 MAY 28 • 2020 | 89

O

akland County 
announced on May 20 
that they have expand-
ed free COVID-19 drive-thru 
testing to include any adult 
over the age of 18, especially 
those who are beginning to 
return to work. 
Previously, the county 
offered testing for residents 
above the age of 18, prioritizing 
those experiencing symptoms, 
first responders, essential or 
critical infrastructure employ-
ees, adults age 65 or older and 
those with underlying health 
conditions. 
“We all know how import-
ant it is for our economy that 

our residents start working 
again and our companies 
and businesses re-engage,” 
Oakland County Executive 
Dave Coulter said in a state-
ment. “But we also know 
we’
re not in the clear yet. As 
more people return to work, 
we need to be vigilant and 
mindful that the coronavirus 
is still with us.” 
Residents who are interest-
ed in being tested are required 
to make an appointment 
through the Oakland County 
Health Division’
s Nurse on 
Call hotline at 1-800-848-
5533. A doctor’
s note or pre-
scription is not needed for the 

free test. Residents will receive 
their results within three days. 
Testing is available at three 
different locations throughout 
Oakland County. On Mondays 
and Wednesdays from 9 
a.m.-5 p.m., testing is offered 
in Southfield at the South 
Oakland Health Center at 
27725 Greenfield Road. 
On Tuesdays and Thursdays 
from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., residents 
can head over to the Oakland 
County Complex, 1200 N. 
Telegraph Road in Pontiac. 
The Novi Civic Center, 
45175 W
. 10 Mile Road, Novi, 
also offers testing on Fridays, 
from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Only individuals with a 
scheduled appointment will be 
tested. Residents are asked to 
bring their photo ID with them 
to the testing site. The person 
being tested will remain in the 
vehicle the entire time, and the 

test will be administered by 
inserting a swab into the nose 
or mouth of the individual. 
According to their state-
ment, Oakland County Health 
Division has tested 4,844 indi-
viduals at its drive-thru sites, 
249 of whom have tested posi-
tive for COVID-19, which is a 
test positivity rate of 5%. 
Oakland County continues 
to encourage first responders, 
essential business employees or 
anyone who displays symptoms 
of the coronavirus — fever, 
trouble breathing, persistent 
dry cough — to schedule an 
appointment. 
“I urge anyone with underly-
ing health conditions and those 
adults who are returning to 
work to get tested,
” Coulter said 
in a statement. “The great prog-
ress we’
ve made has put many 
residents back on the job. We 
need to keep our guard up.
” 

Need a COVID-19 Test?

Oakland County expands COVID-19 
drive-thru testing.

CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER

