September 08, 2020 Southwestern Louisiana Office of Public Health COVID-19 mobile testing and necessary vaccines to aid in Hurricane Laura recovery

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sep 08, 2020 - Mobile testing for COVID-19 and vaccines for tetanus, hepatitis A and hepatitis B will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select days this week at five southwestern Louisiana sites. This endeavor is in conjunction with the Louisiana National Guard (LANG).

Residents are encouraged to take care of their health during this time of recovery. COVID-19 continues to be active in Louisiana, and now is not the time to let down your guard. Continue to take precautions: practice social distancing, wear a mask and wash your hands. If you have been exposed or have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested.

Hazardous conditions during recovery make it necessary to ensure that individuals are up to date on tetanus vaccines. The CDC recommends that everyone receive a tetanus vaccine every 10 years with a booster at 5 or more years if an individual should receive a puncture or deep wound. Additionally, hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines will be offered to those at risk.

These mobile COVID-19 testing sites will be using the laboratory eTrueNorth to conduct the tests and provide results. Pre-registration is NOT required but encouraged by going to www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com.

People must provide a telephone number and email address to be tested. An ID is NOT required. With eTrueNorth laboratory processing the tests, it is taking about 3-5 days to get results.

Test results will be provided by email notification and on the eTrueNorth portal. If someone tests positive, they will also be contacted by phone. There is no phone number to call for results. Results will only be provided by email and in the portal.

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

Test site locations and dates

Test site details

• These drive-thru sites are staffed by members of LANG and the Office of Public Health.
• COVID testing is 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.
• Vaccinations are available to individuals 16 and older.
• Once on site, those receiving vaccines or testing will need to wear a mask and stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered COVID test. LDH nurses will administer vaccinations.
• 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, test results will be available in the eTrueNorth portal and by email. Those who test positive will receive a phone call.
• 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.

For information from the Louisiana Department of Health on COVID-19, click here.