Cuomo unveils first drive-thru coronavirus testing facility

New York mobile testing site

New York state has activated a drive-thru testing facility for COVID-19 in New Rochelle in Westchester County. You must have an appointment to get tested.

NEW YORK - NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo has opened the state's first drive-through COVID-19 mobile testing center in New Rochelle, one of the hardest-hit areas of the coronavirus outbreak.

The facility located in Glen Island Park has six lanes for cars and can handle 500 people per day. All tests require prior authorization and an appointment.

"This is the New York model. It was designed for this location," said Cuomo. Results would be available in 24-48 hours.

Speaking to reporters, Cuomo said the federal government should hand over testing for COVID-19 to the states due to delays in receiving results.

"The problem has been there are no labs to do the tests," said Cuomo.

People drive up to large tents to have swabs taken by medical workers in protective gear. The samples are then sent to a lab and results are expected in 24 hours.

There are 148 confirmed coronavirus cases in Westchester County, the most of any community in the state. A one-mile containment zone was in effect in New Rochelle to prevent the spread of the virus.

The drive-thru is near the 1-mile "containment zone" that was set up around the epicenter of the outbreak in suburban Westchester County.