The first day of coronavirus testing at Bethany Baptist Church, a historic Black congregation in Brooklyn, New York, got off to a slow start.

Bethany Baptist is one of 11 temporary COVID-19 testing sites that opened at New York churches this week as part of a partnership between the state’s department of health and its largest health care network, Northwell Health.

An additional 13 church testing sites will open next week, according to WABC-TV in New York City.

ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images

Residents wait in line Thursday to get tested for COVID-19 antibodies at Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.

The pastor is hoping that, after seeing how successful Bethany Baptist’s testing site has been this week, state authorities will extend its dates.