WEST PALM BEACH — Vice Mayor Robert S. Weinroth announced the Board of County Commissioners will vote on opening a COVID-19 testing room for passengers at Palm Beach International Airport at their board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

“I plan on supporting this since it offers convenient safety measures for travelers, airport and airline employees,” said Weinroth.

“Travelers have requested these services be available, and we recognize the importance of having a testing facility onboard under these circumstances,” he added.

If approved, Palm Springs-based Helix Virtual Inc. will offer tests limited to passengers with documented travel itineraries within 72 hours of the test and airport employees, including employees of airlines and service providers.

All testing services will be provided on a voluntary basis. Results of PCR tests are anticipated to be available within approximately 24 hours of testing, and rapid test results are generally less than 30 minutes.

Helix will also be providing minor, non-emergent medical care services at the PBIA location, including telehealth medicine and wellness evaluations and screening.

When a customer is self-paying without insurance coverage, the maximum charge to the customer will be $125.00 per test.

If approved by a majority of the commission, the testing site will open next week on the east end of the second level of the terminal near Concourse C. The initial hours are planned to be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The lease agreement will generate over $4,900 per month in rental income for PBIA.