Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced free COVID-19 testing will be available for any Tennessean, regardless of traditional symptoms, as the Unified-Command group ramps up an aggressive effort to expand testing capacity across the state.
“As we look to reboot our state’s economy, we must have a greater understanding of how this virus is operating in Tennessee,” said Gov. Lee. “Expanding our COVID-19 testing capacity allows more Tennesseans to have improved access to testing which will empower citizens to make informed health decisions.”
In recent weeks, states across the country have grappled with the availability of tests and supplies needed to conduct COVID-19 tests, as well as the backlog for processing tests. Rapid improvements to the testing apparatus allowed the Unified-Command Group, comprised of the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Department of Military and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), to develop expanded capacity and offer targeted testing across the state.
“Our clinical understanding of COVID-19 is changing rapidly and we need every Tennessean who isn’t feeling well, even outside of the traditional COVID-19 symptoms of cough, fever or difficulty breathing, to come out and get tested,” said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey.
The expanded testing effort launches this weekend, April 18-19, 2020, with the Tennessee National Guard popping up 15 drive-through testing sites across the state. Drive-through testing sites will also be available during the weekends of April 25-26 and May 2-3.
A full list of sites can be accessed here or within the list below. In addition to drive-through sites, all rural county health departments across the state offer free COVID-19 testing 5 days a week.
Tennessee Department of Health Nurses and Tennessee National Guard medics will perform tests at each site and results are projected to be delivered to participants within 72 hours of testing.
“Until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, quickly detecting this illness, isolating if ill and practicing social distancing are the most powerful tools we have to stop the spread and help our state return to work,” said Dr. Piercey. “I encourage every Tennessean to remember: ‘when in doubt, get a test’ as we work to identify COVID-19 cases and keep our neighbors safe.”
More information regarding expanded testing capacity is available here.
Upcoming COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing Events (from the Williamson County Office of Public Safety):
Saturday, April 18th, 2020
Williamson County: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Williamson County Health Department, 1324 West Main St., Franklin
Dickson County: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dickson County Health Department, 301 West End Ave., Dickson
Maury County: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Farmer’s Market Pavilion, 102 Riverside Drive, Columbia
Montgomery County: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Montgomery County Health Department, 300 Pageant Lane, Clarksville
Robertson County: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Robertson County Fairgrounds, 4635 US-41, Springfield
Rutherford County: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Rutherford County Health Department, 100 West Burton St., Murfreesboro
Wilson County: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wilson County Health Department, 927 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon
Sunday, April 19th, 2020
Sumner County: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Gallatin High School, 700 Dan P. Herron Drive, Gallatin
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