5/14/2020

State-Supported Community-Based Testing Sites to Temporarily Close Due to a Low-Pressure System

~The low-pressure system could produce wind gusts up to 40 mph~

Today, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) announced that 10 state-supported drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites and four state-supported walk-up COVID-19 testing sites will be closed on Friday, May 15, and will reopen on Monday, May 18, due to a low-pressure system expected to impact the state this weekend.

A low-pressure system currently near the Florida Keys is anticipated to move northward offshore of Florida’s East Coast and could produce wind gusts up to 40 mph, lightning and the potential for severe thunderstorms with heavy rain. These conditions may begin during the overnight hours on Friday, May 15, and are not expected to dissipate until the early hours of Sunday, May 17.

Drive-thru testing sites closing:

• Brevard Eastern Florida State College – Palm Bay Campus (Brevard County)
• CB Smith Park (Broward County)
• Broward War Memorial (Broward County)
• Amelia Earhart Park (Miami-Dade County)
• Hard Rock Stadium (Miami-Dade County)
• Marlins Stadium (Miami-Dade County)
• Miami Beach Convention Center (Miami-Dade County)
• FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches (Palm Beach County)
• South County Civic Center in Delray Beach (Palm Beach County)
• Volusia University High School (Volusia University High School)

Walk-up testing sites closing:

• Mitchell Moore Park (Broward County)
• Urban League (Broward County)
• Holy Family Catholic Church (Miami-Dade County)
• Lakeside Hospital (Palm Beach County)

These sites will be closed on Friday to allow staff to safely breakdown equipment, and will remain closed through Sunday to allow staff to set up the sites after the conditions have passed. Testing will resume for normal hours on Monday.

Testing at all other locations will continue for normal hours. For more information, and a complete list of state-supported COVID-19 testing sites, please visit https://floridadisaster.org/covid19/testing-sites/.

The safety of Floridians is a top priority of the state. Residents along Florida’s east coast are encouraged to monitor potential weather changes, have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and have a disaster plan in place. For more information on how to develop a severe weather plan, please visit https://floridadisaster.org/planprepare/.