Residents of Adams, Attala, Noxubee and Claiborne counties and surrounding communities can be tested for COVID-19 next week as the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Mississippi State Department of Health continue efforts to stem virus transmission by setting up one-day, drive-through collection sites.
These sites join others that were scheduled for this week, previously announced in Madison, Hinds, Leflore, Walthall, Clay, Lee, Leake, Pike, Calhoun, Copiah and Newton counties.
Anyone can be tested who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat. The Mississippi State Department of Health has expanded its guidelines and is now recommending testing for anyone with a known or potential exposure to someone confirmed with the virus.
Those who want to be tested must first get an appointment by going through a free screening from a UMMC clinician, either through the C Spire Health telehealth smartphone app or by phone. The fastest and easiest way to get screened and tested is with the C Spire Health app. It’s available daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
The newest testing sites for Monday, May 4:
- Adams County: Adams County Safe Room, 323 Liberty Road, Natchez
- Attala County: Attala County Coliseum, 550 Mississippi Highway 12, Kosciusko
The newest testing sites for Tuesday, May 5:
- Noxubee County: Noxubee Civic Center, 16291 U.S. 45, Macon
- Claiborne County: Claiborne County Parks and Recreation, 1120 Highway 61 North, Port Gibson
The previously announced testing site for Saturday, May 2:
- Newton County: Clarke Venable Baptist Church, 362 W. Broad St., Decatur
Testing hours are noon-4 p.m. Only those with appointments will be tested.
Hundreds of people in Mississippi communities have taken advantage of the UMMC/MSDH drive-through collection sites. Those numbers include, as of the end of the day April 30, a total 1,144 people at 39 one-day testing states statewide, plus another 3,200 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, for a total of 4,344 tested.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi National Guard are partnering with UMMC and MSDH to coordinate mobile testing sites. UMMC and C Spire have partnered to make the screening free to all Mississippians.
Those without smartphones who want to be screened for testing can call (601) 496-7200.
