Some walked several blocks while others drove and parked nearby, waiting up to two hours Saturday to get tested for the coronavirus at two new walk-up testing sites in Broward County.
The sites, in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, were set up to serve communities where residents might not have access to cars to get tested at drive-up sites, making them an important step in fighting the virus in predominantly African American communities.
Robert Carter, 80, used a walker to get from his home of 60 years to the Urban League of Broward County parking lot at 560 NW 27th Ave., where he sat in a wheelchair and waited.
“Oh boy, did I?” he said, on leaving about 10:45 a.m. “I had to wait a long time. I’ve been here since about 8:20 [a.m.].”
The wait was only five minutes for 58-year-old Tim Sullivan, of Plantation, because he called ahead and made an appointment.
“About a month ago, I really believe I may have had the virus because I had the cough, I had the fever for a couple of days and muscle aches, but then I seemed to get over it,” he said. “I just wanted to check now to see if I have the antibodies or make sure I’m not asymptomatic.”
The tented testing area was scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until the 200 testing kits ran out. Some of those waiting in line were given bottled water.
“We absolutely need this now,” said Germaine Smith-Baugh, president and CEO of the Broward Urban League.
African Americans make up about 16% of Florida’s population but 20% of its coronavirus deaths.
“It is an unfortunate and painful fact that this coronavirus is killing African Americans at a greater rate than any other group across the nation,” Smith-Baugh said. “We do not want Florida to reflect the nation in this way. … This virus is no respecter of age, race, ethnicity, income or geography. It does not discriminate.”
More than 100,000 people in South Florida have been tested for the new coronavirus so far, with the percentage of infections exceeding the statewide average, state data released Saturday shows.
A total of 248,412 people have been swabbed across the state since the outbreak began, with 10.2%, or 25,269 people, having positive results.
In hard-hit Miami-Dade County, the epicenter for COVID-19 in Florida, 17% of people tested have been diagnosed with the disease. In actual numbers, that’s 8,966 people, the Florida Department of Health reported.
With 2.7 million people, Miami-Dade has the highest population of all 67 counties in the state, according to the most recent census data.
Positive tests stand at 13.5%, or 2,125 cases, in Palm Beach County, and 11.9%, or 3,833 cases, in Broward.
Compared to Fort Lauderdale, the lines for walk-up testing were shorter Saturday and the testing process quicker at Mitchell Moore Park at 901 N.W. 10th St. in Pompano Beach.
Novelette James-Steele, 44, drove from North Lauderdale because she heard about the long wait in Fort Lauderdale.
“There’s not many people here so it’s good and quick,” she said. “About 15 minutes really.”
Steele got tested because a friend of hers died from COVID-19.
“I know someone who had it so that’s why I decided to come and get tested,” she said.
Jocelyn Pierre, 49, got tested with his wife, Irmine Dorima, 51, at Mitchell Moore Park because his uncle is in the hospital with the virus.
“We were exposed,” he said. “That’s why we came to check.”
People were told they would get a phone call with their test results within three to five days.
No doctor referral was needed at the walk-up testing sites, but those tested were supposed to have symptoms of the virus or exposure to someone who was infected. Appointments could be made in advance by calling 954-412-7300.
Several people at the walk-up sites said they had no symptoms of the virus. They just wanted to be tested as a precaution.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4303 or Twitter @WayneRoustan