June 12, 2020 Region 6 Office of Public Health updates locations and dates of mobile COVID-19 testing sites

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jun 12, 2020 - Listed below are the updated dates and locations of mobile COVID-19 testing sites in the region that includes Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes.

Mobile testing uses trucks and equipment operated by the Louisiana National Guard to bring testing kits to neighborhood locations such as schools, community centers, fire stations and other local neighborhood locations.

Test sites are open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m.

Dr. David Holcombe, the Office of Public Health regional medical director for the eight-parish region, said, “The partnership between the National Guard, the Office of Public Health and local governments has increased the ability of residents to get tested for COVID-19.

“Over the past several weeks, we have been working to make it as easy and convenient as possible for local residents to get a test,” Dr. Holcombe said.

Testing dates and sites

Dates and locations are listed below for the next two weeks of testing in each parish.

AVOYELLES PARISH, WEEK 3 - WEEK 4

CATAHOULA PARISH, WEEK 3 - WEEK 4

CONCORDIA PARISH, WEEK 3 - WEEK 4

GRANT PARISH, WEEK 3 - WEEK 4

LASALLE PARISH, WEEK 3 - WEEK 4

RAPIDES PARISH, WEEK 3 - WEEK 4

VERNON PARISH, WEEK 3 - WEEK 4

WINN PARISH, WEEK 3 - WEEK 4

Test site details

• The sites are staffed by members of the Louisiana National Guard and are open for a period of five days per week: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m.
• Testing is for open for any Louisiana resident 16 years of age and older with valid Louisiana identification.• Each testing site will be conducted as a drive-thru test site.
• Once on site, those being tested will need to wear a mask and stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. Walk-up testing is not preferred due to safety concerns, but walk-ups will not be turned away.
• The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their own nose on site while in their vehicles, observed by a trained medical volunteer to ensure the sample is taken correctly, and drop the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drive-thru site.
• Once received, the Office of Public Health will contact those who were tested to communicate their results and share any necessary information.
• While awaiting results, individuals who have been tested should follow CDC guidelines and take steps to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in their home and community.

Contact tracing underway

Dr. Holcombe added that contact tracing is also underway throughout the region. “Contact tracing can help us quickly identify and contain spread of the virus,” he added. “Everyone can help protect themselves, their families and the community by talking openly with the contact tracer if called. The call is private and your information will not be shared with other people.”

Contact tracing is crucial as Louisiana eases restrictions on businesses and activities. Contact tracing works as follows: When someone tests positive, a contact tracer will try to call everyone who came in close contact with the COVID-positive person. Everyone called by a contact tracer is advised to watch themselves for signs of illness for 14 days from when they first came in contact with the COVID-19 person.

All contact tracers will call from 877-766-2130. If someone calls from a number other than 877-766-2130, claims to be a contact tracer and asks for personal information, hang up immediately.