PORT ARTHUR, Texas — By 10 a.m. Wednesday morning all appointments for a free one-day mobile testing site in Port Arthur were filled.
Those still wanting to be tested for the coronavirus can call for an appointment at the testing site a few miles north at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport.
Residents must to call 409-550-2536 to make an appointment and be screened before being tested.
Before being tested patients will be screened for symptoms that may include…
- Fever and/or chills
- Cough (Dry or productive)
- Fatigue
- Body Aches, muscle or joint pain
- Shortness of breath
- Sore Throat
- Headaches
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Nasal congestion
- Loss of taste or smell
After being screened patients will be given an appointment time to visit the testing site at the Bob Bowers Civic Center at 3401 Cultural Drive in Port Arthur.
Test samples will be collected from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m.
Do not show up at the testing site without first calling.
During a recent news conference Port Arthur mayor Thurman Bartie expressed concerns about the vulnerable population in the city including those over 65 and people with underlying health conditions.
Bartie also emphasized the importance of getting tested during the press conference outside Port Arthur’s city hall.
He especially noted that African Americans and Hispanics who make up a majority of Port Arthur residents should get tested.
As the state begins to reopen, Bartie is encouraging those who do go out to take those extra precautions seriously.
“We’re going to have a new normal coming out of this whether we want to believe it or not. And we are going to be faced with this and we can make this new normal work,” he said.
