NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – The Florida National Guard (FLNG) is supporting a walk-up COVID-19 testing site in North Miami in a community with a significant Haitian-Creole speaking population.
To better support the community and the local partners’ needs at this community-based testing site (CBTS), the Florida Guard’s 50th Regional Support Group assigned Soldiers who can speak Spanish and Haitian-Creole. The need for Haitian-Creole speaking Soldiers was evident during the first day of operations.
“I have had to use my language skills as a Haitian-Creole speaker at more than one community-based testing site,” said Sgt. Kevin Saint-Louis, a truck driver with the 1218th Transportation Company. “It feels good to be able to use my skills to help the local population with their needs and comfort them during this difficult time.”
“This testing site will serve members of the community that haven’t been able to get tested due to the fact that they may not be able to drive,” said Jean Monestime, Miami-Dade County commissioner. “This site wouldn't have been possible without the help of the Florida National Guard and our other partners, and we thank them for their service.”
The Florida National Guard has more than 2,800 members on duty in support of Florida’s COVID-19 response. Soldiers and Airmen are operating nine CBTS locations where more than 75,000 have been tested. Also, the Guard is deploying mobile testing teams to carry out COVID-19 testing at assisted living communities.
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