Race to get tested for COVID-19 creates chaotic scenes at some urgent cares

The urgent care center called American Family Care, opened its doors at 8 a.m. and some people started lining up as early as 6:30 a.m.

News 12 Staff

Apr 2, 2020, 4:28 PM

Updated 1,728 days ago

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The race to get tested for COVID-19 has created chaotic scenes at some urgent cares across Long Island.

The urgent care facility in West Islip is one of only three on Long Island that is administering that rapid test for COVID-19, which get results in as little as 12 minutes.

However, the demand for that test was so high that they were no longer seeing patients as early as 10 a.m.
The urgent care center called American Family Care, opened its doors at 8 a.m. and some people started lining up as early as 6:30 a.m. In pictures, lines could be seen stretched down the block.
A couple of hours after opening, the center, as well as the other two American Family Care centers on Long Island, located in East Meadow and Farmingdale had already run out of open spots for the day.
Each facility services around 150 people each day.
Some people who think they may have COVID-19 have still been showing up, many of them wearing masks and gloves, disappointed that they can't get a test today.
"I'm not too thrilled about it. I'm 63, I have diabetes. I came down with a cough and I have one lung. So I'm in a prime category to get checked," says Rich Sagendorf, of East Islip.
Staff members say the facility and the other two American Family Care centers will be taking new patients at 8 a.m. Friday.
They recommend that people show up a couple of hours early to get a spot in line.