Miami-Dade Giving Out At-Home COVID Rapid Test Kits At Public Libraries
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade County officials are giving out free take-home rapid test kits in an effort to meet the rise in demand for testing.
"As we tackle the spread of Omicron and the recent surge in demand for COVID testing, Miami-Dade County is doing everything we can to make testing as accessible as possible across our community – including by distributing free take-home rapid test kits to residents," said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in a statement last week.
The county held its first distribution at five library locations on Friday.
On Monday, hundreds flocked to 27 public libraries where the kits were being handed out.
"There were a hundred cars lined up. They opened early, around 8:15, they did us a favor," said James Smith who waited in line at North Dade regional library in Miami Gardens.
The line was equally as long at the Westchester library where people waited for hours to get their kits.
"Just to get the kits to have at home. We've been traveling and are planning to travel so we wanted to have them at home," said Claudia Cordo.
The sites where the kits are being handed out are:
- Allapattah Branch
1799 NW 35 Street - Arcola Lakes Branch
8240 NW 7 Avenue - California Club Branch
700 Ives Dairy Road - Coconut Grove Branch
2875 McFarlane Road - Concord Branch
3882 SW 112 Avenue - Coral Reef Branch
9211 SW 152 Street - Country Walk Branch
15433 SW 137 Avenue - Edison Center Branch
531 NW 62 Street - Fairlawn Branch
6376 SW 8 Street - Golden Glades Branch
100 NE 166 Street - Hialeah Gardens Branch
13451 NW 107 Avenue - Hispanic Branch Library
1398 SW 1 Street - International Mall Branch
10315 NW 12 Street
Doral - Kendale Lakes Branch
15205 SW 88 Street - Main Library
101 West Flagler Street - Miami Beach Regional Library
227 22nd Street - Miami Lakes Branch
6699 Windmill Gate Road - Naranja Branch
14850 SW 280 Street - North Dade Regional Library
2455 NW 183 Street - North Shore Branch
7501 Collins Avenue - Northeast Dade - Aventura Branch
2930 Aventura Boulevard - Palm Springs North Branch
17601 NW 78 Avenue - South Dade Regional
10750 SW 211 Street - South Miami Branch
6000 Sunset Drive - Westchester Regional Library
9445 Coral Way - West Flagler Branch
5050 West Flagler Street - West Kendall Regional Library
10201 Hammocks Boulevard
There is a limit of up to three tests per household while supplies last.
Facial coverings are required at county facilities. Instructions on how to do the test will be provided at each location.
For those wanting to go to a test site, there will be changes for the upcoming holiday weekend.
On New Year's Eve, all Miami-Dade sites have regular hours except South Dade Government Center and Tropical Park, which close at 7 p.m.
On New Year's Day, the open sites are: Tropical Park, South Dade Government Center, Miami Dade College North Campus, and PortMiami.
In Broward, all test sites are closed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
For a list of COVID testing sites across South Florida, click here.
The surge in demand for testing comes as the omicron variant spreads throughout the state. The latest COVID surge is also being felt on the high seas as cruise ships return to PortMiami and Port Everglades.
Carnival Cruise Line said a small number of passengers and crew on the Carnival Freedom tested positive. The ship departed Miami on December 18. After delays during the stop in Curacao on December 21, the scheduled stops on December 22 in Bonaire and Dec. 23 in Aruba were canceled.
"We were delayed in Curaçao with no explanation. They just kept saying it was logistics and operations. And then the next day we arrived in Bonaire, and again, no explanation, just that we were waiting to get off the ship, and then we didn't find out till later on, that they weren't allowing us off. So we had to leave Bonaire immediately. Then they announced later on that day that Aruba was canceling on us as well," said Suzanne Sneddon who was on the ship.
Carnival Freedom returned to Miami on Sunday, December 26.
There were also outbreaks reported on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas this month.
