COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency announced on Thursday that they and the Michigan National Guard will conducting free drive-through COVID-19 tests for Michigan residents at the Branch County Fairgrounds next Tuesday afternoon.
Health Officer Rebecca Burns says testing will be available to Michigan residents with or without symptoms on a first come, first served basis from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.. Individuals who wish to be tested should bring an ID. Minors can be tested if they are calm and with a parent. The State of Michigan is covering the cost of testing. Insurance is not required and no insurance cards will be requested.
Burns says “it is important that we identify positive cases, move them into isolation and quarantine their close contacts to stop the spread of this disease.” The Community Health Agency encourages anyone with symptoms or who may have been exposed to get tested. Nasopharyngeal tests will be administered to determine whether persons currently have Covid-19. Antibody testing will NOT be done at this event.
Burns adds, “as schools and businesses open back up in Michigan, and local positive cases continue to rise, it important to resist the urge that Covid-19 doesn’t exist.
As of Wednesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported Branch County has had four COVID-19 related deaths and 475 positive cases since the first one was reported in late March.
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