NEW ROCHELLE – A drive-thru coronavirus testing facility, which the governor called the first of its kind on the east coast, opened this morning in New Rochelle to start testing people for COVID-19.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that testing at the site, which was being set up at Glen Island Park on the Long Island Sound Shore, will be done by appointment only.

New Rochelle residents — particularly those who have been quarantined — will be tested first, though all Westchester County residents will be eligible to make an appointment.

Special consideration will be given to people from vulnerable populations: the elderly, those with respiratory issues and those with compromised immune systems, Cuomo said.

Appointments can be made by calling 888-364-3065.

"It's prioritized for New Rochelle," Cuomo said. "Open to all Westchester residents, but prioritized for New Rochelle."

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The opening of the drive-thru facility comes as the city of New Rochelle continues to deal with one of the country's biggest novel coronavirus clusters.

As of Thursday, New York had 328 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 148 of those in Westchester County.

Cuomo said the drive-thru process is designed to test quickly and limit exposure by preventing potentially positive patients from walking through hospitals and medical facilities.

Those being tested will pull up in one of six lanes, where they will be greeted by medical personnel who will take swabs and send them to BioReference Laboratories for testing.

The whole process takes about 15 minutes, Cuomo said.

The drive-thru was opened after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted New York permission to authorize 28 private labs to begin testing, a move designed to significantly increase the state's ability to identify positive coronavirus cases.

The state is working with BioReference Laboratories in hopes of running 5,000 more tests per day, in addition to what the state has already been doing. That additional testing capacity will take effect next week.

The New Rochelle drive-thru will be able to handle about 200 cars per day with hopes of increasing capacity to 500, Cuomo said.

Cuomo traveled to the facility to mark its opening this morning.

"It’s not only faster and easier, it’s also smarter and safer because you’re not exposing people to someone who may be a positive," Cuomo said. "Up until now, you walk into a hospital.”

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said today that people must contact their doctor first before making an appointment to be tested at Glen Island Park.

"Very important for people to understand," he said. "They can't simply show up at a testing center."

By 9 a.m. several drivers were lined up before the bridge to get onto Glen Island.

The park was closed on Thursday as authorities prepared to open the site, which is being run by Northwell Health. Glen Island Harbour Club, located on the island, remains open for business, Westchester County officials said.

The testing facility is the state's latest step to try to identify and limit the spread of the coronavirus in Westchester, as well as assist those who are under quarantine.

On Thursday members of the National Guard arrived in Westchester, including New Rochelle, to help authorities distribute food and handle logistics in the fight against coronavirus.

A containment area, encompassing a circle with a one-mile radius around Young Israel of New Rochelle — a synagogue where dozens of members have tested positive — has been set up in the city to limit large gatherings and keep students away from school buildings.

In New Rochelle on Friday, Cuomo said he doesn't anticipate New York's coronavirus to be a short-term event.

"I think this could be a six, seven, eight, nine month affair watching the trajectory of the virus," Cuomo said.

Matt Spillane covers breaking news throughout the Lower Hudson Valley. Click here for his latest stories. Follow him on Twitter @MattSpillane. Check out our latest subscription offers here.