PORT ISABEL — Laguna Madre area residents concerned about whether or not they’ve been exposed to the coronavirus will have access to local testing.
A mobile COVID-19 testing site will be at the Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The test is available by appointment only and is free for Cameron County residents.
Appointments can be made online at TXCOVIDTEST.org or by calling (512) 883-2400.
Appointments cannot be made more than 24 hours in advance.
Those approved for a test are required to bring an ID and must arrive five minutes before their scheduled appointment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
Symptoms reported to the CDC include — cough, fever or chills, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting, sore throat, congestion or runny nose and diarrhea.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services website, there are two types of COVID-19 testing available.
The serology test screens for antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19 and detects if a person has had the virus in the past.
The serology test uses a sample of blood.
The second type is called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which determines if there’s an active infection.
For this method, a nose or throat swab is taken.
After the test has been administered, the testing receipt will have instructions on how to get test results, which will be sent to LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics.
WHAT — Mobile COVID-19 Testing
WHAT — Mobile COVID-19 Testing
WHERE — Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center, 309 Railroad Street
WHEN — Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
REGISTRATION — TXCOVIDTEST.org
