WHEELING -- A special COVID-19 testing clinic geared toward those showing no symptoms, as well as minority populations, is set for Wheeling this week.
The clinic will take place Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Laughlin Chapel at 129Ç 18th St. in Wheeling. The free clinic will be conducted by the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department.
The testing is the same as what is currently being done at the temporary testing site in the White Palace parking lot at Wheeling Park, at Wheeling Hospital, Doctors Urgent Care and Med Express, according to Howard Gamble, administrator at the Ohio County Health Department.
The difference is the population that is being targeted, he said.
"Historically, the clinics we have been running have been for individuals with signs and symptoms," he said. "Or they were individuals who were referred, or they were individuals were being tested because of a governor's order -- such as nursing homes.
"This is part of the governor's outreach to hit high density populations, and specifically, minority populations."
This clinics are set up as free, and no advance registration is necessary. The testing can be for those who have symptoms, and those who do not, according to Gamble.
"The type of test is the same," he said. "The difference is the type of population we are targeting."
The clinic is open to anyone with no residency restrictions. No insurance is needed, but participants need to bring a driver's license, photo identification or other proof of address.
Patients under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
It will be a drive-up testing clinic, so participants will be tested either in their personal vehicles or at a walk-up location near the Laughlin Chapel.
The special clinic is being hosted by the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency with support from the West Virginia National Guard, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the West Virginia Office of Minority Affairs.
For more information call the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department at 304-234-3682.