March 19, 2020 – Under the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida National Guard (FLNG) soldiers and airmen, with the collaboration of Memorial Healthcare System, state, county and local agencies, will open a COVID-19 drive-thru Community Based Testing Site. The site will open at 9 a.m. Friday at C.B. Smith Park, 900 N Flamingo Rd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 with only the main gate available for entrance into the park. The site will continue testing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a daily basis.
The test site is drive-thru only, and it’s not equipped to take pedestrians, bikers or other types of traffic because the test will be provided only through the window of a car. If the person does not meet the criteria, they will be directed to the exit.
Combat medics with the FLNG will be administrating the specimen collection. Memorial physicians and medical technicians will be on site to support combat medics.
WHO CAN GET TESTED (Screening): The test will be provided only to those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and meet the following criteria:
First responders
First Responders who are symptomatic: policemen, firemen, medical staff and essential staff that support the management agencies working toward keeping the citizens of Florida safe and informed. (Must bring ID)
People aged 65 or older, with COVID-19 symptoms and chronic conditions (Must bring ID)
Individuals who meet the testing criteria: symptomatic, have travelled international cruise or air or from an affected geographic area, or immune compromised with symptoms (Must bring ID)
If the person does not meet the criteria, they will be directed to the exit
PARK LOGISTICS:
People who meet the criteria and need to be tested should enter the park via the intersection of Flamingo Road and Johnson Street, and they will be routed through the park to the screening station.
The test site is drive-thru only not equipped to assist pedestrians, bikers and will not be allowed to enter. You must be in a vehicle. It’s recommended that you have enough fuel for expected delay of up to 2 hours.
Nurses, wearing personal protective equipment, will screen through prospective patients
If the person meets the above criteria, the nurse will provide a placard in the windshield for the patient to continue to the testing tents.
AT THE TESTING STATION:
Once the patient arrives to the testing area, a medic wearing a Tyvek suit will collect a sample with the swab of the nostril. Another service member will be responsible for scribing the information from the patient’s placard to the bio-hazard bag, and another will be responsible for collecting the sample and placing it in the bag.
RESULTS:
After the sample is in the bio-hazard bag, it will be refrigerated until it is shipped to a vendor for examination. Within three to four days, Memorial Healthcare System will notify patients of the results. The Florida Department of Health will follow up with instructions to patients with positive results.
MEDIA STAGING: Old Petco location: 12251 Pines Blvd NE corner of Flamingo Road and Pines Blvd.
The establishment of the drive-thru operation comes just days after the request from Governor Ron DeSantis. The testing operation is a multiagency effort and includes support from: Broward County Parks and Recreation, Broward Emergency Management, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida Department of Health, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida National Guard, Memorial Healthcare System, Pembroke Pines Police Department, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue and Quest Diagnostics.
