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FYI
Michigan planning to open 9 new drive-thru test sites By Adrienne Roberts
Detroit
Free Press
The state of Michigan will open nine new drive-thru coronavirus testing sites
across
the state and will expand testing capacity in Detroit, an announcement that
comes a
day after the state saw its deadliest day so far during the novel coronavirus
pandemic.
Few details were made available about the Detroit site's location or opening
date,
but it will aim to test at least 750 people a day. New drive-thru sites will
open in
Atlanta, Bad Axe, Battle Creek, Bay City, Benton Harbor, Jackson, Kalamazoo and
Traverse City on Monday, and in Flint on Wednesday. Drive-through testing sites
already operating in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Saginaw will be expanded.
"Better access to testing and quicker results are critical to our public health
officials who are fighting coronavirus and to our residents who have symptoms
of
COVID-19 and need answers, treatment and peace of mind," said Michigan Gov.
Whitmer
in a press release. "More testing will save lives."
The testing sites, made available through a partnership with the state of
Michigan,
health centers, Michigan Primary Care Association and NxGen Laboratory in Grand
Rapids, will increase Michigan's daily COVID-19 testing capacity by about 40%.
Each
site will plan to test more than 100 people per day starting Monday, the
release
said.
Detroit offers drive-through testing for residents and others who have a
doctor's
prescription at the State Fairgrounds site near 8 Mile Road and Woodward
Avenue. The
city of Detroit was also the first city in the country to begin using the kits
from
Abbott, which produce results in about 15 minutes. A standard test would take
days
to produce results.
There are criteria to be tested at the sites. People should first contact the
site's
patient screening telephone line or their health care provider before driving
to the
site, the release said. Hospitalized patients Symptomatic healthcare workers
Patients
in congregate facilities with symptoms, including those at: Long-term care or
elderly
living facilities,jails or prisons, homeless shelters, residential foster care
facilities, other group living settings Patients age 65 and older with symptoms
Patients with underlying conditions with symptoms First responders with
symptoms
Critical infrastructure workers with symptoms
Drive-through test locations across Michigan:
Atlanta (between Gaylord and Alpena): Thunder Bay Community Health Service,
11899
M-32, 989-733-6827.
Bad Axe: Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, 876 N. Van Dyke Rd, 989-623-0137.
Battle Creek: Grace Health, 181 W. Emmett St., 269-441-3463.
Bay City: Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, 3884 Monitor Rd, 989-671-2000.
Benton Harbor: InterCare Community Health Network, 800 M-139, 855-869-6900.
Flint: Atwood Stadium, parking lot entrance off West 1st Street, details to
come.
Opens Wednesday.
Grand Rapids: Cherry Health, 200 Sheldon Street SE, 616-965-8347.
Jackson: Center for Family Health, 505 N. Jackson St., 517-748-5363.
Kalamazoo: Family Health Center, 117 W Paterson St., 269-488-0804.
Lansing: Ingham Community Health Centers, 2316 S. Cedar St., 517-887-4517.
Saginaw: Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, 501 Lapeer Ave., 989-293-3492.
Traverse City: Northwest Michigan Health Services, 10767 Traverse Highway,
231-642-5292.