LI's First Rapid Coronavirus Testing Locations Draw Crowds

WEST ISLIP, NY — A crowd of Long Islanders congregated Thursday morning at American Family Care (AFC) Urgent Care in West Islip hoping to get a newly-available rapid coronavirus test. The facility, at 125 Sunrise Highway, is one of three locations of AFC Urgent Care offering the test on Long Island, along with East Meadow and Farmingdale.

By 9 a.m. Thursday morning a line of cars stretched at least two blocks and lines of people on foot were seen by neighbors. The first-come, first-serve tests can deliver results in as little as 15 minutes. Those seeking tests are asked to maintain six feet of distance between others in line, and to wait in the cars until it is their turn to be tested. Tests will be administered to those with symptoms but no appointment is necessary.

The rapid nasal swap test was given emergency approval by the FDA last week and AFC Urgent Car began implementing them Tuesday. Waits were reported to be as long as two hours, and results are sent by text message.

At AFC in Farmingdale, the approximately 100 available tests were all used by 8:30 a.m. Thursday, only a half hour after the urgent care opened, the managing director of AFC told PIX11 news.