October 15, 2020 Louisiana Office of Public Health opening additional COVID-19 mobile testing sites in DeRidder and Oakdale

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Oct 15, 2020 - To aid in Hurricane Delta recovery, the southwestern Louisiana Office of Public Health has added two more COVID-19 mobile test sites to its schedule for next week. Testing will be available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23 at the following health units:

• Allen Parish Health Unit: 145 Hospital Drive, Oakdale,
• Beauregard Parish Health Unit: 216 Evangeline St., DeRidder, and
• Calcasieu Parish Health Unit: 3236 Kirkman St., Lake Charles (also open Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16).

Residents are encouraged to take care of their health during this time of recovery. COVID-19 continues to be active in Louisiana as flu season is beginning, 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. 

This testing site will be using the laboratory eTrueNorth to conduct tests and provide results for the general public. 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.

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

Symptoms of COVID-19

• 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 details

• These testing sites are staffed by members of LANG.
• Testing is for open for any Louisiana resident 16 years of age and older. 
• 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, 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 is trained to help anyone who is positive or has been exposed to COVID protect themselves and their communities. Everyone called by a contact tracer is advised to watch themselves for signs of illness for 14 days from when they were exposed to COVID.

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.