Coronavirus News
Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing site opens in north Fort Worth
A new coronavirus testing site will open in north Fort Worth on May 7.
The free, drive-thru site, operated by Kroger Health, will set up at J.P. Elder Middle School, 600 Park St., Fort Worth (76164). Beginning May 7, hours are 8:30 am-2:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday.
According to a release, the site will be able to handle 250 tests per day, about 1,000 per week.
"As we begin to take the first steps in easing restrictions and slowly reopening, we must continue to increase our testing capacity so we can truly understand the impact this virus is having on our community,” Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price says in the release. "We must continue to protect ourselves against this virus and testing is vital role in ultimately combating COVID-19.”
Those who wish to be tested will first register here. They'll use a virtual screening tool based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to see if they are eligible. If they qualify, they'll select a location and appointment time and will receive an email confirmation. Upon arrival, those being tested should have their photo ID ready and should leave their window rolled up for check-in, until a health care practitioner comes to the car to administer the test.
The test will be a self-administered nasal swab that must be ordered and observed by a provider. "Kroger has determined that this testing methodology is beneficial as it increases the number of tests that can be provided while also conserving the amount of personal protective equipment that is utilized," the release says.
Test results will be available within about 72 hours.
Laboratory services will be provided by eTrueNorth, a contractor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Kroger Health is providing professional services through its team of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
Another Kroger sponsored site will open at CitySquare in Dallas on May 9.
“Kroger has always aimed to be there for our customers, associates and communities when they need us most and it has never been more important as we help to expand testing across Dallas/Fort Worth,” says Adam Wampler, president of Kroger Dallas Division, in the release. “We are thankful for the collaboration with the ... City of Fort Worth, Fort Worth ISD, and many city departments who helped make this possible. We are confident, that together, we will get through this.”