New Mobile COVID-19 Testing Sites Aim to Reach Underserved and Minority Communities
May 14, 2020 - East and Southeast Side
From the West Side to the East Side. Metro Health and its partners will provide free COVID-19 testing on the East and Southeast Side May 14-16. Photo: City of San Antonio.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
After organizing two pop-up COVID-19 testing sites on the city’s West Side last week, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and San Antonio Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health Program (MIH) have once again partnered to bring the community free and accessible testing in underserved and minority communities. This week’s locations will be on the city’s East and Southeast Side. These two new walk-up COVID-19 test sites, which do not require an appointment, will open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14 – 16 at the Southside Lions Community Center and the Claude Black Community Center. Testing will be limited to the first 150 people that arrive.
“Please make use of [these pop-up testing sites] as we continue testing-capacity increases across San Antonio,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg at a press briefing Wednesday night.
Metro Health and its partners operated testing sites last week at Las Palmas Library and Woodlawn Lake Park. Jennifer Herriott, assistant director of Metro Health, said there was “a tremendous response” to the walk-up sites and that more testing in underserved communities will be scheduled soon.
On Monday, the Health Department made the announcement that they would be begin testing asymptomatic individuals, which would increase the amount of residents health officials expect to see at the pop-up testing facilities. At present, these walk-up sites only have the capacity to test 150 individuals per day at each location.
A complete listing of all testing locations can be found on Metro Health’s COVID-19 website. Residents may also call 311 or the Metro Health hotline at 210-207-5779 to learn more about testing.
Additionally, the City has an online self-screening tool that can also be found on their COVID-19 page. The tool does not replace medical care if an individual is feeling ill. A healthcare provider should be visited if symptoms worsen or if a person has underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, lung disease, or heart disease is a factor in the person’s medical history.
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In an effort to increase coronavirus testing on the state level, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, Texas Emergency Medical Task Force, Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Military Department have also added more mobile COVID-19 test locations for residents at no cost. These locations, however, do require an appointment. Appointments for Texas Military Department locations can be made at www.txcovidtest.org or by calling 512-883-2400.
Below is a list of new pop-up mobile sites in Bexar County, both walk-up and by appointment, where individuals may get tested for COVID-19 today through May 24.
May 14
Texas Military Department
Morgan’s Wonderland
5223 David Edwards
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
Texas Military Department
American Legion Hall Post 539
14290 FM 1346
St. Hedwig, Texas
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
Metro Health Walk-Up Site
Southside Lions Community Center
3100 Hiawatha Street
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Walk-up
No appointment necessary
Metro Health Walk-Up Site
Claude Black Community Center
2805 East Commerce Street
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Walk-up
No appointment necessary
May 15
Texas Military Department
Pre-K for SA (East)
5230 Eisenhauer Road
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
Texas Military Department
Emergency Services District #3
Station 104
23103 Bulverde Road
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
Metro Health Walk-Up Site
Southside Lions Community Center
3100 Hiawatha Street
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Walk-up
No appointment necessary
Metro Health Walk-Up Site
Claude Black Community Center
2805 East Commerce Street
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Walk-up
No appointment necessary
May 16
Texas Military Department
Pre-K for SA (East)
5230 Eisenhauer Road
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
Texas Military Department
Emergency Services District #3
Station 104
23103 Bulverde Road
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
Metro Health Walk-Up Site
Southside Lions Community Center
3100 Hiawatha Street
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Walk-up
No appointment necessary
Metro Health Walk-Up Site
Claude Black Community Center
2805 East Commerce Street
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Walk-up
No appointment necessary
May 17
Texas Military Department
Elmendorf City Hall
8304 FM 327
Elmendorf, Texas
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
Texas Military Department
Pre-K for SA (South)
7031 South New Braunfels Avenue
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
May 18
Texas Military Department
Pre-K for SA (South)
7031 South New Braunfels Avenue
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
May 19
Texas Military Department
Morgan’s Wonderland
5223 David Edwards
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
May 20
Texas Military Department
Pre-K for SA (South)
7031 South New Braunfels Avenue
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
May 21
Texas Military Department
Morgan’s Wonderland
5223 David Edwards
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
May 22
Texas Military Department
Pre-K for SA (West)
1235 Enrique M. Barrera Memorial Parkway
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
May 23
Texas Military Department
Pre-K for SA (West)
1235 Enrique M. Barrera Memorial Parkway
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
May 24
Texas Military Department
Pre-K for SA (West)
1235 Enri que M. Barrera Memorial Parkway
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through
On Thursday, there were 2,041 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 59 virus-related deaths recorded in Bexar County.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer at the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.