KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Family Health Center is opening a second drive-thru testing site for COVID-19 following the success of its first Kalamazoo location.
President and CEO Denise Crawford hosted a Facebook livestream on Wednesday where she announced a second testing location would open up this week.
The drive-thru clinic will take place at the Loy Norrix High School parking lot on Thursday, April 23rd from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An additional testing site will be held on Thursday, April 30 at the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The KRESA is located at 1819 East Milham Ave., Portage. Citizens looking to be tested must call 269-488-0804 to pre-register.
Crawford says that those interested in getting tested will first have to call the center and provide information in order to register for the test. Callers will be asked brief and standard demographic information and about their health insurance in order to move forward.
“This is truly a service and a resource for all of Kalamazoo County and it is available to anyone in the county who is appropriate and meets the screening criteria,” said Crawford. “We at the Family Health Center clearly want to ensure that our community is safe, and we simply want to provide the service.”
Individuals approved for testing will be directed to the site, where they will be able to get a nasal swab done by a physician and medical staff while remaining in their vehicle. Crawford says the whole process from entering to test completion is averaging 10 to 12 minutes.
The first location to offer drive-thru testing was at Stones Church on West Paterson Street in Kalamazoo on Friday, April 17th. Around 120 people were registered to be testing during the first round.
The total number of people able to be tested in one day is between 200 and 300, with lab samples sent to a processing facility in Grand Rapids. Patients going through the testing process can expect to receive test results within 24 to 48 hours.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has expanded testing criteria so that even those with moderate symptoms can be eligible to seek testing for the illness. The department is also allowing all essential workers that come into direct contact with the public to be eligible for testing regardless of symptoms.
Crawford says it’s important for anyone with mild flu-like symptoms to seek testing if they appear.
Anyone interested in getting pre-evaluated for testing or who has other questions can call the Family Health Center at (269)-488-0804.
