Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing coming to city’s west side
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A free drive-thru COVID-19 testing site is coming to the west side of Indianapolis next week.
The free testing is the result of a partnership between Kroger Health, Marion County Public Health Department and Indianapolis Public Schools. It will be offered at Ernie Pyle School 90 located at 3351 W 18 St on May 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27.
Testing will be available to residents with and without symptoms who are deemed eligible. Residents interested in getting tested can register online. A virtual screening tool will establish whether an individual is eligible for the testing.
Eligible residents will be able to choose an appointment time for the testing.
Drive-thru testing will be conducted with a self-administered nasal swab and results should be expected within 72 hours.
Kroger Health is expecting to test up to about 330 people per day.
“We are closely monitoring COVID-19 data each day to understand the impact this is having in Marion County,” said Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Public Health Department in a press release on Friday. “While there is reason to be hopeful, we can’t relax quite yet. Everyone’s continued hard work and patience is needed to slow the spread of this virus even more and help put our community on a positive path moving forward.”
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a press release Friday the COVID-19 pandemic requires city-wide action from community partners.
“It should therefore come as no surprise to see Kroger step-up and partner with our county’s health department and Indianapolis Public Schools to provide this free service,” said Hogsett. “This is the kind of continued collaboration we will need to ensure the health and safety of Marion County residents.”
Indiana State Department of Health announced Friday the state has tested more than 130,000 Hoosiers. 17.8% of those tests have resulted in positive COVID-19 cases. More than 1,300 Hoosiers have died from coronavirus.
The state continues to provide updated information about coronavirus in Indiana daily online.