Free drive-thru Coronavirus testing this Friday in Alpena
ALPENA, Mich. — Free Coronavirus testing is coming to Alpena. This is not a test for the antibody. It’s only for determining whether or not you currently have the virus. The National Guard will be the ones giving the test, which is a swab that goes through the nasal passage to collect a sample.
Health officer with District Health Department No. 4, Denise Bryan says that in the past people have said the process is relatively quick and painless. “Sometimes there was like a sneeze reaction or tearing up of the eyes and that uncomfortable feeling for a very quick moment, but everybody recovered very quickly,” she said.
Residents do not have to show symptoms of the virus to be tested, nor do they need a doctor’s note. No appointment is needed to receive testing. Bryan says getting tested will keep them informed on how our area is handling the virus. “I think if we can get a couple hundred people to these sites on Friday then we can look at that data of our positivity rate and of course it helps contain the spread,” she said. “The sooner we know then the more we can isolate people who have it.”
The drive-thru testing will be available this Friday, June 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Besser Elementary School located at 375 Wilson St. in Alpena. Test results will be available through bioreference.com/patient-portal.
