Health & Fitness
RI Coronavirus: Testing Site Opening At URI
A testing site for the new coronavirus will open at the University of Rhode Island with the goal of testing 600 people per day.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — The University of Rhode Island has partnered with the National Guard and Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency to open a drive-thru testing site for the new coronavirus.
The testing site will open Tuesday at the school's Plain Road parking lot. School officials said 50 medical and security staff will be on site with the goal of testing up to 600 people per day.
Patients must have an appointment scheduled before getting tested, and their testing must be ordered by a physician or the Rhode Island Department of Health. Hours for the site are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week.
Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
School officials said the National Guard assured the university that this is a controlled environment, and everyone on site will follow the strictest health and safety protocols. Specifically, the National Guard will set up tents in the parking lot, to allow for drive-through testing. In addition, National Guard personnel, medical personnel, and support staff will access the restroom and shower facilities in Keaney Gymnasium. No testing patients will have access to any facilities at the school at any time.
The National Guard and university police will manage traffic flow in and out of campus. Upon arrival at the Plains Road parking lot, pre-screened patients will be directed by the National Guard to drive to the tented site, where they will provide the medical documentation, be swabbed while in their motor vehicle, and then leave the testing site and campus. At no time will a person be outside their motor vehicle during this process.
Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Any students, faculty, or staff that have been parking in the Plains Road parking lot can now park at 210 Flagg Road or at Fine Arts North parking lot.
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