INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Marion County Public Health Department announced Wednesday that COVID-19 testing services for frontline employees will be made available beginning Thursday.

“This drive-through testing site is intended to relieve an expected surge on health care facilities within Marion County,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D. in a news release to News 8 Wednesday. “We can focus on testing these essential personnel who are still at work in the community.”

The testing will be conducted in a joined effort with the Marion County Public Health Department, the Managed Emergency Surge for Healthcare Coalition and the City of Indianapolis. Drive-thru testing will take place at the Champions Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on the following dates and following times:

• Thursday, April 2 & Friday, April 3: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday, April 4: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Monday, April 6 – Friday, April 10: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday, April 11: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Testing will not be open to the public, but available to the following groups of employees in Marion County:

• Family members of first responders
• Corrections officers and jail staff
• Air traffic controllers
• Lab personnel
• City staff from the departments of parks and public works
• Public safety personnel
• Military
• Environmental services
• Veterinarians and staff
• Package delivery services
• IndyGo bus drivers
• Utility workers

The employees must complete a screening and registration process prior to their arrival for testing.

The City of Carmel also announced Wednesday that all first responders and employees working with the public will be tested for COVID-19 beginning this week.

Shifts of City of Carmel workers are getting the test at Aria Diagnostics through drive-thru access.

“It should save lives if we can test our first responders and city staff who are dealing with many people in the public and are asymptomatic but are carrying the virus. Then, those people will know to self-quarantine in order to further prevent the virus from spreading. We must do all we can to level the curve and keep our health care facilities from being overwhelmed.” said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard in a press release to News 8 on Wednesday.