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On Thursday, the Chambers County Health Department held a drive-thru testing for COVID-19. Most people were tested by appointment, but others exhibiting symptoms were tested as well.

“We’ve had a pretty good turnout here this morning,” registered nurse Lisa Jones said.

The drive-thru testing lasted five hours in the health department’s parking lot.

Jones and the other nurses that were giving out tests are from different counties in the East Central District of the state. The nurses were from Lee, Tallapoosa, Montgomery and Lowndes counties.

“We’re just the traveling team that does this,” said  Jones, who is one of the nurses from Lee County. “I’m a little tired, but it’s not that bad,”

For the last couple of weeks, the team has been traveling throughout the district seeing a variety of turnouts. Tallapoosa County had the highest turnout.

“There are so many places doing it right now, but it is important to get done because people need to know,” Jones said.

The results will be ready in 72 hours after the time the test was submitted. A local doctor will let those who were tested know when the results are finished.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were 231 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Chambers County, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Chambers County had 11 reported deaths.

According to an ADPH press release, patients were considered if they had at a minimum the following symptoms:

·        Fever or cough or shortness of breath, and

·        Immunocompromised or have co-morbidities, or

·        Age 65 years or older, or

·        Healthcare worker, or

·        Associated with a long-term healthcare facility, or

·        Symptoms are moderate, severe, or worsening.

East Alabama Medical Center also has testing available. The hotline’s phone number is (334) 528-SICK. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, but EAMC only schedules testing between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.