Health center to provide free rapid test

New Year's Eve event begins at 7:30 a.m.

Lorain County Health & Dentistry, a community health center, will hold a coronavirus community rapid testing event from 7:30-11 a.m. Dec. 31 at 1205 Broadway Ave. in Lorain.

The event is free and open to the public, according to a news release from Lorain County Health & Dentistry.

The health center will use the COVID-19 Rapid (antigen) Test.

Those desiring a Rapid Test will drive through the Testing Center and remain in their vehicle to receive the nasal swab test through an open window, according to the release.

No walk-ups will be permitted.

Entrance to the testing area will be from Broadway heading north.

Lorain Police Auxiliary will assist with traffic control.

“Lorain County Health & Dentistry has held several community-wide COVID-19 Rapid Test events, and all were successful,” said Stephanie Wiersma, president and CEO of Lorain County Health & Dentistry. “The highly transmissible omicron variant has sparked increased demand for testing.

“Our event is in response to that demand. We are prepared to administer 500 tests and expect to see a high positivity rate. We will urge those who test positive to isolate to slow the spread of the virus and protect others.”

Testing at the Dec. 31 event will be available for persons of all ages, including those without symptoms, according to the release.

No doctor’s order is needed.

Lorain County Health & Dentistry will provide the test at no cost, according to the release.

Insurance is not required and no questions about insurance will be asked, the release said.

No pre-registration is required, but this is a first come, first served event, the release said.

“The drive thru process is seamless,” said Troy Chaffin, chief operating officer for Lorain County Health & Dentistry. “Pull into our Testing Center and a nurse will quickly do a nasal swab for as many in the vehicle as desire it.

“Within 30 minutes, we will phone those who test positive and will urge them to isolate and take all reasonable safety precautions. We have an efficient process and expect we will do 500 tests in a four-hour period.”

“Families or groups who visited together over the Christmas holidays, may have been exposed to the virus, which would show reliably in a positive test result about a week later,” Wiersma said. “Friday’s event is timed to help those individuals and prior to New Year’s Eve festivities.

“We are hosting this event because we want to lessen the spread locally and keep everyone as safe as possible. If your test result is positive, or you don’t feel well for any reason, please don’t venture out including for New Year’s Eve celebrations.”

Lorain County Health & Dentistry provides the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine for its patients during a primary care visit and for all others by appointment at the 1205 Broadway drivethru Testing Center, the release said.

Lorain County Health & Dentistry will provide the Moderna booster at no cost by appointment only on Fridays in January 2022, according to the release.