The Jefferson County Department of Health and University of Alabama at Birmingham have partnered to open a drive-thru testing site next week for COVID-19.

Tents and cones have been set up at the corner of University Avenue and 22nd Street South, on a lot that used to house offices for Southern Research.

Patients will need to call for an appointment prior to arriving at the site. Only those with symptoms such as fever and shortness of breath will be eligible for testing. The site will have the capacity to test 250 people a day, said Jordan DeMoss, UAB Medicine vice president for clinical operations.

“We know how important access to testing is to our community and we’re excited to bring this to downtown Birmingham,” DeMoss said.

DeMoss said there are plans to expand drive-thru testing to other locations in the future. Jefferson County has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the state with 36 as of Friday morning.

“We know that a lot of the people in the community have been asking about this,” said Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson. “We wanted to let people know we do hear you.”

People who feel they need to be tested can call a number staffed by medical professionals starting at 12 p.m. Sunday. Testing begins at 9 a.m. Monday. The phone line will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and testing will be available from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The number is (205) 975-1881.