BOCA RATON, Fla. — A state lawmaker's request for a coronavirus testing site in Boca Raton has finally become a reality.
Earlier this month, State Rep. Emily Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, made a plea to the Palm Beach County Commission, voicing her frustration about a lack of testing in southern Palm Beach County.
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A new COVID-19 drive-through testing site opened Thursday on the north end of the Florida Atlantic University campus at the FAU Tech Runway located at 901 NW 35th St. Residents seeking testing should enter the site from Spanish River Boulevard.
Boca Raton city councilman Andy Thomson said older Boca Raton residents now have easier access to testing.
"The South County Civic Center had a strict requirement for who could get tested," said Thomson. "We need to better understand where the infectious are."
Testing at the Boca Raton site will occur from 8 a.m. until noon Tuesday through Saturday.
Linda Hollenberg Chandler came Thursday with her husband to get tested.
She said they just want to be sure they are not infected.
“I called the (testing site) on Jog and they said, ‘Do you have any symptoms?’ and said, ‘No,’ so I couldn't go, and my husband saw (the FAU site) today on his phone,” said Chandler.
Slosberg said as the county progresses in reopening, accurate testing numbers will become more important.
“This fills a hole in Palm Beach County that is necessary,” said Slosberg.
The FAU site tested 86 people on Thursday and has another 80 appointments scheduled for Friday.
Appointments are required for testing, but a doctor’s referral is not needed.
To make an appointment, call 1-800-209-7919 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Testing is available to anyone over the age of 12, with or without COVID-19 symptoms.
Identification is required with name, date of birth and photo, and patients are advised to wear a face covering.
“The phased plan to reopen puts testing front and center as Palm Beach County’s best defense against waves of COVID-19 outbreaks. As we move into the next phase of response, more testing sites will mean that we will be better able to understand where this virus is, who has it, and to make sure we isolate cases," said Slosberg in a written statement.
Reporter Miranda Christian will have a full report on the new testing site on NewsChannel 5 at 5.
Story updated to reflect the testing site opened Thursday.