With demand easing up for drive-thru coronavirus testing, the two in New Orleans sites will be consolidated into one, officials said Monday afternoon.

The lone site will be operated in the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena parking lot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be capped at 500 tests per day — the same as the combined number of tests from the two sites.

“We feel this is a better way to utilize our resources,” New Orleans' Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Collin Arnold said, adding the change will cut down on necessary personnel and make tracking inventory easier.

Arnold said that the lines at each facility had become shorter in recent days and daily testing caps were being reached much later. He added that the shorter lines is more likely due to residents choosing to remain at home than venture out for a test, a decision he applauded.

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“It’s way too early to say, ‘Are we flattening the curve?’ We can’t say that," Arnold said. "We’ve discussed the fact that we believe people, and we’re really proud of our residents, that they’re staying at home and that’s become a priority over maybe coming here and getting a test. And to that I say, ‘Thank you and keep doing it. You’re saving lives by staying home.’"

Arnold added that 4,200 tests had been administered between the two sites. Jefferson Parish will continue to operate its location at the Alario Center, which had completed more than 1,700 tests as of Sunday. You must be 18 or older, in a vehicle and exhibiting symptoms to be given a test.

Arnold was speaking from the Mahalia Jackson Theater Parking Lot, the site that will no longer be operating as a drive-thru testing center.

Jennifer Avegno, the director of New Orleans Health Department, cautioned residents that many of the test results have not come back, so the number of diagnosed cases will like continue to rise with "substantial community spread" throughout the New Orleans area.

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"If you are having symptoms that sound like Covid-19, you should assume you have Covid-19," Avegno said. "And if you are fortunate that you are not ill enough to require hospitalization, then you should stay home and monitor your symptoms and isolate yourself."

As of Monday afternoon there were 4,025 known cases of coronavirus throughout Louisiana, along with 185 associated deaths. Orleans Parish had accounted for 1,480 of those cases and 68 deaths, while Jefferson Parish had accounted for 838 cases and 37 deaths.

Check back for updates.