FL — One of the first drive-thru testing centers for the new coronavirus opened in Florida Monday amid long lines and more than 3,000 phone calls.

"It's exciting and scary too," Yolette Bonnet, chief executive officer of FoundCare, Inc. confided as the first day of testing wrapped up in her organization's parking lot at 2330 South Congress Avenue.

The tests were administered by doctors and nurses wearing protective clothing in a white pop-up tent similar to those found at green markets.

"We're a small, little non-for-profit, federally qualified health center," Bonnet shared. "We are not a big major player by any means. We just wanted to make a difference."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed Monday he expects to see large-scale, drive-thru testing sites throughout the state. in the near future. He also announced a public-private partnership between Memorial Healthcare in hard-hit Broward County with the National Guard helping to set up a mobile testing unit.

The governor said he has also gotten commitments from Hard Rock Stadium near Miami, TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville and the Orange County Convention Center near Orlando to operate drive-thru testing facilities in the parking lots of those facilities

"As the federal government sends resources for that, we’re ready to receive it, ready to work with them on both the state and local level," DeSantis said. "We hope that they are able to do that and do that very quickly."

The demand for the drive-thru tests far outstripped supply at FoundCare as a steady stream of cars stretched around the parking lot and into the street.

While Bonnet expects more test kits to arrive, her drive-thru can only accommodate people who make prior arrangements.

The results are sent to one of the three Florida Department of Health laboratories in Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville or to a commercial lab through Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp

Bonnet said FoundCare has had to prioritize who gets the test.

"We are giving first responders who are at risk — who have traveled, or people 65 and above — if they have certain symptoms," she said. "Some people are just showing up, so we had to get the assistance of police officers to manage the traffic."

While her organization only planned to perform 15 tests Monday, it completed more than 50 by the end of the day.

"It's one of those things that we're glad we did it. But, at the same time, we're feeling like 'Oh my God we wish we could do more.'"

She said it takes about two to three days to get the test results back.

A number of patients were referred to FoundCare by health officials, private providers and other agencies in Palm Beach County.

The testing went much faster than expected.

"We said maybe 15 minutes per test," Bonnet estimated. "They were doing three people in 15 minutes."

FoundCare plans to offer the tests on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but hours may change based on need or supplies.

To see if you are eligible for a test, call 561.967.0365 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you meet any of the following criteria:

• Someone who has been in close contact with confirmed COVID-19 case
• Fever or cough
• Shortness of breath
• International travel in the last 14 days with or without symptoms
• Cruise travel within the last 14 days with or without symptoms
• Airline travel in the last 14 days with or without symptoms
• Attendance at a group gathering where an outbreak for COVID-19 is under investigation, with or without symptoms.

Patients who are eligible for testing at FoundCare will be given a patient code and appointment prior to the day of the test.

"No one will be tested without a prior appointment," the organization stressed. "While the patient remains in their car, patients will need to provide proper identification and contact information, including a valid phone number."

Patients are told to self-quarantine until the test results come back. While FoundCare performs the tests for free, the laboratories that analyze the results may provide a bill for their services.

FoundCare had to cancel its annual fundraiser later this month as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Bonnet encouraged people to call the Florida Department of Health for general information about COVID-19 at 866-779-6121.

"The major challenge we're having right now is our phone system," she told Patch. "We don't have the capacity to handle these calls. Right now, we're over 3,000 calls that we have to respond to and screen those people."

For more information about FoundCare, visit www.foundcare.org. To make a testing appointment, call 561.967.0365 for a patient code.