>> PHOTOS: Pop-up testing site opens in Xenia
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Lines of vehicles waiting for drive-thru testing were in the road Wednesday morning. Some people even began lining up at 6:45 a.m., said Dr. Mamle Anim of Five Rivers.
“That shows that people do want to get tested,” she said.
Xenia police are in the area to help direct traffic.
“People should take advantage of this testing,” Anim said. “The thing with COVID-19 is the more you test and the more you know who are positive without symptoms, the more you can break the cycle. Because if you know you have it then you stay away and then you don’t transmit it. So even if you feel fine but you’ve been around it and been exposed, come on down get tested and know your status.”
The pop-up testing is available due to Gov. Mike DeWine’s COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force and a partnership with the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio National Guard.
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“The COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force has worked with local partners to create pop-up testing sites in communities where access to testing may be limited,” said DeWine. “By joining with the Ohio National Guard and other local partners, we can provide tests to any Ohioan who wants one. With a better understanding of COVID-19 through increased testing, we’ll be better able to prevent it’s spread.”
The Ohio National Guard is doing the actual testing and provided the swabs, with Five Rivers providing the infrastructure to set up the testing site.
“Anybody who wants to be tested should come on down,” said Anim. “If you do have health insurance they’ll take it and bill your insurance. But if you aren’t uninsured that’s not an issue, you will have this test done as well.”
Those who wish to be tested should bring a photo ID.
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Test results should be available within two to five days. Everyone will be contact with results, even if they test negative, Anim said.
“I think most of the people who are coming here are not necessarily sick, but they’ve been out in the community they have potential contact and want to know if they’re at risk and if they’re putting their family members and loved ones at risk,” she added.
Tomorrow, a pop-up testing site will be in Dayton at the Samaritan Health Center, 921 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To pre-register for the Dayton site, call 937-681-2091.
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