MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Christ Community Health Services will open an appointment-only COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in the parking lot of the Christ Community Third Street location Saturday, March 21, 2020 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.
“We know that there is a great demand for COVID-19 testing and we have been testing patients as needed in our clinics; however, we realize that people who are not our patients need access to testing, so we are opening the Third Street parking lot to serve as a drive-thru location” Shantelle Leatherwood, Chief Executive Officer said.
Unsure of the full testing need, Christ Community is going to offer 50 free tests on Saturday to individuals who have symptoms – fever over 100 degrees, shortness of breath or dry cough – and will schedule appointments based on completing an online form.
“Christ Community serves the individuals in our communities who have great need,” Leatherwood said. “We focused on the Third Street location because of the elderly population in that area and we want to ensure the individuals with a need have access to care.”
Individuals with symptoms seeking to be tested, should text “test2020” to 91999 and follow the texting prompts.
“Offering an online option for scheduling an appointment allows us to increase efficiency,” Lance Luttrell, Chief Operating Officer said. “We will evaluate each individual that completes the online registration and call them to discuss the appointment,” he said.
The location of the COVID-19 testing will be 3360 Third Street in Memphis.
“We are glad to be a medical home to over 57,000 individuals in West Tennessee that need us,” Leatherwood said. “We are hopeful that this drive-thru testing site allows us to continue to limit patient exposure and serve the community in a greater way.”
