Cumberland County starts drive-thru testing program at Fayetteville church
In the rain on Wednesday, staff from the Cumberland County Health Department, dressed in personal protective equipment, tested county residents at their car windows for the novel coronavirus. The department tested around 30 residents for the coronavirus at Manna Church, at 5117 Cliffdale Road.
"We are ramping up testing here in Cumberland County," said Dr. Jennifer Green, director of the county health department. "It's important so that we can get everybody tested."
This testing site is available to people who have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or people who are presenting coronavirus-like symptoms.
The tests are by appointment only. They can be scheduled Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Wednesday, 37 people got tests.
"The people at the health department, they're working so hard. They're real heroes here," said Manna Church Teaching Paster Jonathan Fletcher. "They're doing all the work. We just happen to have a facility that they can use, and it's our privilege to be able to provide it."
Those seeking to get tested should make an appointment online before driving to the site. Testing is free of charge.
Drive-thru tests have been available at Walmart, at 4601 Ramsey St., since May 15. The store has partnered with eTrueNorth. Testing is available there on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Those tests, too, are by appointment only.
The Health Department reports there are 456 total positive COVID-19 cases involving Cumberland County residents. To date, 11 county residents have died from complications associated with the coronavirus.
