The Wilson County Health Department announced that COVID testing would be moved from the Health Department building back to the Fairgrounds. Beginning Tuesday, anyone needing a COVID test may go to the Fairgrounds, but vaccines will still be offered at the Health Department building.
The Health Department said that those who need a COVID test can enter the Fairgrounds at James E. Ward Ag Road off of Tennessee Boulevard and follow the signage to the testing site. Testing will be held Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 10:30 AM, excluding holidays.
Everyone is allowed to remain in their cars for testing, but can walk up as well. Self-testing kits will be handed out at both the Fairgrounds and the Health Department. The statement noted the self-testing kits were free and easy to use, with a turnaround of 2 – 3 days.
The turnaround for testing from the Fairgrounds will also be 2 – 3 days.
At-home COVID tests range in price from $15 to over $900. Tests are available at stores and online at Walmart, CVS, and Amazon, though many stores have been sold out of tests following the Omnicron surge. Furthermore, some home tests have been recalled due to false-positive results.
The Wilson County Health Department statements said that while no appointment needed for testing, the agency does require an appointment for vaccines. Appointments for vaccines are available by either calling the Health Department, making an appointment in person, or by making an appointment online through the CDC. Same-day appointments for the vaccine are not currently offered.
Vaccines will be administered weekdays from 12:30 to 4pm. The Health Department said that those who made appointments made online need to bring in a screenshot of the QR code as verification. Currently, according to Vaccines.gov, only the Pfizer and Pfizer booster vaccines are available from the Wilson County agency.
Starting Monday, January 10, vaccines will be administered at the Fairgrounds with no appointment necessary.
In Wilson County, there are 2,259 active COVID cases. In total, there have been 31,016 COVID cases and 408 deaths attributed to the disease.
– – –
Morgan Nicole Veysey is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “COVID Testing Site” by Governor Tom Wolf. CC BY 2.0.
.jpg){kind=link}