Two New Neighborhood Testing Sites Begin Offering COVID-19 Testing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2020
Contact: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112

LANSING, MICH. Two additional Neighborhood Testing Sites, one in Detroit and one in Muskegon, are opening this week, bringing the total number of community sites offering COVID-19 testing to 19. The Michigan Department of the Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is working with trusted community partners including churches, community colleges and nonprofit organizations to launch the sites. 

Testing is free and locations were chosen in part to help address racial and ethnic disparities that had existed prior to the pandemic and were exacerbated by the virus. Language translation is being provided at all sites, as well as assistance for the deaf and hard of hearing. 

“More than 1,500 Michiganders have been tested at one of the Neighborhood Testing Sites since they opened at the end of August, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy or health and MDHHS. “We have worked to make these sites as accessible as possible to the communities most in need and encourage residents to take advantage of testing available right in their community.” 

The new sites join 17 other sites in Albion, Detroit, Ecorse, Flint, Graying, Lansing, Niles, Roseville, Saginaw and Wayne. Additional sites are slated in Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids and Warren.

Testing sites are offering saliva tests, which are less invasive than nasal swabs and may make the testing process more tolerable for some people.  Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made either by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136 and selecting “1” or online. Walk-ins will be taken as space allows, but pre-registration is strongly advised. Online registration is available at Michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest through Solv. 

Test results can be obtained via phone, email or by logging into the results portal.  

Test sites opening this week are as follows:

• Bethel Baptist Church East, 5715 Holcomb Street, Suite 33, Detroit – Open Monday, Sept. 14. Hours: Mondays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Wednesdays 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Fridays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Christ Temple Church, 412 East Sherman Boulevard, Muskegon – Open Tuesday, Sept. 15. Hours: Mondays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Thursdays 12 – 7 p.m.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.   

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