Post Date: 04/08/2020 12:04 PM

Galveston County Health District on Thursday, April 9 will open its first free COVID-19 drive-thru testing site for high-risk people who meet specific screening criteria.

The testing site will be open by appointment only Thursday, April 9-Saturday, April 11 and on Monday, April 13. Testing will take place at the Galveston County Health District, 9850 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway in Texas City.

Testing is open to the general public who meet the following screening criteria:

ANY age 65 years old or older

ANY AGE: 2 signs of: cough, shortness of breath, fever, loss of taste/smell, exposure, fatigued

50 years old or older with 2 or more conditions: Diabetes Lung disease (COPD, etc.) Heart disease (hypertension, etc.) Immunocompromised



First responders are directed to contact UTMB to have streamlined testing.

The public should call 409.978.4040 to speak with an operator to ensure they meet testing criteria and to make an appointment. Those being tested should bring a form of identification including driver’s license, a bill with their name, etc.

Only those who have been pre-screened and have an appointment will be tested.

The testing site has the current capacity to test 176 people daily.

The entire testing process – from entry to exit – is estimated to take 30 minutes. A Galveston County Health District representative will contact those being tested with results within 48-72 hours.

For more information and for a list of frequently asked questions, please visit gchd.org/testing.

The health district continues to recommend those with symptoms call or contact their primary care physician to be screened for testing. There are also a number of urgent cares, emergency rooms, etc. that are testing. It is important the public calls first so that other patients are not potentially put at risk.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit gchd.org/coronavirus and follow us @GCHDinfo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.