July 10, 2020 Region 5 Office of Public Health updates mobile COVID-19 testing sites for July 13 to July 17

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jul 10, 2020 - Listed below are the updated dates and locations of mobile COVID-19 testing sites in the region that includes Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis 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 8 a.m. to approximately noon Mondays through Fridays.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Testing Dates and Sites

Dates and locations are listed below for next week’s test sites by parish.

ALLEN PARISH: WEEK 7

BEAUREGARD PARISH: WEEK 7

CALCASIEU PARISH: WEEK 7

CAMERON PARISH: WEEK 7

JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH: WEEK 7

Test site details

• The sites are staffed by members of LANG and are open for a period of five days per week: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to approximately noon
• Testing is for open for any Louisiana resident 16 years of age and older. LANG-operated sites require valid Louisiana identification. However, other testing sites may not require ID.
• 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.

Save the number 877-766-2130 in your phone

• Anyone who receives a call from 877-766-2130 is urged to answer, as the call is from a contact tracer who will keep an individual's information private. Personal information is used to quickly identify anyone a COVID-positive individual may have been in close contact with to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. 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.
• If a resource need is identified through the contact tracing interview, the case is flagged for follow-up from a resource coordinator social worker who can connect individuals with resources including medication, masks, food assistance and even help locating alternative housing.
• 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.