Family Health Center in Kalamazoo is providing its first drive-thru coronavirus testing.
This is one of 13 new or expanded drive-thru testing operations across Michigan.
The testing is open to everyone, but there are a few things you need to do before you can come to be tested.
If you wish to be tested, you must call (269) 488-0804 for a pre-test evaluation, including a phone consultation with a physician to get a doctors order for the test, according to Family Health Center officials.
The testing will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 17, at Stones Church 1225 W Paterson St. in Kalamazoo. A minimum of 100 people will be served.
The actual COVID-19 test itself takes three to five seconds, and participants will never leave their vehicles.
Creating this testing drive-thru was done with a lot of input from Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
"We are testing individuals with mild symptoms," said Denise Crawford, president and CEO of Family Health Center. "Education and knowledge is now the focus. Also, having this pertinent data can help the governor ultimately in making her decisions."
"There's a lot of interest in where we remain on the quarantine," Crawford explained. "Will restaurants and bars open back up? What about school? The more information she has about our population as a whole, the true impact that the virus has, and how many actually have it ... then she could make better decisions as a whole, for our economy and for our state. So, those are the two focuses associated with this task."
Participants will get their test results in 28 to 48 hours.
Depending on demand, future drive-thru testing will be coming to Kalamazoo County in coming weeks.
The main focus is getting people healthy and helping Governor Whitmer understand where our COVID-19 numbers stand.
That overall number will play a large role in re-opening our state.
