Palm Beach County is the third-largest county in the state of Florida with more than one million residents. However, the county ranked last among Florida’s seven largest metropolitan areas for testing the Coronavirus, as of March 25th, according to the Palm Beach Post.
To ramp up testing, two drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites have opened. These sites are at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach and the South County Civic Center in Delray Beach.
Both of the sites are by appointment only. The FITTEAM Ballpark phone number is 561-642-1000. The Delray Beach site phone number is 561-804-0250. When you call, a staff member will screen you over the phone, asking if you have any symptoms, have you been in contact with anyone who has the virus or if you have been traveling recently. If you meet these requirements, you will then be given a time for your test.
When you are tested, results may take five days or more. A provider will get in contact with each patient by phone and deliver the test results, whether they are positive or negative.
The Delray Beach site and FITTEAM Ballpark is open on Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. To call and make an appointment, phone lines are open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
As of April 7th, Palm Beach County had 1,000 cases and 64 deaths. This is the most deaths a county has in the state. With increased testing, the number of cases in the county is going to increase. However, this will be a good way of knowing just how widespread the virus is and who it is infecting.
If cases continue to rise in large numbers, the South Florida Fairgrounds is being converted to a field hospital. As of right now, however, the field hospital is not needed but it is available in case the number of cases overwhelms county hospitals. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, states that only forty-three percent of hospital beds statewide and forty-nine percent of beds in Palm Beach County are empty.
The most common symptoms of the virus include a fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some people have also experienced runny noses, sore throats, and nasal congestion. These symptoms are usually mild and occur gradually. If you have any of these symptoms, getting tested at one of these sites is a great way to know if you have the Coronavirus.
