Drive-Through Testing For COVID-19 Set For UAHT Campus April 3rd

By Staff, 03/27/20 8:13 PM

Hempstead County will open a temporary drive-through testing site for county residents on Friday April 3rd from 10am until 4pm to test for COVID-19 (Corona Virus) in collaboration with NS Genomics Lab of Little Rock.  The temporary testing site will be located at the UAHT campus on highway 29 south in Hope.  Limited testing will be conducted at the sit for individuals who meet one of these testing criteria.  The symptoms include acute onset of fever/chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or lower respiratory symptoms.  Also testing will be conducted for people who may have had exposure risks including close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is suspected of having it (in quarantine or testing in progress), have traveled to a country where COVID-19 is endemic (this includes all of Europe, South Korea, China, Italy, or Iran), or had exposure in a community or facility where there is ongoing, widespread transmission.  This could include a dorm, day care, school, institution, or other community setting.

All patents must bring a valid I.D. and their health insurance card.  There will be no out-of-pocket expense for testing.  All tests will be allocated to those who meet this criteria.  Members of the community who do not meet the criteria will not be tested at the temporary testing site.  There is no way to accept private pay so to use this testing site you must have health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare.   Those who get the tests should have their results in 48 hours.

Individuals who qualify for testing will be required to remain in their vehicles from the moment they enter the testing site until they leave the property.  There could be a potential wait time in the testing line so personal needs such as bathrooms, food, and drinks will have to be taken care of before arriving.

Other members of the public who are not experiencing symptoms and have not been exposed should take protective measures to prevent the spread of the disease.  These measures include social distancing measures, and everyday precautions such as frequent hand washing as well as avoiding contact with sick people.