In May 2020, West Virginia held free, open COVID-19 testing events in counties with large minority populations and signs of virus spread. The state’s Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs planned the events with the state health department and the West Virginia National Guard. Local health departments and community partners helped run them. Kanawha County had events on two weekends.
Who could be tested
- Testing was free and open to all residents of the selected counties, including people with no symptoms.
- The effort aimed at residents who had trouble seeing a doctor or had no insurance to pay for a test.
- People had to bring identification, such as a driver’s license or proof of address.
- People under 18 had to come with a parent or legal guardian.
The Kanawha County events
The first Kanawha County event was a drive-thru held in Charleston on Friday and Saturday, May 22 and 23, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 100 people were tested in the first hour on Friday. County officials said 837 people were tested that weekend and two tests came back positive.
The second event was on Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shawnee Sports Complex, One Salango Way, Dunbar.
By May 22, Kanawha County had already held 11 drive-thru testing events of its own, with more than 1,200 people tested. See Preregister for COVID-19 drive-up events and the June 2020 testing event at Laidley Field.
This information is from May 2020. It is kept here as a record and is not current advice. Check current guidance from the CDC or your doctor.
Sources
- WV MetroNews: State begins second weekend of open coronavirus testing (May 22, 2020)
- WV MetroNews: Testing events return to eastern panhandle, Kanawha County, Friday and Saturday (May 28, 2020)
- West Virginia Department of Health: Testing Opportunities for Minorities and Other Vulnerable Populations Announced (May 2020)