Due to the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID, LSU Health Shreveport holds a drive-thru community testing and vaccination site today at the state fairgrounds. LSU Health Shreveport infectious disease specialist Doctor John Vanchiere says they are trying to meet the high demand for testing and free up congestion at emergency rooms.
“The big thing is that a lot of people have been going to emergency rooms and urgent care and quick care facilities to get tested when that’s not the appropriate place to get tested,” said Vanchiere.
Vanchiere says the only time you should get tested for COVID at the E-R is if you are admitted and you should only be tested if you have symptoms or have a known exposure.
The highly transmissible Omicron variant and more people gathering and traveling over the holidays has caused a major surge in people being tested for COVID. Vanchiere said it’s just the beginning of the most recent demand for testing.
“We’ve expected these numbers to go up and they have, and we expect that they will likely continue to increase at least for the next two to three weeks. We’re going to see more cases and therefore more testing needed,” said Vanchiere.
The drive-thru clinic will be testing and administering both vaccines and booster shots Monday through Saturday from 10 AM until 5 PM at the state fairgrounds. Vanchiere asks that you bring your ID and health insurance card if you have one. Children must be accompanied by a parent and test results will be emailed.
“All the tests will be done by PCR which is a laboratory-based test, it is really the gold standard and results should come back in 24 to 48 hours at the latest,” said Vanchiere.
Pre-registration is not required for testing but requested for vaccines at LSU Health Shreveport’s website. Gates will close at 4:30 PM
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