The Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center is reaching out to the communities it serves to provide free coronavirus testing.
Testing began last week in Clarksdale, Tunica and Batesville. Twenty-three individuals were tested in Clarksdale and 21 tests apiece were given in the other two locations. More testing came week beginning in Clarksdale on Monday as 61 individuals turned out. Testing continued in Coldwater Tuesday, Clarksdale Wednesday, is set to be in Batesville Thursday and Tunica Friday.
Those who wish to be prescreened, which was required for the first week of testing, may call 855-737-6673.
“We did prescreening for those that were eligible to take a test, those that are showing signs of symptoms,” said Tana Vassel, director of planning and program development for Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center.
This week, regardless of symptoms, anyone may take the test.
“Today, it’s open testing,” said Vassel Monday afternoon. “Anyone that wants to get tested can come and get tested today.”
Vassel said the results of the tests will come in two-to-five days.
Those who were tested waited in line in their vehicles at Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center on Ohio Avenue. A nasal suave is put in their nose for the test.
After a person was tested, he or she drove toward primary care physician Dr. Sheon Mendoza, who organized the event, provided advice about remaining in quarantine until the results come in, protecting family members, wearing masks, keeping hands clean and social distancing. He also provided literature for everyone.
“The main thing is that people need to leave here with the idea that there’s no treatment for this, so they need to be able to recognize the symptoms that say, ‘There’s something wrong and I need to be able to be seen in the emergency room or the hospital because things are getting bad,’” he said. “So, for the most part, it’s helping them to recognize the symptoms that are the alarm symptoms.”
Some people have died from COVID-19, but most are expected to recover.
“There’s no treatment,” Mendoza said. “There’s no cure. We’re keeping from spreading throughout the community.”
Courtney Jones, outreach coordinator for Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center, said the purpose of testing was to get ahead of the problem and help keep the community safe. Children’s Health Fund and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) clothing were some of the organizations that helped financially to make the testing possible.
“It’s actually going great,” Jones said. “It’s going a lot smoother than we thought. We thought we’d have patients call in to our 855 number and get screened. Some get screened right here on site. After the screening, we like to send them right on through the registration. Here on site, they get their paperwork done and their nose suaved and then we move them down to the doctor to get just a little more personal information and put them a little more at ease and answer any questions that anyone may have.”
One female who is from Shelby County and recently moved to Clarksdale did not know where else to get tested. She said she was grateful to Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center.
“I had a shortness of breath symptom and thought it would be smart to test,” she said. “I went online to the Mississippi State Health Department and they sent me here.”
She said she planned to go home until learning the results of her test.
Vassel said the results of those who have been tested the past couple of weeks will determine the test step. However, she did confirm there will be rapid tests at some point in the future.
“We are waiting for the rapid tests to come in where the results come in, in 15 minutes,” she said.
“There will be another test coming in. In the meantime, we are testing all of our clinics – Coldwater, Batesville, Tunica as well as Clarksdale.”
