A drive-through COVID-19 community testing center is opening on the campus of Baton Rouge General Mid-City, city-parish and local health officials announced Monday.
The testing site will be staffed by clinicians from Baton Rouge General, Our Lady of the Lake, Ochsner-Baton Rouge, Women's Hospital, and Baton Rouge Clinic between 1 and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A doctor's referral will be needed to use the facility.
A press release from the Baton Rouge General said the testing center "aims to reduce the number of patients going to local emergency rooms for COVID-19 testing and reduce the risk of exposure to patients, visitors and medical staff as it eliminates the need for patients to get out of their car and interact with others."
The testing site will be located on Wabash Blvd. near the exterior entrance from the former emergency room on the back side of the Mid-City campus.
A nasal swab will be taken from the patients and results should take 3 to 4 business days.