COVID-19 testing at West Memphis Walmart

By THE TIMES NEWS STAFF

news@theeveningtimes.com

You really can get everything at Walmart, including a coronavirus test. A COVID-19 drive-thru testing site has opened in the West Memphis Walmart parking lot.

The site is supported by Walmart, eTrueNorth and state and local officials to test anyone who meets CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19

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Feeling sick? Think you may have been exposed to the coronavirus? Just want to put yourself at ease? There are now multiple avenues to take to get tested for COVID-19. Last week, the City of West Memphis put on a testing clinic outside Lehr Arena. Crittenden County now has 234 total positive cases, with a total of seven coronavirus-related deaths.

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and those in high risk groups without symptoms. Those interested in being tested need to visit www.DoI NeedaCOVID19test.com to see if eligible for testing and to make an appointment.

“Walmart is part of the community, and we are proud to help support the expansion of COVID-19 testing in West Memphis during this unprecedented time,” said Michael Lindsey, Walmart Public Affairs Director for Arkansas. “We are grateful to our associates who keep our stores running, our pharmacists who support these testing sites, and to eTrueNorth and local officials as we work together to open the site and help our community.”

“The city of West Memphis is grateful to Walmart for all if its effort in serving our community during this crisis, the only way to know the real impact that this virus has had, is to test as many people as possible and Walmart has stepped up to aid us in this process.”said Mayor Marco McClendon.

Details on the COVID-19 testing site:

■ ■ The site is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., weather permitting. Appointments must be made through eTrueNorth’s online portal at www.Do-INeedaCOVID19test.com, which will screen individuals to ensure they meet CDC eligibility for testing.

■ ■ Those being tested will need to wear as mask and stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. For the safety of all those on-site, the test site is not available to those who walk up.

■ ■ The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their own nose onsite while in their vehicles, observed by a trained medical volunteer to ensure the sample is taken correctly, and then dropped in the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drivethrough site.

■ ■ eTrueNorth will handle processing test samples and communicating results to those tested and applicable Departments of Health, but the site will be staffed by Walmart healthcare professionals. Please note, testing is not available inside Walmart stores.

■ ■ While individuals who are tested are awaiting results, please follow CDC guidelines and take steps to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in your home and community.

For additional questions regarding COVID-19 testing, call 800-635-8611.