HHS Launches ‘Surge’ COVID-19 Testing in Hotspot Jurisdictions in Florida, Louisiana and Texas

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing free COVID-19 testing in Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Edinburg, Texas. Surge testing efforts will temporarily increase federal support to communities where there has been a recent and intense level of new cases and hospitalizations related to the ongoing outbreak.

The three jurisdictions identified are seeing significant increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and could potentially benefit from additional opportunities to identify new cases, especially for people who are asymptomatic. HHS, in partnership with eTrueNorth and each of the local communities, will perform surge testing by offering 5,000 tests per-city per-day, at no charge to those tested. The temporary surge testing sites will be live anywhere from five to 12 days.  Across the nation, the largest increases in COVID-19 positivity rates continue to be in the 18 to 29 age group; however, there are also upticks in young people under 18 and in people aged 30 to 39.

“The Trump Administration is doubling-down on support to areas hard hit by COVID-19. Standing up surge testing sites is one of many tools we are utilizing now to assist local leadership to reduce community spread,” said Assistant Secretary for Health ADM Brett P. Giroir, M.D. “Data, including positive rates and demographic information, will inform how to shift state and local resources to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19.”

Testing at the surge locations is available to individuals five years and older – including those experiencing symptoms; those who believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 coronavirus; and anyone who is worried about possibly having the virus. Individuals seeking testing do not need to be a resident of the community where these testing sites are located.  Individuals under 18 years old must have a parent or legal guardian present to consent to testing.

“People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and who are waiting for test results, should self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure,” said Deputy Surgeon General RADM Erica Schwartz, M.D., M.P.H.  “They should watch for fever (100.4 degrees), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. If possible, they should stay away from others in the household, especially people who are at higher risk for getting sick from COVID-19.”

Surge Testing locations for COVID-19 testing sites beginning Tuesday, July 7:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Louisiana State University Alex Box Stadium parking lot Gourrier Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70820

Southern University FG Clark parking lot 801 Harding Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70807

Cortana Mall 9701 Cortana Pl. Baton Rouge, LA 70815

Fairgrounds at BREC’s Airline Highway Park 17200 Airline Hwy Baton Rouge, LA 70118

Note: Baton Rouge will also be performing mobile testing at local long-term health care facilities.

Surge Testing locations beginning Wednesday, July 8:

Edinburg, Texas

Bert Ogden Arena (an HEB parking lot) 4900 South I-69C Edinburg, TX 78542

Jacksonville, Florida

First Coast High School 590 Duval Station Road Jacksonville, FL 32218

Regency Mall (Sears building) 9501 Arlington Expressway Jacksonville FL 32225

Frank A Peterson Academy (Target Area) 7450 Wilson Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32210

**Individuals seeking COVID-19 testing at these sites should make every effort to pre-register for testing in advance at: https://www.doineedacovid19test.com/.

** While on-site registration will be accommodated, it will take longer than arriving with a pre-registration completed with QR Code either on a cell phone or printed from the registration website. Individuals tested at one of these test sites must provide a telephone number and email address. An identification card is NOT required. Information for Individuals Seeking Testing:

• It should take between 3 and 5 days for someone who is tested to get their results.
• Test results will be provided by email notification (individuals will be required to log back into the website to view their results).  Test results will also be posted in the eTrueNorth patient portal. There is not a phone number to call for results.  

HHS would like to offer a very special thank you to our partners: the State of Texas, City of Edinburg Hidalgo County, the State of Florida, City of Jacksonville, Florida, Duval County, the State of Louisiana, City of Baton Rouge, and East Baton Rouge Parish.