DAY 2: Bergen County Coronavirus Testing Center At Capacity Minutes After Opening

People who had driven hours from across the state or returned after being turned away on Friday were sent home from Bergen County's coronavirus testing site minutes after it opened Saturday.

The testing center at BCC turned cars away after just 15 minutes of opening Saturday, its second day of operation.
Photo Credit: *Cecilia Levine*

Cecilia Levine

03/21/2020 10:30 a.m.

UPDATE: Murphy Signs Executive Order Closing All Non-Essential Businesses, Urges Residents To Stay Home

The state's first government-operated coronavirus testing center at Bergen Community College was at capacity around 8:15 a.m. on its second day of operation -- with nearly eight hours left until the set closing time.

The site reportedly closed on Friday after administering 630 tests, although officials said it would be equipped to handle 2,500. On Saturday, there were only 350 remaining, NorthJersey.com reports.

"Come back tomorrow," officers said on megaphones. "There are more tests."

On Friday, the Paramus Road site closed after just four hours of being open. One Daily Voice reader said he waited in line for more than four hours to be tested.

There were more than 800 presumed positive cases in the state as of Friday including 11 fatalities, one a man in his 30s.

The second government-run testing site in New Jersey is expected to open Monday in Holmdel.

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