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