Grand Forks COVID-19 testing event to be held next week

Jun. 25--Grand Forks Public Health, in collaboration with Grand Forks Emergency Management, the North Dakota Department of Health and with support from the North Dakota National Guard, will host a drive-thru COVID-19 testing event in Grand Forks next week.

Testing will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at the Alerus Center, 1200 South 42nd St., Grand Forks. The testing will be open to the general public.

Similar testing events are taking place statewide to determine readiness of the state to continue re-opening efforts.

The test at this event is a point-in-time test, according to a city news release. If people were tested in the early stages of the infection while incubating the virus or exposed to the virus after they were previously tested, they could then later test positive for COVID-19. Therefore, those that have previously tested negative are invited to be tested again.

The goal of the event is test 1,000 people. There is no cost and health insurance is not processed.

Testing will be an oral swab. Antibody testing will not be conducted at this event. Those participating in testing must be at least 12 years old. Proof of residency will not be required. The testing process will take about 15 minutes, but wait time in line may be longer.

Those with a positive test will be notified by phone within 24 to 72 hours. Efforts will be made to contact those with a negative result within 72 hours. However, results may take longer, depending on state lab processing.

Health officials are encouraging people to complete online screening questionnaire prior to the event at testreg.nd.gov.

For questions related to COVID-19, the public can call the NDDoH hotline at (866) 207-2880 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday or Grand Forks Public Health at (701) 787-8100, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individuals experiencing a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, can call Altru's 24/7 screening hotline at (701) 780-6358, or call a health care provider prior to going to the health care facility.

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