Free COVID-19 testing available in Pike

By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor

By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor

FRANKFORT – Free, drive-through coronavirus testing is available in Eastern Kentucky, including at a location in Pike County. The free testing in Pike County is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 127 South Mayo Trail in Pikeville. Everyone is eligible for a test, and no doctor’s recommendation is required. Registration is on-site. Free testing is also available in Hazard and Morehead. “To open Kentucky safely, we need testing and more Kentuckians to sign up to get tested,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a press release. “Right now, we have the capacity to do 30,000 tests weekly. A big part of being healthy at work is being able to be tested. Do your part and sign up today.” In addition to free drive-through testing, Beshear last week announced a new partnership with First Care Clinics to expand testing as businesses, government and houses of worship reopen. First Care Clinics can now provide COVID-19 tests at 13 locations, seven days a week across the state, at no cost to employees or their employers. Kentuckians can schedule a test online. First Care accepts Medicaid, Medicare and most insurance plans. Most plans have waived copays, so First Care will not collect anything from insured or uninsured patients being tested for COVID-19 at the time of the visit. A new partnership with Bluewater Diagnostics Laboratory is able to provide testing throughout Kentucky and in a variety of locations. The lab runs two drive-through testing sites in Bullitt and Johnson counties, as well. To contact Bluewater Diagnostics about testing options, call 502-538-2980 or email cs@bluewaterdxlab.com. Beshear said there are now more than 70 testing locations, offered through a variety of partners across the state. Each location outside of the drive-through testing offered by the state may have different testing eligibility requirements and costs. To explore all the COVID-19 testing locations, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.