INDIANAPOLIS — City and county agencies are partnering to offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing for frontline essential employees.
The testing service is being provided for workers who provide critical services to Indianapolis residents through a partnership of the Marion County Public Health Department, the Managed Emergency Surge for Healthcare Coalition, and the City of Indianapolis.
"This drive-thru testing site is intended to relieve an expected surge on health care facilities within Marion County," Dr. Virginia Caine, director and chief medical officer of the Marion County Public Health Department, said. "We can focus on testing these essential personnel who are still at work in the community."
The testing will take place in the Champions Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on the following schedule:
- April 2 and April 3 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- April 4 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- April 6 through April 10 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- April 11 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"We are providing a fast, safe, and efficient testing opportunity for essential workers who are symptomatic or have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case," Jennifer Pitcher, executive director of the MESH Coalition, said. "These individuals are driven to continue to support our community. They are on the front lines and we want to take steps to sustain them and their families in any way we can."
Testing is not open to the public. It is available to the following groups of employees in Marion County who have completed a screening and registration process prior to arrival:
- Family members of first responders
- Corrections officers and jail staff
- Air traffic controllers
- Lab personnel
- City staff from the departments of parks public works
- Public safety personnel
- Military
- Environmental services
- Veterinarians and staff
- Package delivery services
- IndyGo bus drivers
- Utility workers
The Indiana University Health Infectious Diseases laboratory will test the samples collected.
