Two drive-thru COVID-19 screening locations will open this week in the Montgomery area as part of a partnership between the City of Montgomery and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing.
The sites are on Mobile Highway in the city Montgomery and in the small town of Hayneville, around 30 minutes southwest of Montgomery’s city limits.
Testing is free of charge to members of the public, but an individual must have an appointment to be screened at one of the locations.
The tests at the two locations were provided by a donation from Hyundai, which in recent weeks sent 5,000 testing kits to Montgomery and 5,000 more to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
The samples collected at the two newly-announced screening sites will be tested at Assurance Labs in Birmingham, which promises results within 24 hours after receiving a specimen.
“Our community owes a huge debt of gratitude to Hyundai for its generosity and assistance in setting up these drive-thru testing sites,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed in a release.
In March, Reed asked Hyundai for help in sourcing supplies necessary to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Hyundai is based in South Korea, a country that has undertaken a widely-lauded response to COVID-19.
“I reached out to Hyundai because South Korea’s response to the pandemic has been extraordinary. Our cooperative effort with Hyundai will enable us to increase testing and better serve the people of Montgomery,” added Reed.
Those in the River Region who believe they are in need of a COVID-19 test can call 334-420-8620 to schedule an appointment.
The Alabama Department of Public Health, which is partnering on the new testing sites, recently expanded its definition of who is eligible for a test.
The official CDC guidelines for the individuals meeting the criteria for a test can be read here.
In short, anyone with symptoms, or anyone without symptoms who is over 65 or has a pre-existing condition, is eligible for testing.
The Montgomery screening site is located at Montgomery Primary Healthcare Center, 3058 Mobile Highway, Montgomery, AL.
The Hayneville screening site is located at the Hayneville Family Health Center, 511 East Tuskeena, Hayneville, AL.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
