Galveston County Health District (GCHD) will conclude its COVID-19 mass testing on Friday, May 8. The health district began offering drive-thru mass testing to the public on April 9 in Texas City, later opening sites in Galveston and League City. In the past month, more than 4,800 people have been tested at the health district’s sites.
“We are seeing the demand for testing lessen as more people are being tested through their doctor’s office and other sites are brought into the county,” said GCHD CEO Kathy Barroso. “As businesses begin to reopen and we move to a new normal way of life, the health district is working to reopen programs to the public. That means the staff reassigned to mass testing efforts are returning to their public health programs. We are also losing volunteers who are returning back to work.”
Residents are encouraged to contact their primary care physician for COVID-19 testing if they have come in contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive or are experiencing symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or at least two of the following symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.
There are also a number of urgent cares and emergency rooms in the county that are testing. Please call first so that staff can evaluate risk and determine if a test is needed so that other patients are not potentially put at risk.
Community ER Houston opened a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site earlier this week in League City at Creekside Intermediate School, 4320 W. Main St., League City. Testing appointments are available daily 9 a.m.-noon. To register for Community ER Houston testing, please visit www.communityerhouston.com , click on “Get Tested” and choose “Clear Lake Location” or residents may register at 281.453.7777. Medical insurance is required (deposit is required until insurance can be verified) or cash pay is available.
Those who are looking to establish a primary care physician may enroll as a patient at Coastal Health & Wellness, which has clinic sites in Texas City and Galveston. For more information, please call 409.938.7221.
For additional testing options, please visit www.gchd.org/testing. For more information on COVID-19, please contact the health district’s information line at 409.515.9117, open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.