Suffolk's First Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing Site Opens

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County's first drive-thru coronavirus testing site opened at Stony Brook University on Wednesday.

Rep. Lee Zeldin, a member of the Congressional bipartisan coronavirus task force, visited the site, which is free and features six lanes. The site will be open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To be tested, call New York's coronavirus hot line at 1-888-364-3065 to make an appointment.

On Tuesday, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone discussed the first Suffolk County's first drive-thru coronavirus testing unit. Residents who want to make an appointment can call now and be triaged by a nurse. Not everyone will be eligible for the test; those who call will speak with a nurse and answer questions to determine eligibility. Results could take two to three days, but may take longer, Bellone said.

Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming said the mobile testing center, which is located in Stony Brook University's Parking Lot P, opened at noon on Tuesday. "Within the first two hours, they did 100 tests," she said.

Between 800 to 1,200 tests per day can be done when fully underway, she said.

Everyone who gets seen at the mobile site must have an appointment, Fleming said, adding that while testing is ramping up, there are still stringent guidelines to be tested.

Bellone said, according to the Suffolk County Department of Health, the person being tested must have symptoms or have been within 6 feet of a person with a confirmed case for more than 10 minutes.

Countywide, 564 tests were done Tuesday and 885 Wednesday; there were 152 confirmed cases reported in Suffolk County Wednesday, up by 55, Fleming said. Of those, she said, 18 are hospitalized.

Fleming added that Bellone had emphasized the need for hospital capacity expansion Tuesday; Parish Hall in Southampton, she said, has been converted to a forward triage unit so patients do not have to be in general population in the emergency room, she said.

When asked if a drive-thru testing site would becoming closer to the East End, where Southold Town has the second highest number of cases in Suffolk County, with 33, she said she and Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski have advocated for a site further east; Krupski had suggested EPCAL as a possible location, she said.

Bellone added that while Southold numbers have been high, that may be because the first case was diagnosed in Southold, and subsequently, the individuals who came into contact with that person were all tested first. The more testing ramps up, the more positives will be seen across Suffolk County, Bellone has said.

Bellone also urged residents to sign up for Smart911, to help provide critical medical information to first responders. In addition, along with calling 311 with questions, residents can sign up for updates by texting "COVIDSUFFOLK" to 67283.