Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday announced two new COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites in Adamsville and Montgomery.
The two sites, supported by Walmart and Quest Diagnostics, will be available to anyone who has symptoms of the virus, as well as health care workers and first responders, according to a press release by Ivey’s office on Thursday.
“I greatly appreciate the efforts by Walmart and Quest Diagnostics to provide additional testing locations that are secure and easily accessible,” Ivey said in a statement. “All over the country, states are struggling to acquire enough testing kits and personal protection equipment. These new sites will allow folks to receive testing without leaving their car, thereby keeping them from potentially infecting others.”
Both Walmart sites will be by appointment-only, and to get a test a person must use Quest’s MyQuest online portal, which will screen applicants and schedule tests for those who meet the CDC’s testing guidelines, according to the release.
As of Thursday morning, there were 4,249 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alabama, 126 reported deaths and 552 hospitalizations statewide, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
“The City of Montgomery is fortunate to have partners such as Walmart and Quest Diagnostics. Increased testing opportunities are crucial to our area stemming the spread of this pandemic,” Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed said in a statement. “We are proud to provide Montgomery Police Department officers on site, to help ensure smooth procedural operations at the Walmart mobile drive-thru location.”
“We are extremely proud to have this COVID-19 drive-thru testing facility for the residents of Adamsville and all of our local communities,” Adamsville Mayor Pam Palmer said in a statement. “We applaud Gov. Kay Ivey, Walmart, Quest Diagnostics and the U.S. Dept. of Health for their efforts to make this a reality. We are thankful that this side of Jefferson County will now have testing available in our area. The City of Adamsville Police Department will be present to assist each day.”
“I want to thank Walmart and Quest Diagnostics for this service to our residents. The Adamsville store location is heavily frequented by Birmingham residents from the northwestern section of the city,” Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said in a statement. “With three other locations strategically placed in the city, this adds another resource in the efforts to diagnose and prevent coronavirus in Birmingham. We hope this joint effort continues to grow to serve our residents and the state.”
The drive-thru will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. For more information about testing locations, please see the fact sheet here.
