Mobile COVID-19 testing set for Copiah county

Residents of Copiah county and surrounding communities can be tested for COVID-19 this week as the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Mississippi State Department of Health continue efforts to stem virus transmission by setting up one-day, drive-through collection sites. This site joins others that were scheduled for this week, previously announced in Madison, Hinds, Leflore, Walthall, Clay, Lee, Leake and Pike counties. Anyone can be tested who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat. The Mississippi State Department of Health has expanded its guidelines and is now recommending testing for anyone with a known or potential exposure to someone confirmed with the virus. Those who want to be tested must first get an appointment by going through a free screening from a UMMC clinician, either through the C Spire Health telehealth smartphone app or by phone. The fastest and easiest way to get screened and tested is with the C Spire Health app. It’s available daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. The newest testing sites for Friday, May 1: Copiah County: Multipurpose Building, 2040 W. Gallman Road, Hazlehurst

Previously announced testing sites for Wednesday, April 29:

• Pike County: Pike County Health Department, 114 E. Presley Boulevard, McComb

• Leake County: Carthage Coliseum, 729 E. Main St., Carthage

Previously announced testing sites for Thursday, April 30:

• Hinds County: Bolton Edwards Elementary Middle School, 9700 I-20 Frontage Road, Bolton

• Leflore County: Greenwood-Leflore County Civic Center, 200 Mississippi Highway 7, Greenwood

Testing hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday. Effective Thursday, April 30, hours of testing will be noon-4 p.m. Only those with appointments will be tested. Hundreds of people in Mississippi communities have taken advantage of the UMMC/MSDH drive-through collection sites. Those numbers include, as of the end of the day April 28, a total 1,053 people at 37 one-day testing states statewide, plus another 3,067 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, for a total of 4,120 tested. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi National Guard are partnering with UMMC and MSDH to coordinate mobile testing sites. UMMC and C Spire have partnered to make the screening free to all Mississippians. Those without smartphones who want to be screened for testing can call (601) 496-7200. During drive-through testing, health care professionals will collect specimen samples via a nose swab. Those being tested will not exit their vehicle. For more information about testing, click here.